To calculate concrete from PDF plans, measure each slab area in square feet, multiply by the thickness in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 to get cubic yards, and then order 4 to 10 percent more than that plan estimate, as the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) advises. MeasureSet does the measuring on Windows: calibrate the sheet, outline each slab, give the label a depth and a waste percent, and it totals cubic yards for the sheet and the set and exports them to Excel.
The arithmetic is easy. Getting the areas right from a plan, and not forgetting a thickened edge or a pad, is where estimates go wrong.
Measure slab areas off the PDF and get cubic yards from a depth, for the whole set.
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What is the formula for concrete cubic yards?
- Area. Length times width, in feet, gives square feet.
- Volume. Square feet times thickness in feet gives cubic feet. Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12: 4 in is 0.333 ft, 6 in is 0.5 ft.
- Cubic yards. Divide cubic feet by 27, because a cubic yard is 3 ft by 3 ft by 3 ft.
- Add the extra. Multiply by 1.04 to 1.10.
What does that look like on real slabs?
| Pour | Size | Thickness | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | With 4 percent | With 10 percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garage slab | 24 x 24 ft | 4 in | 192 | 7.11 | 7.40 | 7.82 |
| Patio | 12 x 16 ft | 4 in | 64 | 2.37 | 2.47 | 2.61 |
| Shop floor | 30 x 40 ft | 6 in | 600 | 22.22 | 23.11 | 24.44 |
| Driveway | 12 x 50 ft | 5 in | 250 | 9.26 | 9.63 | 10.19 |
| Continuous footing | 160 ft x 20 in wide | 10 in deep | 222 | 8.23 | 8.56 | 9.05 |
Figures are the arithmetic above, rounded to two decimals.
How much extra concrete should I order?
NRMCA’s Concrete in Practice sheet CIP 31, Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete says the quantity ordered should be 4 to 10 percent more than an estimate calculated from the plan dimensions, to account for contingencies. It also notes that truck mixer capacity varies between 8 and 12 cubic yards, and advises against ordering excessive concrete or small clean-up loads.
NRMCA’s TIP 8, Concrete Yield explains why: concrete is sold by volume under ASTM C94/C94M, actual yield can vary by about 1 to 3 percent depending on air content, and real pours lose concrete to spillage, form deflection, over-excavated subgrade and the mixer drum. Both NRMCA documents checked on 17 October 2026.
Lean toward the higher end when the subgrade is uneven, the forms are long and flexible, or the pour is small enough that a short load would be costly.
What do people miss on concrete takeoffs?
- Thickened edges and grade beams. A 4 in slab with a 12 in thickened edge around the perimeter has a lot more concrete than the slab area suggests.
- Pads and piers. Equipment pads, column footings and stoops are small individually and add up.
- Different thicknesses in one slab. A garage apron at 6 in next to a 4 in floor.
- Steps and curbs. Measure them as separate pieces.
- Reduced drawings. A plan printed to fit smaller paper is not at its stated scale. Calibrate from a dimension.
How do I do a concrete takeoff in MeasureSet?
MeasureSet is a Windows takeoff app for plan PDFs that exports to Excel.
- Open the plans. Choose Open, then PDF plan. The Sheets list shows each page’s size and whether it is calibrated.
- Calibrate. Choose Calibrate, click both ends of a long printed dimension, and type its length, such as 40’-0”. Check a second dimension with the segment tool.
- Make a label per pour type. For example, Slab 4 in, Apron 6 in, Pads 12 in. Give each label its depth; area marks with that label then carry a volume.
- Add waste. Give the label a waste percent between 4 and 10, following the NRMCA guidance above.
- Outline the areas. Use the area or rectangle tool for slabs and pads. For a closed room, one click inside it with the room tool adds its floor area.
- Handle footings. Outline footing runs as areas at their width, with a depth on the label, or measure their length and work out width times depth in Excel.
- Read the totals. Totals build for each sheet and for the whole set.
- Export. Save an .xlsx with Marks and Totals sheets, a CSV, or a marked-up PDF with a totals page to send with the bid.
Run one of your recent slab takeoffs in MeasureSet during the 15-day free trial and compare the yards.
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How do I turn cubic yards into an order?
Divide your total by the truck size your supplier uses to plan loads, and talk to the dispatcher about the last load. CIP 31 also asks you to give the producer the mix specification, the placement method, delivery timing and site access, so the order is more than a number. Reevaluate the quantity needed to complete the pour as it progresses, so the last load is sized right.
What are MeasureSet’s limits for concrete?
- No circle or arc tool. Round piers and curved slabs need to be approximated with segments, or calculated in Excel from the diameter.
- One scale per sheet. A detail drawn at a different scale on the same sheet will not read right; measure it on its own calibrated sheet.
- No assemblies or cost database. MeasureSet gives quantities. Rebar, mesh, forms and pricing are done in your spreadsheet.
- PDF plans only. It does not read CAD files.
When is a different tool better?
If you want assemblies that turn one area into concrete, rebar, vapor barrier and labor at once, a takeoff product with assemblies and a cost database fits better. Our page on one-time purchase takeoff software explains how the options differ. For a single small patio, a calculator and a tape measure are enough.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards is a 10 x 10 slab at 4 inches?
100 sq ft times 0.333 ft is 33.3 cu ft, divided by 27 is about 1.23 cubic yards before any extra.
Does MeasureSet show cubic yards directly?
Yes. Give an area label a depth and every mark with that label carries a volume, totaled for each sheet and the set.
Can MeasureSet add waste automatically?
Yes. Give a label a waste percent and every mark with that label follows.
Does it work with metric plans?
Yes. MeasureSet works in imperial or metric units, with metric scales and calibration in meters.
Will it change my PDF plans?
No. Your plan PDF is never written over. Marked-up PDFs are new files.
Try MeasureSet
MeasureSet is a one-time purchase in the Microsoft Store, with a 15-day free trial. Calibrate a foundation plan, outline the slabs, and export the cubic yards to Excel. For more, see how to do a takeoff from PDF plans, how to set scale on a PDF drawing, or the MeasureSet product page.
Order the right concrete, from measurements you can show.
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Microsoft, Excel and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. ASTM is a trademark of ASTM International. Other names are trademarks of their owners. MeasureSet is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Last updated 17 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.