Foundation Concrete Calculator

Estimate concrete volume and cost for multi-section foundations. Combine slabs, footings, and strip foundations into a single project summary.

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Category Foundation Concrete
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About

Foundation work rarely consists of a single perfect rectangle. A real house foundation might have a main slab, a garage extension, and deep strip footings under the load-bearing walls. This calculator allows you to model complex foundations by adding multiple 'sections'. It sums the total cubic yardage required for the entire pour.

Accurate concrete ordering is vital. Ordering 'short' (too little concrete) can ruin a pour by creating cold joints, while ordering too much wastes hundreds of dollars. This tool provides a consolidated total volume and an estimated cost based on local ready-mix prices.

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Formulas

The tool iterates through every added section, calculating individual volumes and summing them up.

Vtotal = ∑ (Li × Wi × Di)

Conversion to Cubic Yards (standard US delivery unit):

Volyd³ = Volft³27

Reference Data

Structure TypeTypical WidthTypical DepthNotes
Strip Footing (1-story)12" - 18"12" minDepends on soil bearing capacity
Strip Footing (2-story)18" - 24"12" minWider to distribute higher load
Slab-on-GradeN/A4" - 6"Standard garage or house floor
Thickened Edge12" - 24"12" - 24"Perimeter beam for monolithic slabs

Frequently Asked Questions

As of recent averages, ready-mix concrete costs between $125 and $160 per cubic yard depending on the region, additives (like fiber mesh or accelerators), and the PSI rating of the mix.
Absolutely. It is standard practice to add 5% to 10% to your order. This accounts for spillage, uneven subgrade (ground that isn't perfectly flat), and form bowing. The calculator allows you to define this waste percentage.
A strip footing is a continuous strip of concrete under a wall that spreads the weight of the wall into the soil. A slab is a flat horizontal surface (the floor). Often these are poured together (monolithic pour), but calculated geometrically as separate shapes.