HomeBuild Atlas

Concrete Projects

Concrete work rewards planning more than any other DIY project: the material sets on its own schedule, a short order creates a permanent cold joint, and mistakes are cast in stone. This hub collects every HomeBuild Atlas calculator, guide, and cost reference for flatwork, footings, and fence posts, in the order you will actually need them.

Plan a pour in three steps. First, calculate the volume with the waste allowance built in. Second, decide bags versus ready-mix based on that volume. Third, price the job with current per-yard and per-square-foot numbers so quotes do not surprise you.

Calculators

CalculatorConcrete CalculatorCubic yards and bag counts for slabs, patios, driveways, and footings, with waste allowance and ready-mix order rounding.Open calculator → CalculatorFence Post Concrete CalculatorBags per post and per fence line from hole diameter and depth, with post-hole sizing rules by fence height.Open calculator → CalculatorCubic Yard CalculatorAny shape to cubic yards, the first step of every estimate when your slab is not a simple rectangle.Open calculator →

Planning guides

ConcreteHow Much Concrete Do I Need?The full estimating method step by step, with worked examples for slabs, footings, and cylinders.Read guide → ConcreteHow to Calculate Concrete for a SlabThickened edges, footings, and irregular shapes, the details that catch most first estimates.Read guide → ConcreteConcrete Bags vs. Ready-MixThe real break-even point in cost, labor, and quality, and when each option wins.Read guide → ConcreteWhat Goes Under a Concrete Slab?Subgrade, gravel base, and vapor barrier: the layer stack that decides whether a slab lasts.Read guide → ConcreteConcrete Waste FactorHow much extra to order for forms, spillage, and subgrade variation, by project type.Read guide →

Costs & budgeting

CostsConcrete Cost per Yard (2026)Current ready-mix prices, short-load and delivery fees, and how order size changes the math.Read guide → CostsConcrete Slab Cost per Square FootInstalled pricing by project type, what labor really costs, and where DIY saves money.Read guide → CostsCost to Set Fence PostsPer-post budgets for concrete, posts, and labor, and the bags-per-post math.Read guide →

Order of operations for a typical slab

Excavate and compact the subgrade, then place and compact the gravel base (size it with the gravel calculator). Set forms to final grade with a 1-2% slope for drainage (check it with the slope calculator). Calculate volume, add waste, and round up to the supplier's half-yard increment. Pour, screed, float, cut control joints within 12 hours, and cure for at least 7 days before loading. Our methodology page documents every formula and assumption behind these tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does concrete cost in 2026?

Ready-mix concrete runs $125 to $180 per cubic yard delivered for a standard 3,000-4,000 PSI residential mix. Installed flatwork, including labor, forms, and finishing, typically lands at $6 to $12 per square foot.

Should I use bags or order ready-mix?

Below roughly one cubic yard (about 45 bags of 80 lb mix), bagged concrete is practical. Above that, ready-mix is cheaper per yard, far less work, and produces a more consistent pour without cold joints.

How thick should a concrete slab be?

4 inches is standard for patios, sidewalks, and shed slabs. Driveways and garage slabs that carry vehicles need 5 to 6 inches, and many slabs thicken to 8-12 inches at the edges.

What goes under a concrete slab?

Compacted subgrade, then 4 or more inches of compacted gravel base, then a vapor barrier where moisture matters. Skipping base prep is the most common cause of slab cracking and settling.