Concrete Calculator — By the Yard
Work out exactly how many cubic yards to order, so you're not left short or paying for concrete you can't use.
Concrete yardage calculator
Waste & region
Order extra for spillage & uneven subgrade. 10% is typical.
Concrete needed (10% waste in)
5.43 yd³
4.94 yd³ of concrete + waste · 400 sq ft
Bags of concrete needed (rounded up)
245
80 lb
326
60 lb
392
50 lb
489
40 lb
- Ready-mix (delivered)
- $739 – $1,207
- Bagged mix (80 lb, DIY)
- $1,348 – $2,205
- Installed by a pro
- $2,200 – $4,800
Estimate only — not a quote. Bag counts are rounded up and include a 10% waste allowance.
Ordering concrete by the cubic yard
Ready-mix plants sell and deliver concrete by the cubic yard (27 cubic feet). Order too little and you risk a cold joint mid-pour; order too much and you pay for waste — so the 10% allowance here is a starting point you can tune under Waste & region.
Rounding your order
Most plants sell in quarter- or half-yard increments. Round your final figure up to the plant's increment, and if you're close to a truckload (about 10 yd³) compare the short-load fee against simply ordering a full load.
Volumes use standard bag yields and a 10% waste allowance; costs are national US averages that vary by region, mix and finish. See our methodology for exactly how each figure is worked out, or check the reference sources: