Concrete Calculator

Volume, bags and cost for a slab, footing or column.

Concrete needed
Cubic metres
Order with extra
Bags needed
Ready-mix cost
Volumes are geometric. Real pours need extra for uneven subgrade, spillage and over-excavation — order 5-10% more than the figure here. For structural work, follow the engineer’s specification.
How this works
Slab width × length × thickness Column π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height × how many Steps Σ rise × depth × width, stacked 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.7646 m³
JobTypical thickness
Footpath4 in / 100 mm
Patio4 in / 100 mm
Driveway, cars4–6 in / 100–150 mm
Driveway, heavy vehicles6–8 in / 150–200 mm
Garage / shed base4–6 in / 100–150 mm
  • Order 5-10% over the geometric figure. Subgrade is never perfectly level and some is always lost.
  • Bags are only economical below roughly 1 cubic yard. Past that, ready-mix is cheaper and far less work.
  • An 80 lb bag yields about 0.6 cubic feet, so a cubic yard takes about 45 of them.
  • Concrete weighs roughly 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) per cubic yard — check what the ground and your vehicle can take.

Currency

  • Amounts follow the currency selected above.
How many bags of concrete make a cubic yard?

About 45 of the 80 lb bags, 60 of the 60 lb bags, or 90 of the 40 lb bags. Past roughly one cubic yard, ready-mix is usually cheaper.

How thick should a driveway be?

Four inches (100 mm) is standard for cars. Go to six inches or more where heavy vehicles will use it, and follow local building rules.

How much extra should I order?

5-10% over the calculated volume. Running short mid-pour creates a cold joint, which is a far worse problem than a little waste.

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