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How Much Concrete for a 12x30 Driveway?

For a 12x30 driveway poured 5 inches thick, plan on about 5.56 cubic yards of concrete. That comes from 360 square feet times 0.417 feet of depth, divided by 27. How much concrete for a 12x30 driveway at other thicknesses is in the table below.

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The math for a 12x30 driveway

  1. Area: 12 ft × 30 ft = 360 sq ft.
  2. Thickness in feet: 5 in ÷ 12 = 0.417 ft.
  3. Volume: 360 × 0.417 = 150.0 cubic feet.
  4. Cubic yards: 150.0 ÷ 27 = 5.56 yd³.
  5. With 10% extra: 6.11 yd³.

The concrete calculator runs the same steps for any size and thickness.

Concrete for a 12x30 driveway by thickness

ThicknessCubic feetCubic yardsYards +10%80 lb bags60 lb bags
4 in120.04.444.89200267
5 in150.05.566.11250334
6 in180.06.677.33300400

Bag counts assume about 0.60 cubic feet per 80 lb bag and 0.45 per 60 lb bag, rounded up.

How thick to pour it

Residential concrete driveways are usually 4 to 6 inches thick. Five inches is a sensible minimum if a pickup or delivery truck uses it, and 6 inches if heavier vehicles or an RV park on it. The apron at the street often gets the thicker section.

Placing the order

Ready-mix is priced and batched by the cubic yard (27 cubic feet). Plants commonly add a small-load fee when an order is under a set minimum, so ask about it when you call. Ordering a little extra costs far less than a second truck.

Getting the ground ready

Under the slab, most residential pours sit on about 4 inches of compacted gravel. The base spreads the load, drains water away and keeps the driveway from cracking as the soil freezes and thaws. Compact the base in thin lifts, and dampen it just before the pour so it does not pull water out of the mix.

Joints and reinforcement

Plan the joints before the pour. Panels close to square crack less than long, narrow ones, and joint spacing around 12 feet is typical for a 4-inch slab. Cut joints with a groover while the concrete is soft or with a saw within the first day.

Questions people ask

How many yards of concrete for a 12x30 driveway at 4 inches?

About 4.44 cubic yards, or 4.89 with 10 percent extra.

How many yards for a 12x30 driveway at 6 inches?

About 6.67 cubic yards.

How many 80 lb bags for a 12x30 driveway?

About 200 bags at 4 inches thick, before any waste allowance.

How many square feet is a 12x30 driveway?

360 square feet.

Should I add extra for waste?

Yes. Adding 5 to 10 percent covers uneven base, spillage and form bulges.

When is bagged concrete practical?

Usually for jobs under about a cubic yard. Beyond that, mixing dozens of bags by hand gets slow and batches may not blend well.

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