Free concrete calculator
Concrete Footing Cost Calculator
Estimate concrete volume, ready-mix cost, rebar allowance, and total footing material cost for deck posts, walls, and small foundations.
- Footing concrete
- 1.6 cu yd
- Ready-mix allowance
- $249
- Short-load fee
- $100
- Rebar allowance
- $180
Concrete Footing Estimating Notes
- Footing depth is usually driven by frost line, soil, and local code rather than by load alone.
- Small footing orders often trigger a short-load fee, so combining pours lowers your delivered cost.
- Rebar is cheap next to the cost of repairing an under-reinforced foundation.
- Footings must bear on undisturbed soil. Concrete poured over loose backfill will settle no matter how much steel is in it.
- A common deck footing is 12 inches square by 12 inches deep below the frost line, but frost depth ranges from nil in the Gulf states to 8 ft in the coldest northern counties.
- Pour footings and any slab on the same day where you can. One delivery avoids paying two short-load fees.
Concrete Footing Calculator FAQs
How do I calculate concrete for footings?
Multiply footing length by width by depth to get cubic feet, multiply by the number of footings, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Add about 10% waste before ordering.
Do footings need rebar?
Many footings require reinforcement, but the exact bar size and spacing depends on local code, soil, loads, and the structure being supported. Use the calculator as a budgeting tool, then confirm with plans or an engineer.
How deep should footings be?
Below the local frost line. That is essentially zero in parts of the Gulf Coast and up to 8 ft in the coldest northern counties. Your building department publishes the required depth for your area, and it is not a number worth guessing.
How wide should a footing be?
A spread footing under a wall is typically about twice the wall thickness. A 16-inch-wide footing under an 8-inch wall is common for residential work, though soil bearing capacity can push it wider.
What is a short-load fee?
Ready-mix suppliers add roughly $60 to $150 or more on orders under about 3 cubic yards to cover sending a truck out. Footing-only jobs almost always trigger it, which is why combining pours saves real money.
Can I pour footings with bagged concrete?
For a handful of deck piers, yes, and you avoid the short-load fee entirely. Past about one cubic yard, roughly 45 bags of 80 lb mix, ready-mix is both cheaper and far less work.