Concrete Stairs Calculator
Estimate concrete for a poured set of steps. Enter the number of steps, rise, run, and width to get cubic yards, bag counts, and cost.
Results
- Concrete needed
- 0.79 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 0.87 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 21.39 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 0.61 m³
- 80 lb bags
- 40 bags
- 60 lb bags
- 53 bags
- 40 lb bags
- 79 bags
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
Pouring concrete steps off a porch, deck, or grade change? This stairs calculator treats each step as a stacked wedge to give an accurate cubic-yard and bag estimate.
Enter the number of steps, the rise and run, and the stair width. A standard 7-inch rise with an 11-inch run keeps the steps comfortable and to code in most areas.
Also used as a concrete steps calculator and poured staircase concrete estimator.
How to use the concrete stairs calculator
- Enter the number of steps.
- Enter the rise per step in in.
- Enter the run (tread depth) in in.
- Enter the stair width in ft.
- Enter the waste factor in %.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Number of steps
- 4
- Rise per step
- 7 in
- Run (tread depth)
- 11 in
- Stair width
- 4 ft
- Waste factor
- 10 %
Results
- Concrete needed
- 0.79 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 0.87 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 21.39 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 0.61 m³
- 80 lb bags
- 40 bags
- 60 lb bags
- 53 bags
- 40 lb bags
- 79 bags
Using the example values above, the concrete stairs calculator returns 0.79 cu yd (concrete needed). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
How is concrete for stairs calculated?
Solid poured steps form a stair-shaped mass. Each step from the top adds another rise × run block to the cross-section, so a 4-step run has 10 wedge-units of area. Multiply the total cross-section by the stair width and divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Most poured stairs are cast solid against compacted fill or a gravel base, which reduces the concrete needed — this calculator estimates the full solid mass so you never run short.
How much extra should I order?
Always order a little extra. A 5% waste factor suits simple, square projects; 10% is right for most jobs; bump it to 15–20% for irregular shapes, diagonal patterns, or uneven ground. Running short almost always costs more than the leftover material.
Concrete bag yields
| Bag size | Yield (cu ft) | Bags per cu yd |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.30 | 90 |
| 50 lb | 0.375 | 72 |
| 60 lb | 0.45 | 60 |
| 80 lb | 0.60 | 45 |
Formula
Each step is a stacked wedge: cross-section = Σ(step × rise × run). Total volume = cross-section × width. Cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27.
Frequently asked questions
- How much concrete do I need for stairs?
- Treat each step as a stacked wedge: multiply the rise by the run for each step, sum them, then multiply by the stair width and divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- What is a comfortable rise and run for stairs?
- A 7-inch rise with an 11-inch run is a standard, comfortable ratio for exterior concrete steps.
- How much concrete do I need for 4 steps?
- Four 7×11 in steps at 4 ft wide are roughly 0.5 cubic yards of solid concrete — about 22 bags of 80 lb mix — before any base fill.
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