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How much concrete do I need for a 10x10 slab?

By the YardBrick Editorial Team · Last updated October 5, 2026

A 10x10 slab poured 4 inches thick takes 1.36 cubic yards of concrete, including 10% extra for waste.

Check it with your own numbers

Open the Concrete Calculator with these values

Length	10 ft
Width	10 ft
Thickness	4 in
Extra for waste	10 %
Concrete needed	1.36 yd³
Cubic feet	36.7 ft³
80 lb bags	62
60 lb bags	82

Where the number comes from

Multiply 10 ft by 10 ft by 0.333 ft (4 inches) and you get 33.3 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to turn that into cubic yards, then add 10% for a subgrade that is never perfectly flat. That lands at 1.36 yd³, or 36.7 ft³ of mixed concrete.

Truck or bags?

At this size you are right on the line. In bags it works out to 62 of the 80 lb size or 82 of the 60 lb size. That is a long afternoon with a mixer and at least two people. Many ready-mix plants have a 1 yard minimum and charge a short-load fee under 4 or 5 yards, so call around before you decide. If the fee is under about $150, the truck usually wins on labor alone.

Typical uses for a 10x10 pad

Shed base for an 8x10 or 10x10 shed
Hot tub pad (go 5 to 6 inches if the tub is over 4,000 lb filled)
Small patio off a back door

Things that change the yardage

Thickened edges are the big one. If you turn down the perimeter to 8 inches deep and 8 inches wide for a shed, add roughly 0.3 yd³ for the 40 ft of edge. Soft spots you dig out and fill with concrete also eat material fast. A low spot that is 1 inch deeper across half the slab adds about 0.15 yd³.

Check the forms with a string line before the pour. Forms that bow out half an inch on every side are another few bags you did not plan for.

Prep checklist

4 inches of compacted gravel base under the slab
6x6 W1.4 wire mesh or #3 rebar at 18 inches on center, set on chairs
Slope of 1/8 inch per foot away from any building
Control joint cut across the middle, making two 5x10 panels