Every concrete bid starts with one number: how many cubic yards the job needs. Get it right and your material, pump, labor and finishing costs all fall into place. Get it wrong and you either price yourself out of the job or end up ordering a short load on pour day. A concrete takeoff is the process of measuring the drawings and turning every footing, wall, slab and pier into a quantity you can price.
This guide walks through how to do a concrete takeoff step by step, the formulas estimators use, what to measure besides the concrete itself, and the mistakes that most often throw a quantity off. If you want the pricing side of the job, see our guide on how to price concrete jobs.
What Is a Concrete Takeoff?
A concrete takeoff is the part of a construction estimate where you measure every concrete element on the plans and calculate its volume, usually in cubic yards. A complete concrete takeoff also captures the items that travel with the concrete: reinforcing steel, formwork area, vapor barrier, base stone, joints, embeds and finishing area.
The takeoff is a quantity, not a price. Once you have the quantities, you apply material prices, labor rates, equipment and markup to build the estimate. If the difference is new to you, our article on takeoff vs estimate explains how the two fit together.
What You Need Before You Start
- The full drawing set — structural, architectural and civil sheets. Foundations are on the structural sheets, but sidewalks, curbs and site paving often live on the civil set.
- Specifications — concrete strength (psi), mix requirements, finish types, curing and testing requirements all affect cost.
- Addenda — a revised footing schedule in Addendum 2 can change your quantity more than anything else on the job.
- A consistent method — a spreadsheet or takeoff software where every element is listed with its dimensions, so anyone can check your math.
The Core Formula
Almost every concrete quantity comes back to the same calculation:
Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so you calculate the volume in cubic feet and divide by 27. The most common error is forgetting to convert inches to feet first: a 4-inch slab is 0.333 ft thick, a 6-inch slab is 0.5 ft, and an 8-inch wall is 0.667 ft.
Example: a 40 ft × 30 ft slab at 4 inches thick is 40 × 30 × 0.333 = 400 cubic feet, or about 14.8 cubic yards before waste.
For round piers and columns, use the area of a circle: π × radius² × height ÷ 27. A 2 ft diameter pier that is 10 ft deep is 3.1416 × 1 × 10 = 31.4 cubic feet, or about 1.16 cubic yards per pier.
How to Do a Concrete Takeoff Step by Step
1. Break the job into elements
List each concrete element separately: continuous footings, spread footings, grade beams, piers, foundation walls, slab on grade, elevated slabs, columns, stairs, sidewalks, curbs and equipment pads. Keeping them separate matters because each one has a different labor cost, forming method and sometimes a different mix.
2. Measure continuous footings and walls by linear foot
Trace the footing and wall lines on the foundation plan to get total linear footage, then multiply by the cross-section from the footing or wall detail. A 2 ft wide × 1 ft deep footing running 100 linear feet is 200 cubic feet, or about 7.4 cubic yards. Watch the corners: if you measure outside dimensions on every side you will double count the corner blocks.
3. Count spread footings and piers
Use the footing schedule. Count each footing type (F1, F2, F3 and so on), calculate the volume of one, and multiply by the count. Mark each footing on the plan as you count it so nothing is missed or counted twice.
4. Measure slabs by area
Calculate slab area in square feet, then multiply by thickness. Check for thickened edges, turned-down slabs at the perimeter, and thickened areas under interior bearing walls — these are easy to miss and can add meaningful volume on a large slab. Keep the finished square footage too; you will need it to price finishing labor, curing and sealing.
5. Add elevated slabs, stairs and site concrete
Elevated slabs on metal deck need special care because the deck flutes change the average thickness; follow the deck manufacturer’s data or the structural notes. Stairs, ramps, curbs, gutters and sidewalks are usually measured from the civil and architectural sheets.
6. Apply a waste factor
Ready-mix is ordered in whole or half yards, subgrade is never perfectly flat, and forms can bow. Many estimators add a waste allowance — often somewhere around 5 to 10 percent depending on the element and site conditions — rather than ordering the exact calculated volume. Footings poured against earth usually deserve a larger allowance than formed walls or elevated slabs.
What Else to Include in a Concrete Takeoff
The cubic yards are only part of the cost. A bid-ready takeoff also measures:
- Reinforcing steel — rebar by size and length (converted to pounds or tons) and welded wire mesh by square foot.
- Formwork — contact area in square feet for walls, footings, grade beams and slab edges.
- Base and vapor barrier — gravel base by cubic yard or ton and vapor retarder by square foot under slabs.
- Joints and accessories — control joints, expansion joint material, dowels, anchor bolts and embeds.
- Finishing — the finish type for each area (broom, trowel, polished, exposed aggregate) by square foot.
- Pumping and placement — whether each pour can be placed by chute or needs a pump or buggy.
These line items are what turn a quantity into a complete concrete bid proposal.
Common Concrete Takeoff Mistakes
- Not converting inches to feet before multiplying.
- Double counting corners on footings and walls.
- Missing thickened slab edges and interior thickenings.
- Ignoring addenda or working from superseded sheets.
- Skipping the civil set, where site concrete is often drawn.
- Lumping everything together, which hides labor differences between a slab and a wall.
Manual Takeoff vs Takeoff Software
A small slab or a single-family foundation can be measured accurately with a scale, a calculator and a clear spreadsheet. On commercial work with dozens of footing types, multiple slab thicknesses and revisions, digital takeoff tools save time and make it easier to update quantities when drawings change. Whatever tool you use, the method is the same: separate elements, consistent units, and a record that another estimator could check.
When to Outsource Your Concrete Takeoff
If you are bidding several jobs a week, the takeoff is often the bottleneck. Outsourcing the quantity work lets you spend your time on pricing, supplier quotes and winning the job. CSI Estimation prepares detailed concrete takeoffs and estimates from your plans, broken out by element with rebar, formwork and finishing quantities included. Learn more about our concrete estimating services and our quantity takeoff services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate cubic yards of concrete?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. Convert inch measurements to feet first (divide inches by 12).
How much waste should I add to a concrete takeoff?
It depends on the element and site conditions. Many estimators add roughly 5 to 10 percent, with more for footings poured against earth and less for formed walls and elevated slabs. Follow your own field history where you have it.
Is rebar part of the concrete takeoff?
Usually yes. Rebar is measured from the structural drawings and schedules and priced by weight, and it is normally included in a complete concrete takeoff even if it is installed by a separate subcontractor.
How long does a concrete takeoff take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the drawings. A simple residential foundation can be done quickly, while a commercial building with many footing types and slab conditions takes considerably longer.
Can I get a concrete takeoff done from PDF plans?
Yes. Most takeoffs today are done from PDF drawings using digital measuring tools, as long as the plans are to scale and include the structural details and schedules.
Get a Concrete Takeoff From CSI Estimation
Send us your plans and we will return an itemized concrete takeoff and estimate you can bid with confidence. Contact CSI Estimation to request a quote.
