Concrete & construction
Concrete Driveway Calculator
Concrete, base and cost for a driveway, at the thickness a driveway actually needs.
Result
The base matters as much as the concrete. A slab on poorly compacted fill cracks whatever its thickness, and no amount of extra concrete fixes bad preparation. Excavation, forming, reinforcement, control joints and disposal of the old surface are not included here.
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About this calculator
Is four inches enough for a driveway?
For cars on good, well-drained base, usually. Five is the common choice because it costs little more and tolerates the occasional delivery truck. Anything regularly carrying heavy vehicles wants six or more.
Why does my quote exceed this figure?
Because this is material and finishing. Excavation, removing the old driveway, base gravel, reinforcement, forms, control joints and permits are all real costs that vary hugely by site.
Do I need reinforcement?
Most driveways use either fibre in the mix or a steel mesh or bar grid. It does not stop concrete cracking; it holds the crack closed so the slab keeps working as one piece.
The formula
concrete yards = area x thickness/12 / 27, plus 8% waste; total = concrete + labour per square foot
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Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.