How do you calculate concrete yardage for a slab?

The formula is (area in square feet × depth in inches) ÷ 324 = cubic yards. For example, a 1,000 sq ft slab at 6 inches deep is (1000 × 6) ÷ 324 = 18.5 cubic yards. Add a 5–8% waste factor to account for spillage, over-excavation, and pump loss, bringing the order quantity to about 20 cubic yards.

What waste factor should I use for concrete?

Industry standard is 5–8% waste for concrete volume, depending on placement method. Pumped concrete typically runs 5–6% waste, while chute or wheelbarrow placement runs 7–8% due to higher spillage. For small or irregular pours, use the higher end of the range. Always document your assumption in the estimate.

How do I calculate rebar weight from a takeoff?

Multiply total linear footage by the per-foot weight of the bar size. Standard weights: #3 = 0.376 lbs/ft, #4 = 0.668 lbs/ft, #5 = 1.043 lbs/ft, #6 = 1.502 lbs/ft, #7 = 2.044 lbs/ft, #8 = 2.670 lbs/ft. Add 5% for overlaps and bending. For a slab mat with #4 bars at 12" on center in both directions, the linear footage equals roughly 2 × area (each direction).

How do I calculate formwork square footage?

Formwork is measured as contact area — the square footage of form in direct contact with the concrete. For a spread footing, it is the perimeter × depth. For a wall, it is 2 × length × height (both sides). Apply reuse factors (typically 4–8 reuses per form) to determine the actual forming cost per square foot: a form reused 4 times costs 1/4 of its purchase price per pour.

What is the difference between a concrete takeoff and a concrete estimate?

A takeoff produces quantities — cubic yards of concrete, pounds of rebar, square feet of formwork. An estimate multiplies those quantities by unit costs and adds labor, equipment, overhead, and profit to produce a bid price. Modern software like Jobplans combines both: takeoff quantities flow directly into a pricing table without an export/import step.

How long does a concrete takeoff take on Jobplans?

Depends on project size and complexity, but typical benchmarks: a small commercial slab-on-grade runs 15–30 minutes. A mid-sized commercial foundation (footings + stem walls + slab) runs 1–3 hours. A large structural slab with complex reinforcement runs 3–8 hours. Compare with manual takeoff on the same project, which typically takes 3–5× longer.

Does Jobplans handle irregular slab shapes and cutouts?

Yes. Use the polygon or polyline tool to trace irregular slab boundaries. For cutouts (staircase openings, floor drains, elevator pits), draw the cutout polygon and Jobplans subtracts it from the enclosing slab area automatically. Running totals update in real time as you add or edit shapes.

Can I use Jobplans for residential concrete takeoffs?

Yes. Residential workflows benefit especially from the browser-based interface and flat pricing — no expensive enterprise licensing, no Windows-only installer. Use the spread footing template for footings, the slab-on-grade template for garage and basement slabs, and the sidewalk template for flatwork. The 7-day free trial lets you run a full pilot on your next bid.

Concrete pour in progress on a commercial construction site

Concrete Estimating

Concrete takeoffs that calculate everything — yardage, rebar, formwork — automatically

Stop bouncing between Bluebeam and spreadsheets. Measure once, get yards, rebar, and formwork in the same table.

Manual yardage calcs → errors

Hand-calculating cubic yards from dimensions is slow and error-prone. One wrong depth throws off the entire pour.

Rebar schedules in separate spreadsheets

Rebar counts, spacing, and weight live in a different file than your takeoff. Nothing stays in sync.

No connection between measurement and estimate

You measure in one tool, estimate in another. Every change means re-entering numbers.

15 concrete templates with live calculations

Pick a template, switch variants, see real numbers update. Every column, formula, and rate is fully customizable — or create your own templates from scratch.

Concrete Formwork — Wall

Wall formwork material + labor by SFCA including height factor adjustments

Sample: 500 SFCA

Wall Height8.00 ft

Form SystemJob-Built Plywood

Plywood Cost$45.00/sheet

Plywood Coverage28.00 SFCA/sheet

Number of Reuses3.00

Lumber Rate$0.85/BF

Lumber BF per SFCA3.00

Hardware Cost$0.65/SFCA

Form Oil$0.15/SFCA

Carpenter Rate$62.00/hr

Set Productivity18.00 SFCA/hr

Strip Productivity30.00 SFCA/hr

Height Factor1.00

Plywood Cost/SFCA$0.54

Lumber Cost/SFCA$0.85

Material Cost$1,092.86

Set Hours27.78 hrs

Strip Hours16.67 hrs

Labor Cost$2,755.56

Total Cost$3,848.41

20 columns · 4 variants

Yardage Calculations

Measure an area, set depth, get cubic yards automatically. Waste factors built in.

Area × depth → CY auto-calc
Configurable waste percentage
Slab, footing, wall volume
Running totals by pour

Rebar Estimating

Define spacing and bar size — get count, linear footage, and weight from the measured area.

Spacing-based bar count
Linear footage per bar size
Weight calc by bar number
Lap splice allowance

Formwork Takeoffs

Measure perimeter, set height, get square feet of contact area with reuse factors.

Perimeter → SFCA calculation
Reuse factor adjustment
Strip/set labor rates
Form tie and hardware counts

Foundation Templates

Pre-built templates for spread footings, grade beams, stem walls, and piers.

Spread footing calculator
Grade beam templates
Stem wall & retaining wall
Pier and pile cap formulas

Pour Scheduling

Total volume → truck count and pour rate. Know your logistics before you call the batch plant.

Volume → truck count (10 CY)
Pour rate estimation
Pump vs. direct placement
Batch plant coordination

Wire Mesh Takeoffs

Select mesh type and sheet size — get exact sheet count from your measured slab area with overlap.

6x6, 4x4, 10x10 mesh types
Sheet count from slab area
Waste/overlap % built in
Price per sheet → total cost

Aggregate & Base Material

Measure the area, set depth and density — get cubic yards and tonnage for any base material.

Crushed stone, gravel, sand
Density conversion to tons
Depth-based volume calc
Waste factor included

Excel Export

Export your entire concrete takeoff to Excel. Formulas, groupings, and totals preserved.

One-click Excel export
Preserves all formulas
Grouped by pour / element
Ready for bid submission

Built for concrete contractors who are tired of spreadsheet takeoffs

Footings, slabs, walls, grade beams — one tool for measurement and estimation. No more copy-paste between apps.