How to measure a wall
- Length: along the wall. For a foundation, add each wall as its own part or add up the runs.
- Height: from the top of the footing to the top of the wall.
- Thickness: the distance between the inside faces of the forms.
- Openings: add each door, window or blockout with its width, height and how many, and the calculator subtracts them.
The footing under the wall is a separate pour: add it as a strip footing part.
How wall volume is calculated
Find the face area (length × height), subtract the area of every opening, then multiply by the thickness. Here is a 20 ft wall, 8 ft high and 8 in thick, with one 3 × 7 ft door:
Wall
- Length: 20 ft
- Height: 8 ft
- Thickness: 8 in ÷ 12 = 0.6667 ft
- Wall face area: 20 ft × 8 ft = 160 ft²
- Opening 1: 3 ft × 7 ft × 1 = 21 ft²
- Net wall area: 160 ft² − 21 ft² = 139 ft²
- Volume: 139 ft² × 0.6667 ft = 92.6667 ft³
Total and order
- In cubic yards: 92.6667 ft³ ÷ 27 = 3.4321 yd³
- With 5% extra: 3.4321 yd³ × 1.05 = 3.6037 yd³
- Order, rounded up to the next 0.25 yd³: 3.75 yd³
Without the door the wall is 3.95 yd³; the door saves 0.52 yd³. Walls use a 5% default allowance because the forms hold the concrete to size.
Concrete per 10 ft of wall
Before any allowance for waste, with no openings.
| Wall | ft³ per 10 ft | yd³ per 10 ft | yd³ per 100 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft high, 6 in thick | 20 | 0.74 | 7.41 |
| 4 ft high, 8 in thick | 26.67 | 0.99 | 9.88 |
| 4 ft high, 10 in thick | 33.33 | 1.23 | 12.35 |
| 4 ft high, 12 in thick | 40 | 1.48 | 14.81 |
| 8 ft high, 6 in thick | 40 | 1.48 | 14.81 |
| 8 ft high, 8 in thick | 53.33 | 1.98 | 19.75 |
| 8 ft high, 10 in thick | 66.67 | 2.47 | 24.69 |
| 8 ft high, 12 in thick | 80 | 2.96 | 29.63 |
Wall pour tips
- Walls are heavy. The 20 × 8 ft × 8 in example weighs about 15,982 lb (8 tons) at about 150 lb/ft³. Forms and bracing must hold that while it's wet.
- Plan the trucks. Trucks carry 8 to 12 yd³ (NRMCA). Enter your supplier's truck size to see how many loads you need, and schedule them so the pour doesn't stall.
- Check wall thickness and reinforcement with your plans. This calculator works out concrete only; structural walls need a design from a professional.
- Add the footing too. One project with the footing and wall as parts gives a total for the whole foundation.
Questions people ask
How much concrete for an 8 ft wall?
A wall 20 ft long, 8 ft high and 8 in thick is 3.95 cubic yards. With 5% extra, order 4.25 yd³.
Do I subtract windows and doors?
Yes. Add each opening and its size. A 3 × 7 ft door in the wall above saves 0.52 cubic yards, bringing it to 3.43 cubic yards.
How many trucks for a wall pour?
Divide the order by the truck's capacity. Trucks carry 8 to 12 yd³ according to the NRMCA; the calculator assumes 10 yd³ unless you enter your supplier's size.
How much does a concrete wall weigh?
The 20 × 8 ft × 8 in example weighs about 15,982 lb, at 2,400 kg/m³ (about 150 lb/ft³).
Related calculators
Sources
- NRMCA, Concrete in Practice 31: Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete, retrieved October 2, 2026
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 product data sheet, retrieved October 2, 2026
- NRMCA, Concrete in Practice 36: Structural Lightweight Concrete, retrieved October 2, 2026
Last updated October 2, 2026. Read how we calculate, including formulas, waste defaults and rounding.