Concrete Sidewalk Calculator
A 30-foot residential sidewalk (4 ft wide, 4 in thick) needs about 1.5 cubic yards of concrete — roughly 74 bags of 80-lb mix including waste. Enter your dimensions below to get the exact volume, bag count, and cost estimate for your walkway.
Pro Tips
- →Sidewalks should be 4 inches thick for residential use
- →Standard width is 4-5 feet for comfortable walking
- →Add control joints every 4-5 feet to prevent random cracking
- →Slope slightly for water drainage (1-2%)
- →Use 4 inches of compacted gravel as a base
Includes 10% waste factor
That's typically a professional pour. See costs ↓
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Cost Estimate
Estimated material costs for your project
Recommendation: Ready-Mix Concrete
For projects over 1 cubic yard, ready-mix is typically more economical and easier to work with.
74 bags × 80lb
1.63 cubic yards + delivery
120 sq ft × $3.00–$8.00/sq ft
Prices vary by location and time. Contact local suppliers for accurate quotes.
For general step-by-step instructions, read our complete Sidewalk Thickness and How To Pour Concrete.
Sidewalk Dimensions and Concrete Volume
A standard residential sidewalk is 4 feet wide and 4 inches thick — adequate for foot traffic, wheelbarrows, and freeze-thaw conditions. ADA-compliant sidewalks require a 36-inch minimum clear width with 60-inch passing zones every 200 feet.
| Sidewalk Type | Width | Thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden path | 2–3 ft | 3–4 in | Low-traffic foot path |
| Residential walk | 4 ft | 4 in | Standard front or side yard |
| ADA compliant | 5 ft | 4 in | 36 in min, 60 in passing zones |
| Vehicle crossing | 4–6 ft | 6 in | Where cars drive over the walk |
For a 30-foot residential sidewalk (4 ft wide, 4 in thick), you need 1.48 cubic yards of concrete — about 67 bags of 80-lb mix before waste. With 10% waste, plan for 74 bags or 1.63 cubic yards.
Concrete Mix for Sidewalks
Use a 3,500–4,000 PSI mix for all exterior sidewalks. In freeze-thaw climates, specify air-entrained concrete — microscopic air voids allow water to expand during freezing without spalling the surface. Quikrete 5000 (5,000 PSI) is a reliable bagged option for residential sidewalk projects.
Ready-mix vs. bagged: Sidewalks under 1 cubic yard (roughly 20 linear feet at standard width) work fine with bagged concrete. Beyond that, ready-mix at $130–$170 per cubic yard delivered is both cheaper and faster.
Control Joint Spacing
Shrinkage cracks are inevitable — control joints give concrete a planned place to crack cleanly instead of randomly across the surface.
| Slab Thickness | Max Joint Spacing | Cut Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 6–9 ft | 3/4 in |
| 4 in | 8–12 ft | 1 in |
| 5 in | 10–15 ft | 1.25 in |
For a standard 4-foot wide, 4-inch thick sidewalk, square 4×4 panels work best — place joints every 4 feet. This prevents long narrow panels that crack lengthwise. Use a groover tool during finishing or saw-cut within 6–18 hours of pouring.
Base and Slope Requirements
Compact 4 inches of gravel (3/4-inch crushed stone or road base) before pouring. Slope the finished surface 1/4 inch per foot (about 2%) away from structures for drainage. Install a 1/2-inch foam expansion joint between the sidewalk and any house wall or existing concrete structure — concrete needs room to expand without cracking.
For a complete walkway pour guide, see How to Pour Concrete. For larger paved areas, use our Concrete Slab Calculator.