Concrete Wall Calculator
Accurately calculate the cubic yardage needed to pour solid foundation and retaining walls.
Wall Dimensions
Concrete Required
For estimation purposes only. Verify structural calculations with a licensed engineer.
Poured Concrete Wall Calculator
When a concrete contractor is hired to build a residential basement or a structural retaining wall, they will typically set up heavy aluminum or plywood forms and fill them entirely with ready-mix concrete. This is called a "poured wall".
A poured wall uses a massive volume of concrete. If you underestimate the yardage, the pour will have to stop, creating a cold joint that severely compromises the structural integrity of the wall. Using our concrete wall calculator ensures you order the exact amount of material needed to complete the monolithic pour without interruption.
Important Note: This calculator is specifically designed as a poured concrete wall calculator. If you are trying to estimate how many 8-inch CMU blocks you need to build a masonry wall, please switch over to our Block Calculator.
How to Calculate Concrete for a Retaining Wall
To determine how much material you need, you must function as your own concrete retaining wall calculator by computing the total 3D volume of the wall structure.
First, measure the total linear length of the wall in feet. Next, measure the total height of the wall in feet. Finally, determine the thickness of the wall. Because thickness is usually measured in inches (e.g., an 8-inch or 10-inch wall), you must divide that number by 12 to convert it into feet.
Length (ft) Height (ft) Thickness (ft) = Total Cubic Feet
Total Cubic Feet 27 = Total Cubic Yards
Example: You are pouring a foundation wall that is 40 feet long, 8 feet high, and 8 inches thick (0.67 feet). Multiply 40 8 0.67 to get 214 cubic feet. Divide 214 by 27, and you discover you need 7.9 cubic yards of concrete. Add 5% for waste, and your final order to the ready-mix dispatcher should be 8.5 yards.
Don't Forget the Foundation Footing!
A poured wall or retaining wall cannot simply sit on top of bare dirt. It must be anchored to a continuous foundation footing poured deep beneath the frost line.
Our foundation wall calculator only estimates the volume for the vertical wall itself. You must use our Footing Calculator to separately estimate the concrete needed for the trench base. In residential construction, a standard footing for an 8-inch wall is typically 16 to 24 inches wide and 8 to 12 inches deep.