How Much Concrete Do I Need for a 10x10 Patio?
A 10x10 patio at the standard 4-inch thickness needs about 1.25 cubic yards of concrete — roughly 56 bags if you're using 80 lb bags, or about 75 bags at 60 lb. Go with a 6-inch slab (common for driveways or heavier use) and that jumps to about 1.85 cubic yards.
Here's the breakdown, and how to know which thickness you actually need.
Quick Answer by Slab Thickness
| Thickness | Cubic Yards | 80 lb Bags | 60 lb Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in (standard patio) | ~1.25 yd³ | ~56 | ~75 |
| 6 in (driveway-grade) | ~1.85 yd³ | ~83 | ~111 |
4 inches is the standard for patios, walkways, and most residential slabs. 6 inches is typically reserved for driveways or anywhere heavy vehicles will drive.
How This Is Calculated
The math is simple once you have the right numbers: length × width × thickness = volume. For a 10x10 patio at 4 inches (0.333 ft) thick:
10 ft × 10 ft × 0.333 ft = 33.3 cubic feet → 1.23 cubic yards (there are 27 cubic feet per cubic yard).
From there, bags are estimated using standard yields: one cubic yard needs about 45 bags at 80 lb, or 60 bags at 60 lb. Our Concrete Calculator runs this exact formula — just enter your dimensions and thickness and skip the manual math.
Bags or Ready-Mix Delivery?
At around 56–83 bags, mixing this slab by hand is a full day of labor — most people at this size order ready-mix concrete delivered by truck instead. As a rule of thumb: under about 1 cubic yard, bags are usually more practical; above that, a truck delivery is often cheaper and much less physical work, even with a delivery minimum.
If you do go the bag route, plan for roughly 45 minutes of mixing time per 10 bags with a wheelbarrow and mixer, and have help — wet concrete sets fast once you start pouring.
Don't Forget the 10% Buffer
Always order 10–15% more concrete than the exact math says. Slabs are rarely perfectly level ground, and a slightly uneven subgrade, spillage, or a miscalculated edge can leave you short mid-pour — which is a much bigger problem with concrete than with paint or tile. Our calculator already builds this buffer in automatically.
Calculate Your Exact Amount
Change the thickness, add a border footing, or adjust for a non-square patio shape, and the numbers shift quickly. Use the Concrete Calculator to get an exact bag count or cubic yard estimate for your specific patio.
Pouring more than just the patio — like footings or a walkway too? The Concrete Calculator handles slabs, columns, and footings separately, so you can total up an entire project at once.