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The concrete calculators on this page make it easy to measure the volume required for some of the most common applications:  

• Slabs
• Square columns
• Curbs & gutters
• Stairs
• Tubes (e.g. footings, round columns, or piers)

Commonly sold by the cubic yard for large construction projects, concrete mixes are also widely available in bags for smaller residential projects.

Concrete is easily made from aggregates like sand and gravel, a cement-like binder, and water. The result is an incredibly durable yet absorbent material that can be used in a wide variety of building applications. As a result, it is building material in the world.

How to estimate concrete

Concrete is most commonly measured by the cubic yard. If it's been a while since your last geometry class, determining the correct volume required can be a challenge, depending on the complexity of the build. 

The first step is to divide your area into smaller, more manageable shapes. Think of a set of concrete stairs, where each step is its own larger and larger rectangle. Then, by multiplying length, width, and height, you can find the volume of each. For any circles, the formula is π × radius² × height.

If measured in feet, divide the end result by 27 and round up to find the cubic yardage. 

Ready mix vs bagged concrete

Concrete is generally sold in two ways:

• Ready mix concrete sold by the yard, delivered in a mixer truck
• Bagged concrete that requires mixing on-site

The choice between ready mix and bagged concrete is largely based on project size, but there are other factors to consider.

Ready mix orders generally provide a better quality of product with less variation between batches. The consistency helps to create a uniform product, while buying in bulk makes it more cost effective.

How many bags of concrete do you need?

If you’ve decided to go with bagged concrete over ready mix, you have a few options of brands and sizes to choose from. Bagged concrete is sold by weight, in either 40, 60, or 80 pound units. Using the largest size, it takes about 45 bags to fill one cubic yard. Taking the size of your project into consideration, the concrete calculators can use this information to produce an accurate estimate.

Note that spillage does occur, and it could be wise to purchase anywhere from 5-10% extra concrete. This can also help accommodate for any batches that didn’t quite turn out the way you would like. 

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