How to Calculate the Cubic Area for Concrete

The formula for calculating the cubic area for concrete is very simple and will allow you to properly determine the exact amount of concrete you will need for any project.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Paper
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Build your forms (framing) for your project being certain to securely anchor them.

2. Measure the inside dimensions (length, width and height) of the framing and record these measurements.

3. Multiply the length times the width times the height to determine the cubic area of your project. Example: A 10-foot square patio that will be 6 inches thick would be 120 inches x 120 inches x 6 inches = 86,400 inches.

4. Divide your answer by the number of cubic inches in a cubic yard (46,656 inches). For the example above it would be 86,400 inches divided by 46,656 inches = 1.85.

5. The answer to step 4 will be the amount of cubic feet of concrete you will need to complete your project.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make your calculations on paper, but measuring the actual framing will give you more precise calculations.

• Check with your local vendors to determine the minimum amount of concrete they will deliver.