Estimate how much ready-mix concrete you need before calling a supplier. Calculate slabs, strip footings, walls and round piers, add an optional waste allowance, round the order volume, estimate truck loads from an entered truck capacity, and apply your own concrete rate per cubic yard. Every numeric field uses a faint 0 placeholder only — it is not a real value.
The faint 0 inside each numeric field is only a placeholder. Typing 5 gives 5 — not 05.
Your result appears after you press Calculate Ready Mix.
Calculate the exact project volume first, convert it to cubic yards, add your selected contingency, then round up to the order increment you want to use.
Keep exact geometry, practical order quantity, truck-load planning and concrete-only cost clearly separated.
See the exact project volume before extra allowance.
Add only the contingency appropriate for the real site.
Compare your order with an entered truck capacity.
Apply the material rate from your supplier quote.
See the rounded order volume in metric units too.
Save the estimate for supplier and project reference.
A ready-mix estimate begins with geometry. Measure the concrete shape, calculate its exact volume, add a practical contingency if needed, then round the result to an order quantity that fits the supplier's ordering system. This calculator keeps those steps separate so you can see what changes the final number.
The numeric boxes are intentionally empty. The faint 0 is only a placeholder and is not stored as a value. Type 5 and the field contains 5, not 05. Press Reset and the input becomes empty again while the faint 0 returns visually.
For a rectangular slab, multiply length by width by thickness. If thickness is entered in inches, divide by 12 first. Divide cubic feet by 27 to convert the result to cubic yards.
Cubic Yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × [Thickness (in) ÷ 12] ÷ 27Footing volume uses length × width × depth. The calculator converts width and depth from inches to feet automatically. Structural footing dimensions must come from the project design rather than the quantity calculator.
A straight wall uses length × height × thickness. Walls with doors, windows or changing thickness should be split into separate shapes or estimated with the Concrete Wall Calculator.
A round pier is a cylinder. Convert diameter to feet, divide by two for the radius, calculate π × radius² × depth and multiply by quantity. More complex foundations can be estimated with the Concrete Pier Foundation Calculator.
| Project Example | Dimensions | Base Volume | With 5% | With 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Slab | 10 ft × 10 ft × 4 in | 1.235 yd³ | 1.296 yd³ | 1.358 yd³ |
| Garage Slab | 20 ft × 20 ft × 4 in | 4.938 yd³ | 5.185 yd³ | 5.432 yd³ |
| Strip Footing | 40 ft × 16 in × 8 in | 1.317 yd³ | 1.383 yd³ | 1.449 yd³ |
| Concrete Wall | 20 ft × 8 ft × 8 in | 3.951 yd³ | 4.148 yd³ | 4.346 yd³ |
| Round Piers | 12 in Dia × 4 ft × 10 | 1.164 yd³ | 1.222 yd³ | 1.280 yd³ |
In U.S. construction, ready-mix concrete is commonly quoted and ordered by cubic yard. One cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. Converting the geometry to cubic yards makes supplier comparison and budgeting easier.
There is no universal waste percentage. Finished forms over a uniform base can be measured closely, while trenches, drilled holes and irregular excavations can vary more. Concrete can also be lost through spillage, pump lines, chutes or overfilling.
Truck capacity varies by supplier, equipment, legal weight limits and operating conditions. Instead of forcing one universal truck size, this calculator lets you enter the nominal capacity you want to use for planning. The rounded order quantity is divided by that value and rounded up to whole loads.
The load count is only a planning estimate. Dispatch may split an order differently because of mix density, truck availability, legal limits, travel distance or the sequence of the pour.
Enter the concrete material rate from your supplier quote. The calculator multiplies the rounded order quantity by that rate. It does not hard-code a national price that may be stale or irrelevant to your location.
Concrete pricing can vary with strength, cementitious content, aggregate, slump, air entrainment, fibres, accelerators, retarders, colour, temperature requirements, delivery distance, order size and time of delivery.
A quoted price per cubic yard may not include every project charge. Short-load fees, fuel surcharges, environmental fees, waiting time, returned concrete, weekend delivery, pumping or conveyor service can be separate.
Bagged concrete can suit small repairs and post holes. Larger placements can require many bags and much more mixing labour. Ready-mix may be more practical when the project volume, access and placement schedule justify a truck delivery.
Use the Concrete Bags To Cubic Yards Calculator when you want to compare packaged concrete with a ready-mix quantity.
This calculator estimates material volume, optional truck-load count and concrete-only cost. It does not choose concrete strength, slump, aggregate size, admixtures, reinforcement, footing dimensions, slab thickness, joints, curing, pump size or structural capacity.
Continue planning with the Concrete Volume Calculator, Concrete Floor Calculator, Concrete Wall Calculator and Concrete Cost Calculator.
The calculator gives you quantity. Concrete specification and delivery logistics remain separate decisions.
Measure geometry and add only the contingency you need.
Strength, slump and admixtures must follow project requirements.
Capacity and delivery sequence should be confirmed with the supplier.
Truck, pump or conveyor access can affect the delivery plan.
Answers about cubic yards, truck loads, waste, ready-mix cost and ordering.
Calculate the project volume, convert it to cubic yards, then add any practical contingency and round the order quantity.
The 0 is only a placeholder. It is not an entered value, so typing 5 gives 5 rather than 05.
Yes. Enter the nominal truck capacity you want to compare against and the calculator rounds the load count up to whole trucks.
Yes. Enter your supplier rate per cubic yard. The estimate is concrete material only.
Yes. Enter your own percentage or leave it blank for exact geometry.
No. Supplier-specific charges are separate from the material rate unless you manually include them.
Yes. Use the Slab / Pad option with length, width, thickness and quantity.
Yes. Use the Strip Footing option.
Yes. Use the Wall option for simple straight walls.
Yes. Use the Round Pier option with diameter, depth and quantity.
Recheck forms and excavation first, then choose an allowance and order increment that match the real site and supplier policies.
Yes. The PDF includes dimensions, volume, waste allowance, truck-load estimate and concrete-only cost.
Use project specifications, supplier information and authoritative concrete resources alongside any online quantity estimate.
Industry education and technical resources for ready-mixed concrete.
Visit NRMCAConcrete codes, standards, technical resources and education.
Visit ACIManufacturer estimating guidance for concrete volume and packaged products.
Visit QUIKRETE CalculatorSafety information about respirable crystalline silica associated with concrete work.
Read OSHA Guidance