How much concrete do I need for a concrete pad?

A concrete pad is a small slab for equipment, storage, or a small structure. The estimate is simple and the waste allowance is modest.

Best for

Worked example

A 2.5 m by 2.5 m pad at 0.12 m thickness

Pads are usually square or nearly square, which makes the volume estimate very direct.

Example

2.5 m × 2.5 m × 0.12 m = 0.75 m3. With 7 percent waste, the adjusted order volume is 0.80 m3.

Formula

Volume = length × width × thickness

Adjusted volume = volume × (1 + waste / 100)

Planning notes

Square pads are easy to measure and easy to price.

Measure the outside dimensions of the pad, not the object that sits on top of it.

A modest allowance is usually enough for a small pad.

Use the slab page for a wider slab search.

Switch to a shed base page for a similarly small pour.

Open the main calculator for exact custom dimensions.