Concrete Stairs and Steps Calculator

How much concrete for steps? Enter your stairs below.

Project Details
Enter your measurements and requirements
$
$
Results
Calculated estimates for your project
Concrete, with waste0.52 cu yd (14.1 cu ft, 0.40 m³)
Premix bags24 x 80 lb, 32 x 60 lb or 48 x 40 lb
Bagged vs ready-mix$156 in bags vs $340 delivered (with a short-load fee). Bags is cheaper.
WeightAbout 2,118 lb
Rebar27 ft of #4, 2 sticks of 20 ft
Form cut list1 sheets of 3/4 in plywood for the sides, 3 riser boards 4 ft long, 10 stakes
Code checkPasses IRC rise and tread limits. 2R + T = 25.0 in, comfortable

Turn these numbers into a build plan.

  • 0.52 yd³ concrete
  • 24 80 lb bags
  • 2 sticks rebar
Materials List
Recommended materials and quantities
Concrete24 bags, 80 lb
#4 rebar, 20 ft2 sticks
3/4 in plywood1 sheets
Riser boards12 linear ft
3 steps, 7.00 in rise x 11 in run

Pouring a landing pad or patio at the bottom? Size it with the concrete slab calculator. Wood steps instead? Use the stair stringer calculator.

Show your build

Finished the concrete stairs and steps? Snap a before and after. The photo maker lines them up into one image you can post, and a free Blueprint account keeps the photos with your measurements and materials.

Make a before and after
Project plan · built from your numbers

Pour 3 concrete steps

3 steps at 7.00 in rise and 11 in run, 4 ft wide: 0.52 yd³ of concrete with waste.

Materials
$262
Time
2 weekends plus cure
Level
Advanced
5 steps 6 tools 6 materials
  1. 1

    Check the layout

    Confirm 3 equal risers of 7.00 in and treads of 11 in. Code allows up to 7-3/4 in rise and at least 10 in tread.

    • Total rise measured
    • Footing or frost depth checked
    • Permit if attached to the house
  2. 2

    Build the forms

    Cut both side forms to the stair profile, set riser boards with a slight slope for drainage, and brace everything; wet concrete pushes hard.

    • Side forms plumb
    • Risers beveled and braced
    • Form release applied
  3. 3

    Set steel and fill

    Tie #4 bars along the flight and across each nosing, on chairs. Dowel into the slab or wall below.

    • Rebar tied
    • Dowels set
01 · Your numbers
Concrete
0.52 yd³
80 lb bags
24
Rebar
2 sticks
Est. cost
$262
02 · The plan

5 steps · 6 tools · 6 materials

2 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.

03 · Finished

Your plan is 60% built. Save it.

3/5

Pour 3 concrete steps

Finished in 2 weekends plus cure · $262 DIY

Built for your concrete of 0.52 yd³. Your first plan saves free. No card needed.

Or save it with just your email

We send a link; open it and this plan is your first project. Your first plan saves free. No card needed.

Borrow these 6 tools from neighbors

How to calculate concrete for stairs

Each step is a block resting on the ground, so the steps total width x run x rise x n(n+1)/2 for n steps. Suspended stairs are a sloped waist slab plus the step triangles instead.

  1. Size the risers. Measure the total rise from the ground to the top and divide by 7.5 in, rounding up, for the number of risers. Divide the total rise by that count for the exact riser height.
  2. Add up each step. Step i is width x run x (i x rise). Three 7 x 11 in steps 4 ft wide: 4 x 0.917 x 0.583 x (1 + 2 + 3) = 12.8 cu ft.
  3. Add the landing. A top landing is width x depth x total rise. A 36 in landing on those steps adds 21.0 cu ft.
  4. Subtract fill, add waste. Gravel or rubble fill in the core of 4 or more steps cuts the concrete; then add about 10% for waste.
  5. Convert to yards and bags. Divide cubic feet by 27 for yards or by 0.60 for 80 lb bags: the 3 steps are 0.48 cu yd, about 24 bags with waste.
  6. Form, pour and cure. Cut side forms to the profile, bevel the riser boards, tie the steel, pour from the bottom step up, strip at 24 to 48 hours and keep traffic off for 7 days.

Concrete needed for common step counts

7 in rise, 11 in run, no landing, with 10% waste
Steps36 in wide48 in wide60 in wide80 lb bags at 48 in
20.20 cu yd0.26 cu yd0.33 cu yd12
30.39 cu yd0.52 cu yd0.65 cu yd24
40.65 cu yd0.87 cu yd1.09 cu yd40
50.98 cu yd1.31 cu yd1.63 cu yd59
61.37 cu yd1.83 cu yd2.29 cu yd83
82.35 cu yd3.14 cu yd3.92 cu yd142

Rise and run for concrete steps

The IRC limits risers to 7-3/4 in and treads to no less than 10 in, with no more than 3/8 in difference between steps. Outdoors, slope each tread about 1/4 in toward the front so water runs off. A rule of comfort: two risers plus one tread near 24 to 25 in. For wood stairs, the stairs calculator and stair stringer calculator lay out the cuts.

Forming concrete steps

Cut two side forms from 3/4 in plywood to the stair profile and stake them plumb. Set a 2x riser board at each step with its bottom edge beveled so the trowel can reach the back of the tread, and brace the risers at mid-span; wet concrete pushes hard. Tie #4 rebar along the flight and across each nosing on chairs. Pour the bottom step first and work up, then strip the risers at 24 to 48 hours to finish the faces.

Bags or ready-mix?

Most 3 to 4 step flights are under 1 cubic yard, where bags are cheaper. Past about 1 yard, ready-mix wins even with a short-load fee, and a single pour avoids cold joints. The concrete calculator compares both for any shape, and the concrete mix calculator covers mixing by hand. Footings under the steps? Use the concrete footing calculator and keep the concrete cheat sheet handy on pour day.

Concrete stairs calculator FAQ

How much concrete do I need for concrete stairs?

Add up width x run x height for each step, then add any landing. Three 7 x 11 in steps 4 ft wide are 12.8 cu ft, or 0.48 cubic yards before waste. With a 36 in top landing it is 1.25 cubic yards.

How many bags of concrete for 3 steps?

3 steps at 7 in rise, 11 in run and 4 ft wide take 12.8 cu ft. With 10% waste that is 24 bags of 80 lb or 32 bags of 60 lb.

How many bags of concrete for 4 steps?

4 steps at 7 in rise, 11 in run and 4 ft wide take 21.4 cu ft. With 10% waste that is 40 bags of 80 lb or 53 bags of 60 lb.

How many bags of concrete for 5 steps?

5 steps at 7 in rise, 11 in run and 4 ft wide take 32.1 cu ft. With 10% waste that is 59 bags of 80 lb or 79 bags of 60 lb.

Do concrete steps need a footing?

Steps attached to a house or porch usually need footings below the frost line, or they heave and pull away. Freestanding garden steps on a compacted gravel base are often fine in mild climates. Ask your building department.

Can I fill the inside of concrete steps with gravel?

Yes. For 4 or more steps, compacted gravel, clean rubble or a void form in the core can cut the concrete by a third or more. Keep at least 4 in of concrete on every face and over the fill.

How thick should a concrete landing be?

A landing slab at the bottom is usually 4 in, like a sidewalk. A top landing at a door must be at least as deep as the door is wide, 36 in minimum, and is poured solid with the steps.

How long before I can walk on concrete steps?

Strip the riser boards after 24 to 48 hours. Light foot traffic is fine after about 2 days, normal use after 7 days, and the concrete reaches full strength at 28 days.

How much do concrete steps cost per step?

DIY materials run about $40 to $80 per step for a 4 ft wide flight (concrete, forms and rebar). Contractors typically charge $300 to $700 per step installed.

What size rebar do concrete stairs need?

#4 bar at about 12 in along the flight, plus a bar across each nosing, doweled into the slab or wall below so the steps cannot separate.

What is a comfortable rise and run for stairs?

A 7 in rise with an 11 in run is comfortable and within code. The IRC allows up to 7-3/4 in rise and at least 10 in tread, with no more than 3/8 in variation between steps. Two risers plus one tread should land near 24 to 25 in.

Related calculators

All calculators

Concrete Calculator

Cubic yards, bags and cost for slabs, footings, walls, columns, stairs and curbs

Concrete Slab Calculator

Draw any slab shape and get a full materials list, tools, cost, and step-by-step plan

Stair Stringer Calculator

Stringer layout with a to-scale diagram, framing square marks, throat, headroom and a cut list

Related cheat sheets

All cheat sheets

Concrete Cheat Sheet

Curing calculator with walk and drive-on dates, strength chart by temperature, mix ratios by PSI, bags per yard, control joints and weather rules

Masonry Joint Type Visual Guide

Visual reference illustrating common mortar joints and weather resistance advice

Retaining Wall Guide

Block selection, base preparation, drainage requirements, and height limitations

Plan the whole project

Turn these numbers into a full project plan

DIYProject.ai turns your measurements into an ordered task list, a complete materials list, and a priced shopping cart, then tracks your spend as you build. The calculators and cheat sheets stay free, no account required.

Get your free planPlan any project with AI