Concrete Driveway Calculator
Find the cubic yards and ready-mix cost for a concrete driveway from its length, width, thickness and price per yard.
How it works
cubic yards = length × width × (thickness ÷ 12) ÷ 27 · cost = cubic yards × price per yard · order = volume × 1.10
Length and width are in feet while thickness is in inches, so thickness is divided by 12 to reach feet; multiplying the three gives cubic feet, and dividing by 27 converts to cubic yards. Driveways carry vehicles, so 5–6 inches is normal rather than the 4 inches used for patios. Order about 10% extra — a truck arriving short mid-pour risks a cold joint, and suppliers round to the quarter yard anyway.
Worked example
A 20 × 12 ft driveway at 5 in: 20 × 12 × (5 ÷ 12) = 100 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 3.70 cubic yards. With 10% waste that is 4.07 yards; at $160 per yard the concrete runs about $652.
Frequently asked questions
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
Four inches carries cars on a well-prepared base, but 5–6 inches is standard where trucks, RVs or freeze-thaw are in play. Thicker slabs also let you space control joints farther apart.
Does this include the gravel base or rebar?
No — this is concrete volume and cost only. Budget separately for 4–6 inches of compacted gravel base and for rebar or wire mesh, which most driveways need for crack control.
Why order 10% extra?
Subgrade is never perfectly flat, forms bow slightly, and some concrete is always lost to spillage. Running short forces a second batch and a cold joint, so rounding up is cheap insurance.
Related calculators
Estimates only — add for waste and confirm against local building codes and supplier specs.