Concrete steps calculator
How much concrete a set of solid outdoor steps needs, in cubic yards and 60 or 80 lb bags.
- 80 lb bags
- 60 lb bags
- Total rise and run
Assumes solid steps poured on the ground, each step resting on the one below. A separate landing at the top is not included.
How to use it
Enter how many steps you're pouring, the height of each step (rise) and its depth (tread), both in inches, and the width of the steps in feet. The calculator works out the concrete for solid steps poured on the ground, where each step sits on the one below.
Use the stair calculator first if you need to work out the number of steps and the rise from the total height.
How it's calculated
Each step is a block as wide as the steps and as deep as one tread. The bottom step is one rise tall, the next is two rises tall (because it sits on the first), and so on.
- Volume = width × tread × rise × (1 + 2 + … + number of steps), in feet.
- 1 + 2 + … + n = n × (n + 1) ÷ 2.
- Add the waste allowance, then cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag yield (0.60 cu ft for 80 lb, 0.45 for 60 lb), rounded up.
| Steps (4 ft wide, 7 in rise, 11 in tread) | Concrete, no extra | 80 lb bags with 10% extra |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0.24 cu yd | 12 |
| 3 | 0.48 cu yd | 24 |
| 4 | 0.79 cu yd | 40 |
| 5 | 1.19 cu yd | 59 |
Tips
- Code limits still apply to outdoor steps that lead to a door: in most US homes, risers up to 7¾ in and treads at least 10 in. Check your local code.
- Make every step the same height. A step that's even slightly taller or shorter than the rest is a trip hazard.
- Steps against a house usually need a footing and sometimes a connection to the foundation. Check local requirements before pouring.
- Hollow forms or fill: filling the inside of tall steps with compacted gravel or rubble reduces concrete. If you do, the calculator's figure is an upper limit.