Concrete Wall Calculator
Enter the length, height and thickness of a poured wall. Add the footing as a second area to get one order for both.
Last updated November 13, 2026
How to calculate concrete for a wall
Wall volume = length × height × thickness. Thickness is usually in inches, so divide by 12.
Example: a 20 ft wall, 4 ft high and 8 inches thick is 20 × 4 × 0.667 = 53.3 cubic feet, or 1.98 cubic yards.
Cubic yards per 10 ft of wall
| Wall height | 6 in thick | 8 in thick | 10 in thick | 12 in thick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ft | 0.56 | 0.74 | 0.93 | 1.11 |
| 4 ft | 0.74 | 0.99 | 1.23 | 1.48 |
| 6 ft | 1.11 | 1.48 | 1.85 | 2.22 |
| 8 ft | 1.48 | 1.98 | 2.47 | 2.96 |
Multiply by your wall length divided by 10. A 35 ft wall at 4 ft high and 8 inches thick is 0.99 × 3.5 = 3.46 cubic yards.
Things that change the number
- Openings: subtract doors and windows, or enter the wall in sections.
- Footing: it is a separate pour. Add it as its own area.
- Form pressure: tall forms bow outward and use more concrete than the drawing. Allow 5% to 10%.
- Pump or chute: wall pours often need a pump. Ask your supplier what is left in the line and hopper.
Retaining walls and foundation walls are structural. Thickness, height and reinforcement come from your local code or an engineer.
Poured concrete wall cost: what to add up
This concrete wall calculator gives you the volume, and volume drives the concrete line of the bill. A poured wall 20 ft long, 4 ft high and 8 inches thick is 53.3 cubic feet, or 1.98 cubic yards. With 10% extra you would order 2.25 yards.
- Concrete: yards ordered × the price per yard, plus delivery and any short-load fee.
- Forms: rented or built. Wall forms are a large part of the cost of a poured wall.
- Reinforcement: rebar as shown on the plans. Count it with the rebar calculator.
- Placing: tall or hard-to-reach walls may need a pump truck.
Enter your supplier’s price per yard in the ready-mix section of the calculator to see the concrete total. If you are comparing a poured wall with a block wall, count the blocks with the concrete block calculator. Retaining walls have their own page: retaining wall concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate concrete for a wall?
Multiply length × height × thickness, all in feet, and divide by 27. A 20 ft wall, 4 ft high and 8 inches thick is 20 × 4 × 0.667 = 53.3 cubic feet, or 1.98 cubic yards.
Does the wall calculator include the footing?
No. Add the footing as a second area using the footing shape, and the calculator totals both.
How do I subtract a door or window opening?
Work out the opening as width × height × wall thickness and subtract it from the total, or enter the wall in sections on each side of the opening.
How thick should a concrete wall be?
Residential foundation walls are commonly 8 to 10 inches thick, but the required thickness depends on height, soil pressure and your local code.
How do I estimate the cost of a poured concrete wall?
Work out the cubic yards, multiply by your supplier’s price per yard, then add delivery, forms, rebar and labor. A 20 ft × 4 ft × 8 in wall is 1.98 cubic yards.