Concrete Footing Calculator
Combine continuous (strip) footings and pad footings into one concrete order. Enter the total run of strip footing and the number and size of pads.
Concrete Footing Calculator — ConcreteNear.com
| Continuous footing volume | 3.29 yd³ |
| Pad footing volume | 0 yd³ |
| Concrete volume (exact) | 3.29 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 88.9 ft³ |
| 80-lb bags (if mixing by hand) | 163 |
| 60-lb bags | 218 |
| Ready-mix trucks (10 yd³ each) | 1 |
| Approximate weight in place | 6.4 tons |
Cost estimate U.S. average prices
| Ready-mix concrete 3.75 yd³ × $160.00 | $600.00 |
| Short-load fee (last load 3.75 yd³ < 6 yd³) 1 load × $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Estimated total | $750.00 |
- Small pours often carry a short-load fee. Volumetric (mix-on-site) trucks let you pay only for what you pour.
| Inputs | |
| Continuous footing length (total run) | 100 ft |
| Footing width | 16 in |
| Footing depth (thickness) | 8 in |
| Number of pad footings | 0 |
| Extra for waste & over-excavation | 10% |
| Ready-mix truck size | 10 yd³ |
| Short-load minimum | 6 yd³ |
Planning estimate only — confirm with your supplier or contractor.
Prices used — edit any price to match your local quote
| Item | Unit price | Basis & source |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete per yd³ | public source NRMCA Performance Benchmarking Survey — average 2023 U.S. selling price per cubic yard (2023 data) — Plant price before delivery, short-load, wait-time and fuel fees. Concrete Financial Insights reports $179.95/yd³ for 2025 across four public producers (likely higher than small residential pours). | |
| Short-load fee (per truck under the minimum) per load | starting estimate Starting estimate. Ready-mix producers charge a flat or per-yard fee for small loads; ask your dispatcher. |
How to use this calculator
- Add up the total length of all strip footings (the full perimeter plus any interior runs).
- Enter footing width and depth from your plans.
- Add any pad footings for posts or columns.
- Use 10% or more extra — trenches are rarely dug exactly to size.
Formulas
Strip footing ft³ = total length × width (in) ÷ 12 × depth (in) ÷ 12Pad ft³ = pads × length × width × depth (all in ÷ 12)Order yd³ = (strip + pads) ÷ 27 × (1 + waste %)
Questions
How big should a footing be?
Footing size depends on the load and the soil. Building codes (such as the IRC tables) give minimums for houses; use your plans or engineer's numbers.
Why add so much waste to footings?
Earth-formed footings are dug by machine and are almost always wider or deeper than drawn. 10–15% extra is common.
Can I pour footings and walls together?
Sometimes (monolithic pours), but most foundations are poured in two placements. Use the wall calculator for the wall.
Sources & assumptions
Prices checked 2026-11-10. State pricing multiplies national figures by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (goods for materials, services for labor and services). RPPs compare general consumer price levels (U.S. = 100). They are not construction-specific; we use RPP Goods for materials and RPP Services: Other (excludes rents) for labor and services.
- Ready-mix concrete — NRMCA Performance Benchmarking Survey — average 2023 U.S. selling price per cubic yard (2023 data). Plant price before delivery, short-load, wait-time and fuel fees. Concrete Financial Insights reports $179.95/yd³ for 2025 across four public producers (likely higher than small residential pours).
Starting estimates No public price series was found for: Short-load fee (per truck under the minimum). These defaults are editable placeholders — replace them with a local quote.
Results are planning estimates, not quotes or engineering advice. Codes, specifications and your supplier's numbers govern.
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