Concrete yardage calculator
You need
– cubic yards
– cu ft · – m³ · sq ft
- Ready-mix concrete ($160–$195/yd)
- –
- Installed by a contractor
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Short answer
Cubic yards = length × width × thickness (all in feet) ÷ 27. Order 5–10% extra so you don't run short. A 16 × 40 ft driveway at 4 inches needs 7.90 cubic yards, so order about 8.69 yards with 10% extra.
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cubic feet ≈ 0.76 m³ |
|---|---|
| 4 in slab | 1.23 cu yd per 100 sq ft |
| 6 in slab | 1.85 cu yd per 100 sq ft |
| Ready-mix price | $160–$195+ per cu yd[2] |
| 2025 average ready-mix | $179.95 per cu yd[2] |
Ordering ready-mix
Ready-mix plants sell by the cubic yard, often in quarter- or half-yard steps. Round your calculated volume up. Small loads can carry short-load or delivery fees, so ask the plant when you order. ConcreteNetwork reports a national range of $160–$195 or more per cubic yard.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much concrete I need?
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Multiply length × width × thickness, all in feet, to get cubic feet, and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Add 5–10% for waste and uneven ground.
How many square feet does a yard of concrete cover?
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At 4 inches thick, one cubic yard covers 81 square feet. At 6 inches it covers 54 square feet.
Why order extra concrete?
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Forms bow, subgrades are rarely perfectly flat, and some concrete is always lost. Running short mid-pour leaves a cold joint, so 5–10% extra is cheap insurance.
Sources
- [1]QUIKRETE, Concrete Mix No. 1101 data sheet (bag yields) (current data sheet)
- [2]ConcreteNetwork.com, Concrete Prices (updated July 14, 2026)
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on size, access, site preparation and local labor rates. The only way to know is to compare written quotes.