Concrete Calculators
Free concrete calculators for every project type. Enter your dimensions and get instant cubic yard totals, bag counts, and cost estimates — no account needed.
Concrete Cost Calculator
Total cost from dimensions + price per yard
Enter slab or footing dimensions and your local concrete price to get total cubic yards and estimated cost. Accounts for standard waste and rounding to the nearest quarter yard.
Best for: Patios, slabs, footings, foundations
Concrete Steps Calculator
Cubic yards and 80-lb bag count for stairs
Enter the number of steps, rise, run, and width to get exact cubic yards and how many 80-lb bags you need. Handles straight and landing-style stair configurations.
Best for: Entry steps, porch stairs, outdoor staircases
Concrete Driveway Calculator
Yards needed for any driveway shape
Enter driveway length, width, and slab thickness to get cubic yards and bag counts. Includes a cost estimate when you add a price per yard.
Best for: Residential driveways, parking pads, aprons
Brick Calculator
Brick count + mortar for walls and surfaces
Enter wall or surface dimensions and brick size to get the exact brick count and bags of mortar required. Includes standard 10% waste allowance.
Best for: Retaining walls, garden walls, veneer, fireplaces
Stucco Calculator
Bags per coat for 2-coat and 3-coat systems
Enter wall area and choose a 2-coat or 3-coat system to get bag quantities for scratch, brown, and finish coats. Includes lath and corner bead estimates.
Best for: Exterior walls, additions, stucco repairs
How Concrete Calculations Work
All concrete volume calculations follow the same formula: length × width × depth ÷ 27. Dividing by 27 converts cubic feet to cubic yards, the unit batch plants use for pricing. Always add at least 10% for waste — concrete can't be returned once poured, and running short on a pour creates cold joints that weaken the structure.
Steps and irregular shapes require breaking the pour into rectangular sections and summing the volumes. That's what the concrete steps calculator automates: each tread-and-riser combination becomes its own rectangular block, and the results are added together.
For cost estimates, the calculators use your local price per cubic yard. Call 2–3 local batch plants for quotes — prices vary by $30–$60 per yard between suppliers in the same city. Short-load fees, fiber additives, and accelerators are quoted separately and should be added to the calculator output.
Brick and stucco calculators use area (square feet) rather than volume, converting through material-specific coverage rates. A standard modular brick covers about 6.75 bricks per square foot at 3/8-inch mortar joints. Stucco coverage varies by coat thickness, which is why the stucco calculator asks you to choose a 2-coat or 3-coat system.
When to DIY vs. Hire a Contractor
Good for DIY
- • Steps and small pours under 1 cubic yard (bags)
- • Fence post footings
- • Small patio slabs under 100 sq ft
- • Brick garden walls under 3 ft tall
- • Stucco patch repairs
Hire a Contractor
- • Driveways (requires proper grading and drainage)
- • Structural footings and foundations
- • Large pours requiring a pump truck
- • Any work near underground utilities
- • Full stucco exterior systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards of concrete do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth (all in feet) then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Add 10% for waste. For example, a 10×10 ft slab at 4 inches thick is (10 × 10 × 0.333) ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards — order 1.4 yards to be safe. Use our individual calculators above to skip the math.
How much does a cubic yard of concrete cost?
Ready-mix concrete ranges from $120–$200 per cubic yard depending on your region, mix design, and delivery distance. Short-load fees ($50–$150) apply for orders under 5 yards. Fiber reinforcement and accelerators add $10–$30 per yard. Get 2–3 quotes from local batch plants before ordering.
When should I use bags vs. ready-mix concrete?
Use 80-lb bags for projects under about 1 cubic yard — steps, fence posts, small repairs. Ready-mix is more cost-effective and stronger for anything larger. A cubic yard requires roughly 45 bags of 80-lb mix, which takes several hours to mix by hand. For driveways and slabs over 1 yard, always order ready-mix.
What is the right concrete thickness for a driveway vs. a walkway?
Driveways should be at least 4 inches thick (5–6 inches for heavy vehicles or trucks). Walkways and patios are typically 3–4 inches. Steps use a minimum of 3.5 inches at the tread. Thicker pours cost more but dramatically increase longevity and load capacity.
Do these calculators include reinforcement (rebar or wire mesh)?
The volume and cost calculators cover concrete only. Rebar and wire mesh are separate line items — a standard 10×10 slab uses about one roll of 6×6 wire mesh or rebar on 18-inch centers. Add 10–15% to your total project budget for reinforcement, forming lumber, and stakes.