Concrete Coverage Calculator
Enter cubic yards and slab thickness to see coverage area.
Concrete Coverage Formula
Divide 27 cubic feet by slab thickness in feet to find square feet per cubic yard. At 4 inches thick, one cubic yard covers about 81 square feet.
Understanding Concrete Coverage
Concrete Coverage by Slab Thickness
| Thickness | Coverage per CY | Application |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | Concrete overlay, thin topping |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | Sidewalks (light foot traffic) |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | Standard sidewalks, patios |
| 5 inches | 64.8 sq ft | Residential driveways |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | Heavy-duty driveways, garage floors |
| 8 inches | 40.5 sq ft | Commercial floors |
Concrete Coverage for Common Projects
- Sidewalk (3 ft x 50 ft x 4 in): 1.85 cubic yards.
- Patio (12 ft x 16 ft x 4 in): 2.37 cubic yards.
- Driveway (12 ft x 40 ft x 5 in): 7.41 cubic yards.
- Garage floor (20 ft x 24 ft x 6 in): 8.89 cubic yards.
Always order 5-10% more than calculated. Running short mid-pour creates a cold joint that weakens the slab.
Concrete Thickness Requirements
Building codes specify minimum thickness by use. A 4-inch slab supports foot traffic. Vehicle traffic requires 5-6 inches minimum. Heavy equipment demands 6-8 inches with reinforcement.
Concrete Coverage Calculator FAQ
At 4 inches thick: 0.0123 CY per sq ft (1/81). At 6 inches: 0.0185 CY per sq ft (1/54). Multiply by total area for cubic yards needed.
At 4 inches thick: 81 sq ft. At 6 inches: 54 sq ft. At 3 inches: 108 sq ft. Coverage is inversely proportional to thickness.
Standard residential patio: 4 inches. With hot tub or heavy loads: 6 inches with reinforcement. Always pour over a 4-6 inch compacted gravel base.
Use pi x radius squared x thickness / 27. For 10-foot diameter at 4 inches: 3.14 x 25 x 0.333 / 27 = 0.97 CY. Add 10% for waste.
Most plants have a 1 CY minimum with a - short-load fee for orders under 8-10 CY. For small projects, pre-mixed bags may be more economical.
Ready-mix costs - per CY delivered. Specialty mixes cost - per CY. Delivery typically included within 20 miles.