Concrete Yard Calculator
Cubic yards needed for any concrete pour
What is concrete yard calculator?
A concrete yard calculator outputs cubic yards — the unit ready-mix companies use for orders. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft) and weighs about 4,050 lb cured. The dispatcher at the concrete plant needs this number to schedule the truck and bill the load.
Volume math by shape. Slabs and pads: length × width × thickness, all in feet. Footings: length × width × depth. Columns: π × radius² × height. Walls: length × height × thickness. The calculator handles the unit conversions (inches to feet) so you can enter thickness in inches and get yards out.
Waste factor lives in the math. The default 10% waste factor accounts for spillage, uneven subgrade, and form-board absorption. On a 5-yard pour, that’s 0.5 yard of buffer — about $75-100 of insurance against running short. For pours over rebar mats or in tight forms, bump the waste factor to 15%.
Ordering tips. Ready-mix yards bill in quarter-yard increments. A calculation of 2.83 yd should be ordered as 3.0 yd; the extra 0.17 yd is cheap insurance. Most yards have a 1-cubic-yard minimum and charge a short-load fee for orders under 3 yards (typically $100-150). Below about 0.5 yd, the short-load fee makes ready-mix more expensive than bagged mix for the same volume.
Truck capacity. Standard ready-mix trucks hold 9-11 cubic yards. For pours over 11 yd, the dispatcher schedules a second truck timed to arrive when the first finishes — keeps the pour continuous and prevents cold joints.
Cost reality check. At $175/yd delivered in 2026, a typical 1-car driveway (16 × 20 ft × 6 in = 5.9 yd) is about $1,030 in concrete alone. Forms, rebar, finishing labor, and pump rental add another $1,500-2,500.
When to use a concrete yard calculator
- Ready-mix order — Concrete trucks deliver in cubic yards. The dispatcher needs your number to size the load. This calculator outputs yards directly, with waste built in.
- Multi-pour project — Calculate yards per shape (footings + slab + wall), then sum. Each shape uses the same units — total stays accurate.
- Cost estimate — Ready-mix runs $150-200 per yard depending on region and additives. Multiply your yardage by your local rate for a delivered cost estimate.
How to use the Concrete Yard Calculator
- Pick a shape — Slab/Pad, Footing, Column, Wall, or Stairs. Each uses appropriate units (feet for length/width, inches for thickness).
- Enter dimensions — Use a measuring wheel for footings and walls. Tape measure for slabs. Round each dimension up to the nearest inch — concrete forgives over-ordering, not under.
- Read cubic yards — The result shows total yardage including waste. Use this number when calling the ready-mix dispatcher.
- Add a buffer for short loads — Most companies have a 1 yd minimum and a short-load fee under 3 yd. If you're at 2.7 yd, ordering 3 yd may cost the same as 2.7 yd plus the short-load fee.
Worked examples
Patio: 15 × 20 ft × 4 in
Input: Slab tab: 15 ft × 20 ft × 4 in
Output: 3.70 cu yd8-ft basement wall: 30 ft long × 8 in
Input: Wall tab: 30 ft × 8 ft × 8 in
Output: 5.93 cu ydFooting run: 60 ft × 16 in × 12 in
Input: Footing tab: 60 ft × 16 in × 12 in
Output: 2.96 cu yd