Cubic Yard Concrete Calculator
This cubic yard concrete calculator is tuned for US ready-mix ordering: enter feet and inches, read the answer in yards. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — a 3 × 3 × 3 ft cube — and it's the unit every dispatcher expects.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your dimensions — feet for lengths, inches for thickness.
- Adjust the options — waste percentage, bag size and your local concrete price.
- Read your results — volume, bags, weight and cost update live as you type.
The Formula
Cubic yards = (Length ft × Width ft × Thickness ft) ÷ 27 Worked example: A 12 × 12 ft slab at 4 in: 12 × 12 × 0.333 = 48 ft³ ÷ 27 ≈ 1.78 yd³ — order 2 yards with waste.
A concrete calculator by cubic yards saves the two mistakes that plague yardage math: forgetting to convert inch thickness to feet, and forgetting the ÷ 27. Both are automatic here.
Ordering tips for thinking in yards: a full truck carries 8–10 yd³; orders under ~4 yd³ often carry a short-load fee; and suppliers round to 0.25 or 0.5 yd³ increments. Tell the dispatcher the yardage and what you're pouring — they'll confirm mix and slump.
Coverage per yard: 81 ft² at 4 in thick, 65 ft² at 5 in, 54 ft² at 6 in. Divide your area by the coverage to sanity-check any concrete calculator in yards result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the cubic yard concrete calculator.
How do I figure concrete in yards?
Length × width in feet × thickness in feet (inches ÷ 12), then divide by 27. A 20 × 20 ft slab at 4 in = 133 ft³ ÷ 27 ≈ 4.94 yd³.
How much does a yard of concrete cover?
81 ft² at 4 inches thick; 54 ft² at 6 inches. Formula: coverage = 324 ÷ thickness in inches.
How much does a yard of concrete cost?
Typically $120–$180 delivered in the US, plus possible short-load fees under about 4 yards.
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
About 4,050 lb (2 tons) for normal-weight concrete — plan driveways and access accordingly.
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