How much does a cubic yard of concrete cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — spread thinner, it covers more; poured thicker, less. The table below does the division for the common slab thicknesses.
Coverage per yard — the quick numbers
- 1 cubic yard
- 27 ft³
- At 4 in thick
- covers 81 sq ft
- At 6 in thick
- covers 54 sq ft
- Formula
- sq ft × thickness (ft) ÷ 27 = yd³
- Typical patio slab
- 4 in · driveways & aprons 5–6 in
Coverage by thickness
| Thickness | 1 yd³ covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 in | 93 sq ft | interior floors, light-duty pads |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | patios, walkways, shed slabs |
| 5 in | 65 sq ft | garage slabs, heavier workshops |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | driveway aprons, equipment pads |
Figures are geometry (27 ÷ thickness in feet), rounded to the square foot — real pours on imperfect ground come in a little under, which is what the waste factor absorbs.
Working the formula backwards
square feet × thickness (ft) ÷ 27 = cubic yards
Measure your area, convert the thickness to feet, multiply and divide by 27. A 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 in works out to about 1.78 yd³ — with the 10% waste factor and quarter-yard rounding, that's a 2 yd³ order. Metered trucks bill what's actually poured, so rounding up never costs you the difference.
Let the calculator do the division
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Frequently asked questions
How many square feet does a yard of concrete cover at 4 inches?
81 square feet. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and 4 inches is 1/3 of a foot: 27 ÷ 1/3 = 81. At 6 inches the same yard covers 54 square feet.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply your area in square feet by the thickness in feet (4 in = 0.33 ft), then divide by 27. Example: a 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 in is 144 × 0.33 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.78 yd³ — order 2 yd³ with the waste factor. The patio calculator does this for you.
Does sandy ground change how much concrete I need?
Yes — coverage math assumes a flat, compacted base. Florida sand settles and over-digs, so real pours routinely take 5–15% more than the geometry says. That's why our calculators add a 10% waste factor, and why metered billing only charges the yards actually poured.
How thick should my slab be?
4 inches is the Florida standard for patios, walkways and shed slabs. Go 5–6 inches wherever vehicles or heavy equipment sit — driveway aprons, garage floors, generator pads.