About

Strip footings (or continuous footings) are the most common type of foundation for load-bearing walls in residential construction. They distribute the weight of the building into the ground. Calculating the volume for these footings often involves summing up multiple linear segments (e.g., North wall, East wall, internal bearing walls).

This calculator allows you to input the total running length of your footings or break it down into segments. It uses standard concrete density to estimate the required volume and weight, helping you order the correct amount of Ready Mix concrete.

Formulas

The volume V is the product of the total length L, width W, and depth D.

V = ∑ (L_i × W_i × D_i)

If corners overlap, be careful not to double count the corner volume. This calculator assumes linear length input where corners are measured center-to-center or outer-to-outer appropriately.

Reference Data

Wall Type	Typical Width	Typical Depth	Rebar Config
1-Story Frame	12 - 16 inches	8 - 12 inches	2 x #4 bars
2-Story Frame	16 - 20 inches	10 - 12 inches	2-3 x #4 bars
1-Story Masonry	16 - 24 inches	10 - 14 inches	2-3 x #4 or #5
Basement Wall	24 - 36 inches	12 inches	3 x #4 or #5
Garage Footing	12 - 16 inches	12+ inches (Frost)	2 x #4
Internal Wall	16 inches	8 inches	2 x #4
Concrete Density	N/A	N/A	2400 kg/m³
Waste Factor	N/A	N/A	5 - 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

The most accurate method is to measure the centerline of the footing path. If you measure outer dimensions, you might overestimate slightly at the corners, which is usually a safe waste margin anyway.

Residential footings typically use 2500 psi to 3000 psi concrete. Always check your local building codes.

Yes, if you enable the Rebar option, it estimates the total linear footage of rebar needed based on the number of bars you specify (usually 2 or 3 running continuously).

Calculate each horizontal section as a separate segment. The vertical steps are usually small enough to be covered by the waste margin, or you can add them as short vertical segments.