Concrete Stairs Calculator

Enter your steps, rise, run, and width to get the concrete, rebar, forms, tools, cost, and a step-by-step plan for pouring concrete stairs.

1. Draw your slab
Drag on the grid to draw. Snap shapes together, weld them into one slab, and hover a shape to add a connected piece with the +.

Add shape

Layers

Add a shape or drag on the grid to start your slab.

0'5'10'15'20'25'0'5'10'15'
2 ft
Drag to draw · grid = 1' control joints

Selected shape

Select a shape to edit its size, snap it to others, or weld it into one slab.

Arrows nudge · ⌫ delete · ⌘C / ⌘V copy & paste

2. Answer a few questions
Tell us what the slab is for and we'll suggest a thickness, base, strength, and reinforcement — override anything.

Set every value yourself.

Suggested 4"
Sold by the cubic yard; short-load fees apply under ~5 yd.

Vapor barrier

6-mil poly under interior / enclosed slabs

Include tool rental in total

Add advisory rental/buy estimates to the grand total

Extra concrete for spillage and uneven subgrade. 10% is typical.

3. Your plan
Materials, tools, cost, and a step-by-step build plan. Every unit price is editable.

Concrete

0.52 yd³

Footprint

0 ft²

Perimeter

0 ft

Concrete$124

Ready-mix concrete (3000 psi)

0.75 cu yd · Under 1 yd — most plants have a minimum + short-load fee. Bagged may be cheaper.

Alt: Bagged: 24 x 80 lb bags

$124

Materials$124
Tool rentalnot in total$185
Estimated total$124

From US average prices — click any price to match a local quote. Excludes delivery, permits, and labor.

Tools you'll need

  • WheelbarrowMove and place the concrete.
  • Screed board (straight 2x4)Longer than the form is wide.
  • Plate compactorrent ~$70/dayCompact the gravel base in 2" lifts.
  • Bull floatrent ~$55/dayFlatten and close the surface after screeding.
  • Magnesium hand floatDetail work and edges.
  • EdgerRounds and strengthens the slab perimeter.
  • GrooverTools control joints into the wet slab.
  • Shovel, steel rake & margin trowelSpread, pull, and detail the pour.
  • Gloves, eye protection & rubber bootsWet concrete is caustic — cover up.
  • Concrete saw + diamond bladerent ~$60/dayOnly if you cut control joints the next day instead of tooling them wet.

Rental prices show only for specialty gear — skip them if you already own it.

Step-by-step plan

Your build, tracked

Save this plan to Blueprint

Turn your slab into a project with the full step-by-step plan, tool list, and shopping list you can check off as you build — about $124 in materials.

About the concrete stairs calculator

Overview

Poured concrete stairs are estimated differently from a flat slab: the volume is the stacked wedge of every tread and riser, not a simple length times width. Enter the number of steps, the rise and run, and the stair width, and this tool computes the solid concrete volume, the rebar to tie the steps together, the form lumber for the sides and risers, and the finishing tools.

You can add a landing slab by drawing a footprint on the grid, and combine several stair runs. Prices are US averages you can edit, and the plan walks you through forming, reinforcing, pouring, and finishing the steps.

How to use this tool
  1. Set the number of steps, the rise (height) and run (depth) of each step in inches, and the stair width in feet.
  2. Add more stair runs, or draw a landing slab on the grid if your steps meet a pad.
  3. Choose a rebar size and spacing — concrete stairs are typically tied with #4 bar.
  4. Review the concrete volume, rebar, form lumber, and tools, editing any unit price to match local quotes.
  5. Follow the step-by-step plan, then save it to a Blueprint project.
Frequently asked questions