Concrete
Sonotube Concrete Calculator
Calculate concrete for cylindrical Sonotube (round tube) footings and columns.
Inputs
Live estimate
Concrete needed
0.12 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 3.14
- Cubic yards
- 0.12
- 80 lb bags
- 6
- Estimated tons
- 0.23 tons
You will likely need
- •0.12 cu yd — concrete needed
- •Approximate delivered weight: 0.23 tons
- •6 bags
Live estimate
- Mathematical quantity
- 0.1 cu yd
- Placement contingency
- +5% → 0.1 cu yd
- Field conditions
- Not applied
- Adjusted requirement
- 0.1 cu yd
- Ordering rule
- Round up to nearest 0.25 cu yd
- Suggested order
- 0.3 cu yd
Small over-excavation, form deflection, and pump / handling loss during placement.
What you actually need in the field, before rounding to a supplier-friendly ordering unit.
Estimator confidence
HighSmall over-excavation, form deflection, and pump / handling loss during placement.
Improve confidence: Increase for pumped placements or complex forms.
Why this behavior applies: Concrete is a rigid, formed material. The only real adjustment is placement contingency — form deflection, small over-excavation, and pump / bucket loss.
- Number of tubes — Small pours compound placement loss — each tube has its own drip.
- Whether the load is pumped or wheeled — Wheeled placement wastes more per tube.
- Brace tubes against wind — a partially-filled tube can tip surprisingly easily.
- Vibrate in lifts to consolidate deep pours.
- Screed the top flush and set anchor bolts to a template.
- Ordering the exact yardage across many tubes and coming up short on the last one.
- Skipping tube bracing on tall pours.
- Setting anchor bolts before the top is screeded and level.
Smart tips
- Ordering 5–10% extra is standard on irregular layouts. Running short costs more than the excess.
How it's calculated
Volume per tube = π × (diameter / 2)² × height.
Cubic yards = total volume ÷ 27, then × (1 + waste %).
Bags = ceil(cubic yards × 45) — assuming 80 lb bags.
Material assumptions
- Volume of a cylinder = π × r² × height.
- Concrete density: 2.0 tons per cubic yard.
- Common Sonotube sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 inch diameters.
Frequently asked questions
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These results are estimates only. Confirm quantities, compaction, waste, and delivery requirements with your supplier or project professional before ordering materials.