Concrete Patio Calculator
Calculate concrete for a patio or sidewalk. Enter patio dimensions to get cubic yards, bag count and estimated cost.
Patio Dimensions
Estimation Results
How to Calculate Concrete for a Patio
Calculating the amount of concrete needed for a patio is identical to calculating a slab. First, multiply the length of your planned patio by the width in feet to determine the total square footage.
Next, multiply the square footage by the patio's thickness (converted to feet). A standard patio is 4 inches thick, which is roughly 0.33 feet. After finding the cubic feet, divide the result by 27 to find the exact cubic yards required. Always include a 10% waste margin in your order to account for spills, uneven grading, or measurement errors.
Patio Calculation Formula
Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × (Thickness in inches ÷ 12)) ÷ 27
Example for a 10ft × 10ft patio at 4 inches thick: (10 × 10 × (4÷12)) ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
Standard Patio Requirements Guide
| Patio Application | Recommended Thickness | Concrete Strength (PSI) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Pedestrian Patio | 4 inches | 3,000 PSI |
| Patio with Heavy Hot Tub | 5 inches | 4,000 PSI |
| Patio with Outdoor Kitchen/Pizza Oven | 5 - 6 inches | 4,000 PSI |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much concrete do I need for a patio?
To find out how much concrete you need for a patio, multiply the length by the width in feet, then multiply by the depth in feet (a 4-inch depth is 0.33 feet). Divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
How thick should a concrete patio be?
A standard residential concrete patio should be poured at a thickness of 4 inches. If you plan to install a heavy hot tub or outdoor kitchen, consider upgrading to 5 or 6 inches thick.
How much does a concrete patio cost?
The raw concrete material for a patio costs about $120 to $160 per cubic yard. When hiring a contractor for a standard brushed finish, the total cost including labor is typically $6 to $10 per square foot.
How many bags for a 10x10 patio?
A 10x10 foot patio poured at 4 inches thick requires 1.23 cubic yards of concrete. This translates to exactly 56 bags of 80lb concrete, or 75 bags of 60lb concrete (not including waste factor).