Concrete Cost Calculator: How to Calculate Concrete Needs & Costs

TL;DR — Quick Answer

To calculate concrete cost: measure length × width × depth (in feet), divide by 27 to get cubic yards, add 10% for waste, then multiply by your local ready-mix price ($125-$165/yd³ in the US). A typical 20×20ft driveway (4" thick) needs 5.4 yd³ and costs $675-$890 for materials. Add $3-$6/sqft for labor and finishing.

1. Concrete Calculator Formulas
2. Ready-Mix Concrete Pricing by Region (2026)
3. Total Installed Concrete Cost
4. Frequently Asked Questions

Concrete Calculator Formulas

Basic Formula (Imperial/US):

Volume (cubic yards) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27

Add 10% waste factor: Total = Volume × 1.10

Basic Formula (Metric):

Volume (cubic metres) = Length (m) × Width (m) × Depth (m)

Add 10% waste factor: Total = Volume × 1.10

Common Concrete Calculations:

Slabs & Driveways:

20×20 ft slab, 4" (0.33 ft) thick = 20 × 20 × 0.33 ÷ 27 = 4.89 yd³ → Order 5.5 yd³

Footings:

Perimeter footing: 150 linear ft × 2 ft wide × 1 ft deep = 300 cu ft ÷ 27 = 11.1 yd³ → Order 12.5 yd³

Walls:

8" (0.67 ft) thick wall, 8 ft tall, 40 ft long = 0.67 × 8 × 40 = 214 cu ft ÷ 27 = 7.9 yd³ → Order 9 yd³

Columns:

Round column: π × radius² × height ÷ 27

24" diameter, 10 ft tall = 3.14 × 1² × 10 ÷ 27 = 1.16 yd³ per column

Steps/Stairs:

Each step (typically 7" rise × 11" run × width) calculated individually and summed

Ready-Mix Concrete Pricing by Region (2026)

United States (per cubic yard):

•Standard 3000 PSI: $125–$145

•Standard 4000 PSI: $135–$160

•High-Strength 5000 PSI: $155–$185

•Fiber-Reinforced: $150–$180

•Colored Concrete: $160–$200

•Pump Truck: $800–$1,200 per pour

United Kingdom (per cubic metre):

•C20 Grade: £85–£110

•C25 Grade: £90–£120

•C30 Grade: £95–£130

•C40 Grade: £110–£150

•Delivery: £150–£250 per load

Australia (per cubic metre):

•N20 Grade: A$200–A$260

•N25 Grade: A$220–A$280

•N32 Grade: A$240–A$320

•N40 Grade: A$280–A$380

•Pump Hire: A$800–A$1,500 per pour

UAE/Middle East (per cubic metre):

•G30 Grade: AED 220–280

•G40 Grade: AED 260–340

•G50 Grade: AED 320–420

•Pump: AED 500–800 per hour

Minimum order: Most ready-mix plants require 3-4 yd³ minimum (US) or 4-6 m³ (UK/AUS). Part-load surcharges of $35-$75/yd³ apply for smaller orders.

Total Installed Concrete Cost

The total installed cost of concrete includes materials, delivery, labor, and finishing:

Residential Slab (4" thick):

•Materials (ready-mix + rebar): $6–$9/sqft

•Labor (forming, pouring, finishing): $3–$6/sqft

•Total Installed: $9–$15/sqft

•20×20 ft slab: $3,600–$6,000

Driveway (4-6" thick):

•Plain Finish: $8–$14/sqft

•Broom Finish: $9–$15/sqft

•Stamped/Decorative: $15–$25/sqft

•Exposed Aggregate: $12–$20/sqft

•Average 2-car driveway (400 sqft): $3,200–$10,000

Foundation (8-12" walls):

•Strip Footing: $10–$18/linear ft

•Full Basement: $18–$30/sqft of wall

•Slab-on-Grade: $6–$12/sqft

•Average House Foundation: $7,000–$18,000

Concrete Patio:

•Plain: $6–$12/sqft

•Colored: $8–$15/sqft

•Stamped Pattern: $12–$22/sqft

•Average 300 sqft patio: $1,800–$6,600

Frequently Asked Questions

How much concrete do I need for a 10x10 slab?

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For a 10×10 ft slab at 4 inches thick: 10 × 10 × 0.33 ÷ 27 = 1.22 cubic yards. With 10% waste, order 1.35 cubic yards. At $140/yd³, materials cost approximately $190. Most ready-mix plants have a 3-4 yd³ minimum, so you may want to bag-mix for small slabs.

How much does a cubic yard of concrete cost?

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In the US, a cubic yard of standard 3000-4000 PSI ready-mix concrete costs $125-$165 in 2026. High-strength (5000+ PSI) costs $155-$185/yd³. Prices vary by region — Midwest states are cheapest ($110-$140) while coastal cities cost $160-$200/yd³.

How many bags of concrete in a cubic yard?

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It takes approximately 45 bags of 80-lb concrete mix or 60 bags of 60-lb mix to equal one cubic yard. At $5-$7 per 80-lb bag, bag concrete costs $225-$315 per cubic yard — significantly more than ready-mix at $125-$165/yd³. Bag concrete is only economical for projects under 1 cubic yard.

What is the cheapest type of concrete?

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Standard 3000 PSI ready-mix is the cheapest at $125-$145 per cubic yard. For the lowest installed cost, choose broom-finish (no decorative work) with welded wire mesh instead of rebar. The cheapest residential option is a 4-inch slab-on-grade at $6-$9/sqft materials only.

How long does concrete take to cure?

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Concrete reaches initial set in 24-48 hours, achieves 70% strength at 7 days, and reaches full design strength (specified PSI) at 28 days. You can walk on it after 24-48 hours, drive on it after 7 days, and apply heavy loads after 28 days. Cold weather extends curing time.