Concrete Calculator

Figure out exactly how much concrete you need for a slab, footing, column, or set of steps. Enter your dimensions and get the volume in cubic yards plus the number of 40, 60, or 80 lb bags — with a cost estimate.

Project prep: Check ready-mix pricing, bag yields, mixer access, forms, rebar, and finishing tools before you buy.

How to calculate concrete

Concrete volume is Length × Width × Thickness. Convert the result to cubic yards by dividing cubic feet by 27 (ready-mix is sold by the cubic yard). For bags, divide the cubic feet by each bag's yield.

Concrete bag yields

Bag sizeYield (cu ft)Bags per cu yd
40 lb0.30~90
60 lb0.45~60
80 lb0.60~45

Why order a little extra?

Concrete estimates rarely land exactly on the jobsite number. Uneven subgrade, small over-digs, form gaps, spillage, and cleanup waste can all use part of your calculated volume before the pour is finished.

For planning, this calculator includes a 10% waste allowance in the result summary. If you are ordering bags, round up to the next whole bag. If you are ordering ready-mix, confirm minimum order rules and short-load fees with your supplier.

Bags vs. ready-mix

Small patch jobs and short forms are often practical with bags mixed on site. Once the result climbs toward a cubic yard, the bag count gets heavy fast: one cubic yard is roughly 45 bags of 80 lb mix, 60 bags of 60 lb mix, or 90 bags of 40 lb mix.

Use the cubic-yard number and the bag counts together. The cubic-yard number helps when comparing ready-mix delivery, while the bag count helps when planning pickup, lifting, mixing time, and extra bags.

Related calculators

Concrete slab calculator · Concrete footing calculator · Gravel base calculator

Common slab sizes

SlabThicknessConcrete
10 × 10 ft4 in~1.23 cu yd
12 × 12 ft4 in~1.78 cu yd
20 × 20 ft4 in~4.94 cu yd
24 × 24 ft (garage)4 in~7.11 cu yd

FAQ

How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a cubic yard?

About 45 bags, since each 80 lb bag yields roughly 0.60 cubic feet and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.

How much concrete for a 10×10 slab at 4 inches?

About 1.23 cubic yards (33.3 cubic feet). Add 5–10% for waste.

Ready-mix or bags?

Over roughly 1 cubic yard, ready-mix delivery is usually cheaper and far less work than mixing bags by hand.