Concrete Sidewalk Calculator
Calculate cubic yards of concrete for a sidewalk or walkway from its run length and width, plus material cost at your price per yard.
How this calculator works
A sidewalk or walkway is a long, narrow rectangular pour, so this calculator treats the total run as length and the walk’s width as width, multiplying by depth to find cubic feet, then dividing by 27 for cubic yards.
Formula: Cubic yards = (Length ft × Width ft × Depth ft) ÷ 27.
Worked example
A 30 ft walkway run, 4 ft wide, at a 4-inch depth:
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.3333 ft
- Cubic yards: (30 × 4 × 0.3333) ÷ 27 ≈ 1.48 yd³
- At $150/yd³, that’s $222.22 before waste.
Cost reference
| Walkway run | Width | Cubic yards | Cost at $150/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 ft | 2 ft | 0.37 yd³ | $55.56 |
| 30 ft | 4 ft | 1.48 yd³ | $222.22 |
| 60 ft | 8 ft | 5.93 yd³ | $888.89 |
How to measure your walkway
Walk the planned path and measure its total length in feet, then measure the width across the walk itself — not including any border or edging that isn’t poured concrete. For a walkway with varying width or curved sections, split it into straight segments, calculate each segment’s volume separately, and add them together for the total order.
Frequently asked questions
What should I enter for length and width on a walkway?
Length is the total run of the walkway from end to end, and width is how wide it is across — commonly 3-4 feet for a single-person path, wider for a main entry walk that needs to handle two people passing. If the walkway curves or changes width, break it into straight sections and calculate each one separately.
How thick does a sidewalk need to be?
4 inches is standard for a residential walkway carrying foot traffic only. If the sidewalk crosses a driveway apron or any area a vehicle might drive over, thicken that section to 5-6 inches to handle the added load without cracking.
Do sidewalks need control joints?
Yes — control joints are typically cut or formed every 4-6 feet along a walkway's length (often matching the width, so a 4 ft wide walk gets joints roughly every 4 ft) to control where the concrete cracks as it cures. Joints don't add to the concrete volume; they're cut into the same continuous pour.
Does municipal code require a specific sidewalk slope or width?
Many municipalities have specific requirements for public-facing sidewalks, including minimum width, cross-slope for drainage, and ADA-compliant ramps at curb crossings. Check with your local building department before pouring any walkway that fronts a public street, since public-right-of-way sidewalks are often inspected separately from other residential concrete work.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.