Strip Footing Concrete Volume Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 10/10/2026
The concrete volume for a strip footing is calculated with length × width × height. For a footing 10 m long, 0.5 m wide, and 0.4 m high, you need 2 m³ of concrete.
Explanation
A strip footing is a continuous concrete foundation (usually reinforced) running the full length of a load-bearing wall, to spread its weight onto the ground. Before pouring it, two separate questions arise, each covered by a dedicated calculator: our strip footing bearing capacity calculator determines the minimum WIDTH needed for the soil to support the wall's load without settling, while this calculator gives the VOLUME of concrete to order once these dimensions are known (wall length, width set by the bearing-capacity calculation, and height generally set by standard practice or a structural engineer, often between 30 and 50 cm for a single-family home). This volume is the direct input to our concrete mix calculator, which derives the needed quantities of cement, sand, gravel, and water from it. Before pouring this footing, you also need to have dug the trench that receives it: see our excavation volume calculator for that preliminary earthwork, and our bulked soil volume calculator to anticipate the actual volume of soil to haul away once it's out of that trench.
Example: a 10 m long footing
Inputs
Length: 10 m. Width: 0.5 m. Height: 0.4 m.
Calculation
Volume = 10 × 0.5 × 0.4 = 2 m³.
Result
You need to order 2 m³ of concrete for this strip footing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I add an extra margin to this calculated volume?
Yes, it's common to add 5 to 10% extra margin to compensate for irregularities in the trench bottom (never perfectly flat), small losses during pouring, and the usual safety margin of concrete plants, which rarely deliver an exact volume down to the decimal. For a small quantity, unused surplus is generally less costly than running out of concrete mid-pour.
How do I determine the width and height to use in this calculation?
Width is determined from the load the wall transmits to the ground and that soil's bearing capacity — see our strip footing bearing capacity calculator for that calculation. Height (thickness) is generally set by standard practice or a structural note, often between 30 and 50 cm for a single-family home, but can vary with soil type and the load to be carried.
Does this calculator account for the footing's reinforcement?
No, it gives only the concrete volume, without accounting for the steel (rebar, welded mesh) that makes up the reinforced concrete itself. See our welded mesh calculator to separately estimate the amount of reinforcement needed according to the chosen rebar plans.