How to Estimate Concrete by the Yard
- 1). Measure the entire length and width of the area in which you will be pouring concrete and write down the measurements. Write down the depth (thickness) you desire the concrete slab to be also. An example to use in this article is a slab in the dimensions of: 50 feet long, 50 feet wide, and six inches deep.
- 2). Convert any inches into feet. Six inches is .50 (1/2) of a foot, three inches is .25 (1/4) of a foot, nine inches is .75 (3/4) of a foot, and so forth. Inches must be converted to feet, or decimal portion of a foot, to continue with the formula herein. Per this article's example, the slab measurement will now be 50 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 1/2 of a foot deep.
- 3). Calculate the area volume measurements into cubic feet by multiplying slab length, width, and depth: 50 x 50 x .50 = 1250 cubic feet.
- 4). Convert cubic feet to the final measurement needed when ordering or purchasing the concrete, in cubic yards. Since a yard is three feet, a cubic yard is three feet by three feet by three feet, or three to the third power which equals 27. Divide the cubic feet by 27 to arrive at the total number of cubic yards worth of concrete needed for this project: 1250 divided by 27 (1250 / 27) = 46.30 cubic yards (decimal rounded).
- 5). Calculate, using the same formula above, the cubic yards necessary to fill in footings and any additional appendages which will be included in the concrete floor plan.
