

This assumes you have the job evenly graded to the right depth, and the grade is well compacted. Rule of thumb: add 1/ 4” to the thickness of your slab for your slab concrete budget. CONCRETE ESTIMATING TIPSĬalculating the amount of concrete needed for slabs (including odd shapes) If your project requires more concrete, multiple trucks will be necessary.

The average truck holds between 9 and 11 yards total. Many ready mix companies will have a minimum order of 1 yard, and will charge shortage fees when ordering partial batches. If you’re planning to order concrete from a ready mix supplier, they’ll need to know how many yards of concrete to deliver.

Large patios, driveways, pool decks and more.Ready mixed concrete by the yard is good for: A rented mixer can be very helpful, but a wheelbarrow works for just a few bags. You’ll also need additional equipment for mixing the concrete. If you’re purchasing bagged concrete you may be able to have it delivered, but if it is only a few bags you’ll be responsible for transporting it yourself. Footings for decks, pergolas, walls and more.Making repairs to foundation walls, walkways or steps.Pouring small slabs for sidewalks or patios.For smaller jobs, like a walkway, modest patio or footings, you should calculate the number of concrete bags instead. Larger jobs such as driveways are easier to complete when ordering concrete by the yard, rather than trying to mix bag after bag by hand. BAGGED CONCRETE Should I order concrete by the yard from a ready mix company or just use bags?

Use the following yields per each bag size: To determine how many bags of concrete you will need, divide the total cubic yards needed by the yield. For concrete, the formula for volume is as follows: length x width x thickness. Here’s what the math looks like for a 10’ by 10’ concrete patio:Įssentially you are solving for volume and then converting to cubic yards. Convert cubic feet to cubic yards by multiplying by.Multiply the thickness in feet by the square footage to determine cubic feet.Convert the thickness from inches to feet.Multiply the length by the width to determine square footage.Measure the length and width that you’d like to cover.Determine how thick you want the concrete.What equation should I use to find out how much concrete I need?
