Construction Calculator - Concrete and Masonry

Concrete Tube Calculator

Estimate concrete for Sonotube-style round forms.

Reviewed: August 26, 2026

Calculate Concrete Tube

For the Concrete Tube Calculator, enter diameter, depth / height, waste allowance, and concrete price. It models one circular concrete placement as a cylinder, applies allowance, and reports cubic yards, bag equivalents, and optional ready-mix cost.

Construction measuring tools arranged beside a residential building project

Formula used

Concrete volume = [π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height ÷ 27] × (1 + waste ÷ 100), after converting diameter to feet

Concrete Tube Calculator measurement plan showing Diameter inches, Depth / height feet, Waste allowance percent

Worked concrete tube example

Concrete Tube Calculator example: π × (13.7 in ÷ 12 ÷ 2)² × 3 ft = 3.07 ft³. Applying 10% gives 0.13 yd³; round any bag conversion to whole packages.

From calculated volume to an order

Use the yardage for all identical tube forms, then apply a modest placement allowance that reflects the number and accessibility of the forms.

Where a concrete takeoff can drift

Tubes can be cut unevenly, bell at the base, or extend into a larger footing; those shapes should be measured and added separately.

Questions specific to this calculation

Which diameter and height define the concrete tube placement?

Measure the tube's inside diameter and its actual fill height. Do not use the outside printed diameter if the form manufacturer states a different inside size.