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How Much Concrete for a 15x15 Patio?

For a 15x15 patio poured 4 inches thick, plan on about 2.78 cubic yards of concrete. That comes from 225 square feet times 0.333 feet of depth, divided by 27. How much concrete for a 15x15 patio at other thicknesses is in the table below.

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The math for a 15x15 patio

  1. Area: 15 ft × 15 ft = 225 sq ft.
  2. Thickness in feet: 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Volume: 225 × 0.333 = 75.0 cubic feet.
  4. Cubic yards: 75.0 ÷ 27 = 2.78 yd³.
  5. With 10% extra: 3.06 yd³.

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

Concrete for a 15x15 patio by thickness

ThicknessCubic feetCubic yardsYards +10%80 lb bags60 lb bags
4 in75.02.783.06125167
5 in93.83.473.82157209
6 in112.54.174.58188250

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

Four inches is standard for a patio that sees foot traffic and furniture. Slope it about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house so rain runs off, and go thicker under a hot tub or outdoor kitchen.

Ordering ready-mix

Concrete is ordered by the cubic yard, and a yard is 27 cubic feet. Ready-mix plants usually sell in quarter- or half-yard steps, so round up to the next step rather than down. Running short in the middle of a pour leaves a cold joint, which is a weak seam in the patio.

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 patio 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

Reinforcement does not stop cracks, but it holds them tight. Wire mesh or rebar set mid-depth on chairs is common for a patio that carries vehicles; fiber-reinforced mix is an option for light-duty slabs. Joints about 8 feet apart control where cracks form.

Questions people ask

How many yards of concrete for a 15x15 patio at 4 inches?

About 2.78 cubic yards, or 3.06 with 10 percent extra.

How many yards for a 15x15 patio at 6 inches?

About 4.17 cubic yards.

How many 80 lb bags for a 15x15 patio?

About 125 bags at 4 inches thick, before any waste allowance.

How many square feet is a 15x15 patio?

225 square feet.

Should I add extra for waste?

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

How thick should the base under the slab be?

About 4 inches of compacted gravel is common for residential slabs, more on soft or poorly drained soil.

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