How Many Yards of Concrete Do I Need?

To determine how many yards of concrete you need for your project, you'll need to know the dimensions of the area you want to pour the concrete into. Specifically, you'll need the length, width, and thickness of the concrete slab or footing.

Once you have these measurements, you can use our concrete calculator or follow these steps to calculate the number of yards of concrete you need:

1. Convert all measurements to the same unit. If your dimensions are in feet, leave them as feet.
2. Multiply the length, width, and thickness together to find the volume of concrete required. The formula is: Volume = Length × Width × Thickness
3. Since concrete is typically sold in cubic yards, divide the volume by 27 (since 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet) to convert the volume to cubic yards. Cubic Yards = Volume / 27

Here's a simple example: Let's say you want to pour a concrete slab that is 10 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 0.33 feet (4 inches) thick.

• Volume = 10 ft × 8 ft × 0.33 ft ≈ 26.4 cubic feet
• Cubic Yards = 26.4 cu. ft / 27 ≈ 0.978 cubic yards

So, you would need approximately 0.978 cubic yards of concrete for this project.

Keep in mind that it's always a good idea to order slightly more concrete than the calculated amount to account for spills, over-excavation, or any other unexpected factors during the pouring process. Many suppliers allow you to order additional "overage" to avoid running out of concrete on the job.