Calculate How Much Concrete You Need In Cubic Metres For Common Australian Projects. Choose A Slab Or Pad, Strip Footing, Round Column Or Post, Or Multiple Concrete Sections. Add A Waste Allowance, 20 Kg Bag Yield And Your Own A$/m³ Concrete Rate To Build A Clear Quantity And Cost Estimate.
Select The Shape That Best Matches Your Project. Every Calculator Entry Starts At Zero. The Result Stays Hidden Until You Press Calculate Concrete Quantity.
Your Result Will Appear Here After You Press Calculate Concrete Quantity.
The PDF Includes The Project Shape, Measurements, Base Concrete Volume, Waste Allowance, Recommended Quantity, 20 Kg Bag Estimate And Concrete-Only Cost.
Concrete Quantity Is A Volume. For A Rectangular Slab, Multiply Length By Width By Depth. Keep Length And Width In Metres, Convert Millimetres To Metres, Then Add Any Waste Allowance After The Base Volume Is Known.
The Main Result Is Cubic Metres, With Separate Figures For Base Concrete, Waste, 20 Kg Bags And Concrete-Only Cost.
See The Geometric Concrete Volume Before Waste Or Contingency Is Added.
Add A Percentage For Minor Measurement Differences, Spillage And Real Site Conditions.
Combine The Base Volume And Waste Into One Final Planning Quantity.
Estimate Whole Bags Using The Yield From The Exact Product You Plan To Buy.
Multiply The Final Quantity By Your Own Local A$/m³ Ready-Mix Rate.
Save The Main Measurements And Quantity Estimate With The Site Name For Reference.
Concrete Quantity Is Normally Measured In Cubic Metres (m³) In Australia. A Cubic Metre Describes Volume, Not Just Surface Area. To Calculate It Correctly, You Need The Length, Width And Depth Of The Concrete Section. For Round Columns Or Post Holes, You Need Diameter And Height Or Depth Instead.
The Most Reliable Way To Build A Concrete Quantity Estimate Is To Calculate Each Part Of The Project Separately. A Slab, Footing, Apron, Edge Beam Or Round Column Can Each Have A Different Shape And Depth. Once The Individual Volumes Are Known, Add Them Together, Then Apply A Practical Waste Or Contingency Allowance.
Concrete Volume (m³) = Length (m) × Width (m) × Depth (m)
If A Slab Is 6 m Long, 4 m Wide And 100 mm Deep, Convert 100 mm To 0.10 m. The Base Volume Is 6 × 4 × 0.10 = 2.40 m³.
A Straight Strip Footing Uses The Same Basic Rectangular Formula. Add The Total Footing Length In Metres, Then Convert Width And Depth From Millimetres To Metres Before Multiplying.
Footing Volume = Total Length × Width × Depth
A Round Column Is A Cylinder. Divide The Diameter By Two To Find The Radius, Square The Radius, Multiply By π, Then Multiply By Height Or Depth. If You Have More Than One Identical Column, Multiply By The Quantity.
Volume = π × Radius² × Height
For Repeated Identical Sections, Calculate The Volume Of One Section Then Multiply By The Number Of Sections. If You Already Know The m³ Volume Per Section, The Multiple Sections Option Lets You Enter That Directly And Add A Small Known Extra Volume If Needed.
| Concrete Section | Example Measurements | Base Formula | Example Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular Slab | 6 m × 4 m × 100 mm | 6 × 4 × 0.10 | 2.40 m³ |
| Strip Footing | 20 m × 400 mm × 300 mm | 20 × 0.40 × 0.30 | 2.40 m³ |
| Round Column | 400 mm Diameter × 2 m | π × 0.20² × 2 | 0.25 m³ |
| 4 Identical Pads | 0.50 m³ Each | 0.50 × 4 | 2.00 m³ |
Many Concrete Drawings And Site Measurements Use Millimetres For Depth, Width Or Diameter. Before You Use A Cubic-Metre Formula, Convert Millimetres To Metres By Dividing By 1000.
| Millimetres | Metres | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 75 mm | 0.075 m | Thin Concrete Layer Example |
| 100 mm | 0.100 m | Common Calculation Example |
| 125 mm | 0.125 m | Thicker Slab Example |
| 150 mm | 0.150 m | Heavy Slab Example |
| 300 mm | 0.300 m | Footing Depth Example |
| 400 mm | 0.400 m | Footing Width Or Diameter Example |
Waste Or Contingency Is Added After The Base Geometric Volume Is Calculated. It Provides A Small Buffer For Minor Measurement Variation, Uneven Excavation, Form Movement, Spillage Or Other Real Site Conditions.
Final Quantity = Base Volume × (1 + Waste Percentage ÷ 100)
Bag Quantity Depends On The Finished Yield Of The Exact Product. A 20 Kg Bag Weight Does Not Automatically Equal One Fixed Concrete Volume. Enter The Manufacturer-Stated Yield Per Bag, Then Divide The Final Concrete Quantity By That Yield And Round Up To A Whole Bag.
20 Kg Bags = Final Concrete Quantity ÷ Yield Per Bag
For Larger Projects, Concrete Is Often Ordered In Cubic Metres From A Ready-Mix Supplier. Use The Calculator Result As A Planning Figure, Then Discuss The Final Order Quantity, mix specification, site access and delivery conditions with the supplier.
The Calculator Multiplies The Final Concrete Quantity By The A$/m³ Rate You Enter. This Gives A Concrete-Only Estimate. It Does Not Automatically Include Delivery, short-load charges, pumping, labour, reinforcement, formwork, excavation, finishing or other project costs.
A Project Can Have Several Different Concrete depths and shapes. A slab may be 100 mm deep, while a strip footing is 300 mm deep. A thickened edge may use extra concrete around the perimeter. Calculating these separately makes the final quantity easier to check.
This Tool Does Not Decide Concrete Strength, Slab Thickness, Reinforcement, Footing Size, Column Size, joint layout, exposure classification or structural requirements. Those decisions must come from the appropriate project specification, plans or professional advice.
Keeping Each Step Separate Makes It Easier To Check The Estimate Before You Order.
Measure Length, Width, Depth, Diameter Or Section Quantity.
Convert Millimetres To Metres Before Calculating Cubic Metres.
Work Out The Base m³ Volume For Each Concrete Section.
Add A Practical Allowance And Review The Final Quantity.
These Examples Show The Base Geometry Only. Final Project Requirements And Waste Can Change The Order Quantity.
| Project Example | Measurements | Base Quantity | With 5% Waste | With 10% Waste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pad | 2 m × 2 m × 100 mm | 0.40 m³ | 0.42 m³ | 0.44 m³ |
| Patio Slab | 5 m × 4 m × 100 mm | 2.00 m³ | 2.10 m³ | 2.20 m³ |
| Garage Slab | 6 m × 6 m × 100 mm | 3.60 m³ | 3.78 m³ | 3.96 m³ |
| Strip Footing | 20 m × 400 mm × 300 mm | 2.40 m³ | 2.52 m³ | 2.64 m³ |
| Round Column | 600 mm Dia × 2 m | 0.57 m³ | 0.59 m³ | 0.62 m³ |
The Formula Is Straightforward, But Real Sites Can Use More Or Less Concrete Than A Perfect Geometric Shape.
Simple Answers About Cubic Metres, Waste, Bags, Slabs, Footings And Concrete Quantity.
For A Rectangular Section, Multiply Length By Width By Depth In Metres. Add Any Other Concrete Sections Separately, Then Apply Waste Or Contingency.
Concrete Quantity Is Commonly Calculated And Ordered In Cubic Metres, Written As m³.
Divide By 1000. Therefore 100 mm = 0.10 m.
Yes. Enter Total Footing Length In Metres And Width And Depth In Millimetres.
Yes. Enter Diameter, Height Or Depth, And Quantity. The Calculator Uses The Cylinder Volume Formula.
There Is No Universal Percentage. The Appropriate Allowance Depends On Measurement Accuracy, excavation, formwork and site conditions.
Divide The Final Concrete Quantity By The Manufacturer-Stated Yield Per Bag And Round Up To A Whole Bag.
The Calculator Starts At Zero So The Result Is Based Only On The Measurements, waste, bag yield and price you enter.
Yes. Enter Your Own A$/m³ Rate To Estimate Concrete Material Cost. Delivery, labour and other project costs are not automatically included.
The PDF Includes The Project Shape, Measurements, Base Volume, Waste Allowance, Final Quantity, 20 Kg Bag Estimate And Concrete-Only Cost.
Check Current Product Information, Supplier Advice And Australian Safety Guidance Before Ordering Or Carrying Out Concrete Work.
Australian Industry Information And Technical Resources For Concrete Construction.
Visit CCAANational Safety Information About Silica And Concrete-Related Work Hazards.
Read Silica GuidanceExample Australian Product Information For Packaged General Purpose Concrete.
View Product InformationConfirm Final m³ Quantity, Mix Requirements, Delivery Conditions And Supplier Fees Before Ordering.