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How Much Concrete for a 15x16 Slab?

How much concrete for a 15x16 slab depends on thickness. The slab covers 15 × 16 = 240 square feet, and at 4 inches thick that is about 2.96 cubic yards, or 3.26 yards with a 10 percent allowance. Mixed from bags, it is roughly 134 bags of 80 lb mix.

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The math for a 15x16 slab

  1. Area: 15 ft × 16 ft = 240 sq ft.
  2. Thickness in feet: 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Volume: 240 × 0.333 = 80.0 cubic feet.
  4. Cubic yards: 80.0 ÷ 27 = 2.96 yd³.
  5. With 10% extra: 3.26 yd³.

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

Concrete for a 15x16 slab by thickness

ThicknessCubic feetCubic yardsYards +10%80 lb bags60 lb bags
4 in80.02.963.26134178
5 in100.03.704.07167223
6 in120.04.444.89200267

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

Choosing the thickness

Four inches is the usual thickness for patios, walks and shed floors. Slabs that carry cars or a heavy hot tub are often poured at 5 to 6 inches, and edges are sometimes thickened where loads concentrate.

Truck or bags?

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.

Base and forms

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 slab 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, mesh and rebar

Plan the joints before the pour. Panels close to square crack less than long, narrow ones, and joint spacing around 8 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 15x16 slab at 4 inches?

About 2.96 cubic yards, or 3.26 with 10 percent extra.

How many yards for a 15x16 slab at 6 inches?

About 4.44 cubic yards.

How many 80 lb bags for a 15x16 slab?

About 134 bags at 4 inches thick, before any waste allowance.

How many square feet is a 15x16 slab?

240 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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