concrete repairs

How to Calculate Cubic Meters of Concrete

The calculation of the cubic meters of concrete to pour into a framed area is easy. By following these simple steps, you can find the required amount quickly and with little chance of over or under estimating the amount needed.

Instructions

How to calculate cubic meters of concrete

  1. Measure the length and width of the area where concrete will be poured in feet and inches. If the area is not a simple square or rectangle, divide it into sections to allow it to be measured as close as possible to a rectangle. For example, if you are trying to place a concrete slab that is 30 feet (9 m) long but changes its width 10 feet (3 m), you might chose to measure the area in a series of rectangles 10 feet long by 20 feet (6 m) wide, 10 feet long by 15 feet (4.5 m) wide and 10 feet long by 10 feet wide.
  2. Measure the depth of the area where the concrete will be poured in feet and inches. If you have multiple sections in Step 1, measures the depth of each section. Using measurements of the sample in step 1, the grouping of the numbers might look like this: 10 feet (3 m) long by 20 feet (6 m) wide by 6 inches (15 cm) deep, 10 feet long and 15 feet (4.57 m) wide by 6 inches deep and 10 feet long by 10 feet wide by 6 inches deep.
  3. Multiply the length by the width by the depth of each section. If you have different sections, add the results of each equation to arrive at a total number. This total is your total cubic feet. The total number of cubic feet of the sample would be 225 cubic feet (6.37 cubic meters).
  4. Divide the total number of cubic feet to be cast by 27, which will give you the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard. In this example, 225 cubic feet (6.37 cubic meters) divided by 27 is equal to 8.33. You have 8.33 cubic yards (6.37 cubic meters) of concrete that will be poured in this example.
  5. Finally, convert your cubic yards to cubic meters by multiplying the cubic yards by 0.764554857992 (the amount of cubic meters in a cubic yard). The total number of cubic meters at you will need in this example is 6.37 (rounded to the third decimal).

Tips & Warnings

  • Add 10 percent to the total cubic meters of concrete you will need. This will cover the loss of concrete pouring and make sure you have enough.
  • Always check your original measures. Be careful when working with concrete and around. Do not let them come into contact with skin or eyes, keep a first aid kit nearby and use personal protective equipment.