Solid concrete steps
Concrete steps calculator
Three solid concrete steps with a 7 in rise, 11 in tread and 4 ft width need about 0.48 cubic yards, or 0.52 with 10% extra. At 0.60 ft³ per 80 lb bag that is 24 bags. Enter your own number of steps, rise, tread depth and width below, and add a landing if the steps lead to a platform. Last updated October 12, 2026.
Concrete steps estimate
Measurement system: Imperial. Solid steps poured to grade; planning estimate from the dimensions below.
Build your steps estimate
Enter the rise, tread depth and width. Add a landing if the steps lead to a platform.
Width is measured across the steps, out of the page. Diagram not to scale.
Net volume plus your selected extra.
VOLUME BREAKDOWN
WHOLE BAGS AT THESE YIELDS
This estimates solid concrete volume from the dimensions you enter. Bag yields are examples: use the mixed yield printed on your product. It does not set rise, run, footing, reinforcement or code requirements.
The formula
Each step is as tall as every rise below it
Solid steps are poured down to grade, so the bottom step is one rise tall, the next is two rises tall, and the top step is n rises tall. Every step is one tread deep and one step wide. Add the blocks together and the stepped volume is width × tread × rise × n(n+1) ÷ 2. A landing behind the top step is a plain box at the full height of the stairs.
Convert rise and tread from inches to feet by dividing by 12, then divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. In metric, use centimetres divided by 100 and metres for width, and the result is in cubic metres. The extra-material percentage is shown separately from the net volume.
Worked examples
Four sets of steps, calculated step by step
- Three steps, 4 ft wide, 7 in rise, 11 in tread. Rise 7 ÷ 12 = 0.5833 ft and tread 11 ÷ 12 = 0.9167 ft. One block is 4 × 0.9167 × 0.5833 = 2.1389 ft³, and the three steps hold 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 of them: 12.83 ft³ = 0.475 yd³. With 10% extra: 0.523 yd³ and 24 bags of 80 lb at 0.60 ft³.
- The same steps with a 4 ft × 3 ft landing. The landing is 4 × 3 × (3 × 7 ÷ 12 = 1.75 ft) = 21.00 ft³. Net total 33.83 ft³ = 1.253 yd³; with 10% extra 1.378 yd³ and 63 bags.
- A metric set: 4 steps, 18 cm rise, 28 cm tread, 1.2 m wide. 1.2 × 0.28 × 0.18 × (4 × 5 ÷ 2 = 10) = 0.6048 m³ = 0.791 yd³. With 10% extra: 0.665 m³.
- Total height instead of rise. A 28 in total rise over 4 steps is 7 in each. With an 11 in tread and 4 ft width the net volume is 21.39 ft³ = 0.792 yd³.
These are quantity calculations from the dimensions shown. They are not recommendations for step size.
Concrete volume by number of steps
- 1 step0.079 yd³
- 2 steps0.238 yd³
- 3 steps0.475 yd³
- 4 steps0.792 yd³
- 5 steps1.188 yd³
- 6 steps1.664 yd³
| Steps | Total rise (in) | Net yd³ | yd³ + 10% | 80 lb bags + 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 0.079 | 0.087 | 4 |
| 2 | 14 | 0.238 | 0.261 | 12 |
| 3 | 21 | 0.475 | 0.523 | 24 |
| 4 | 28 | 0.792 | 0.871 | 40 |
| 5 | 35 | 1.188 | 1.307 | 59 |
| 6 | 42 | 1.664 | 1.830 | 83 |
Volume grows faster than the number of steps because each added step is taller than the one before it. Going from three to six steps raises the net volume from 0.475 to 1.664 cubic yards, which is 3.50 times as much.
The 0.60 ft³ yield for an 80 lb bag is the approximate figure in the QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 datasheet, checked October 12, 2026. The same sheet lists 0.30, 0.375 and 0.45 ft³ for the 40, 50 and 60 lb bags. Other products differ, so use your product’s label. For bag-by-bag comparisons see the concrete bag calculator.
What this estimate leaves out
The calculator assumes the steps are solid concrete down to grade. It does not include the footing, compacted base, forms, reinforcement, handrail posts or finishing. If the steps are hollow or poured over a slab, the concrete thickness of each part must be calculated on its own. To price the concrete once you have a quantity, enter your supplier’s quote in the concrete cost calculator.
Common questions
Concrete steps questions
How do you calculate concrete for steps?
For solid steps poured to grade, multiply step width × tread depth × rise × n(n+1) ÷ 2, where n is the number of steps. Three steps that are 4 ft wide with an 11 in tread and 7 in rise give 12.83 ft³, or 0.48 cubic yards. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
How many bags of concrete do I need for 3 steps?
Three solid steps 4 ft wide with a 7 in rise and 11 in tread need 14.12 ft³ with 10% extra, which is 24 bags at 0.60 ft³ each. Use the mixed yield printed on your own bag, since yields differ by product.
Why does the formula use n(n+1) ÷ 2?
Solid steps go down to grade, so the first step is one rise tall, the second is two rises tall, and so on. Adding one, two, three and so on up to n gives n(n+1) ÷ 2 rises of concrete, each one tread deep and one step wide. Three steps add 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 blocks.
Does the estimate include a landing?
Only if you enter a landing depth. The landing sits behind the top step at the full height of the stairs. A 4 ft wide, 3 ft deep landing behind the three steps above adds 21.00 ft³ and brings the net total to 1.25 cubic yards.
What if I only know the total height?
Switch the rise to total height. The calculator divides it by the number of steps, so a 28 in total rise over 4 steps is a 7 in rise per step. Four steps 4 ft wide with an 11 in tread then need 0.79 cubic yards before extra.
How much concrete do wider steps need?
Volume scales directly with width. Widening the three steps above from 4 ft to 6 ft raises the net volume from 0.48 to 0.71 cubic yards, a 50% increase.
Are hollow steps or steps on a slab included?
No. This estimate assumes solid concrete down to grade. If the steps are formed hollow, built over a slab or footing, or use fill, calculate the actual concrete thickness of each part separately. The base, footing and reinforcement are also outside this tool.
What rise and tread depth should I use?
Use the dimensions on your plans. Required riser height, tread depth, handrails and landings depend on local building rules, and this calculator does not check them. Confirm requirements with your building authority before you pour.
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