Concrete Calculator: Yards and Bags

Enter the size of your slab, patio, or footings to find how much concrete to order, in cubic yards for a ready-mix truck or in bags for smaller pours.

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How to calculate concrete

  1. Measure the length and width in feet and the thickness in inches.
  2. Convert the thickness to feet by dividing by 12 (4 inches = 0.333 ft).
  3. Multiply length × width × thickness to get cubic feet.
  4. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
  5. Add 5–10% for uneven ground, spills, and form spread.
  6. For bags, divide cubic feet by the bag yield: 0.6 cu ft for an 80 lb bag, 0.45 for 60 lb, 0.3 for 40 lb.

Concrete needed for common slabs (4" thick)

Slab sizeCubic yards80 lb bags
10′ × 10′1.2356
12′ × 12′1.7880
10′ × 20′2.47112
20′ × 20′4.94223

Before adding waste. Above about 1 cubic yard, a ready-mix delivery is usually cheaper and much easier than mixing bags.

Hiring it out instead?

See what a contractor would typically charge, including labor, permits, and disposal.

Concrete Driveway & Patio cost →Fence Installation cost →Deck cost →
Questions

Concrete Calculator FAQ

How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
About 45 bags. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and an 80 lb bag yields about 0.6 cubic feet.
How thick should a concrete slab be?
Patios and walkways are usually 4 inches thick. Driveways should be 4–5 inches, and 6 inches for heavy trucks or RVs.
Should I buy bags or order ready-mix?
Bags make sense for post holes and small pads under about 1 cubic yard. Beyond that, ready-mix is usually cheaper per yard and gives a stronger, more consistent pour.

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