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How Much Concrete Do You Need for Poured Steps?

Start with step count, rise, run, and width. Get concrete yardage first, then a practical rebar buy list and optional cost estimate.

Concrete order first Rebar buy list included Last updated: May 9, 2026

Build Your Stair Order

Keep the first pass simple. Only open Advanced if your stair has sidewalls, bag mixing, or custom cost assumptions.

Indoor stairs — comfortable 7" rise, 11" run

Keep it at 7.75 in or less for the IRC quick check.

11 to 12 in usually feels better outdoors than the bare minimum.

36 in is a common residential minimum clear width.

Default settings assume a residential poured stair with 10% waste and both rebar directions included.
Jump to Concrete Order Summary

Concrete Order Summary

Concrete to Order
0.57 cu yd
Includes 10% waste for forming, cleanup, and placement loss
Total rise
42" / 3.5 ft
Total run
66" / 5.5 ft
Tread area
16.5 sq ft
Estimated weight
1.04 tons

Buy List

Ready-mix0.57 cu yd
Main #4 rebar7 bars x 3.0 ft each (2 x 20 ft sticks to buy)
Temperature #3 rebar3 bars x 5.5 ft each (1 x 20 ft sticks to buy)

Most suppliers still quote this as a 1-yard minimum or short load. Call before you order.

Assumes Interior Stairs, 6 steps, 7" rise, 11" run, 36" wide, 5" throat, 4" sidewalls included, both (recommended).

Layout check: rise, run, and width look reasonable for a residential planning estimate.

Worked Examples

Front Porch Refresh

3 steps, 6.5" rise, 12" run, 60" wide

Concrete to order
0.48 cu yd
Ready-mix note
1 yd minimum likely
Rebar buy list
1 x 20 ft #4 + 1 x 20 ft #3

Good example for a shallow porch where the order is small but sidewalls still add volume.

Basement Entry Stair

6 steps, 7" rise, 11" run, 36" wide

Concrete to order
0.57 cu yd
Rebar buy list
2 x 20 ft #4 + 1 x 20 ft #3
Estimated cost
$349

This is the common small residential stair where rebar and short-load planning matter more than fancy finish options.

Wide Landing Stair

4 steps, 6" rise, 14" run, 72" wide

Concrete to order
1.06 cu yd
Rebar buy list
2 x 20 ft #4 + 2 x 20 ft #3
Estimated cost
$609

Wider decorative entry stairs cross the 1-yard line fast, especially when sidewalls stay thick.

Recommended Rise / Run Guide

ProfileBest ForPlanning Note
6" rise x 12" runFront entries and outdoor stairs that should feel gentleEasy to walk, but total run grows fast.
6.5" rise x 12" runMost exterior porch and patio stepsA strong default when comfort matters more than saving space.
7" rise x 11" runCompact residential entry or basement stairsCommon middle ground for space and comfort.
7.5" rise x 10" runTight utility stairs onlyCloser to code limits, so double-check feel and safety.

Ready-Mix vs Bags Guide

Small repair or 1-2 isolated steps
Bags

Works when access is tight and you can mix slowly without a finish match problem.

3-6 poured residential steps
Usually ready-mix

Consistent mix and placement matter more than saving a few dollars on bags.

Wide entry stairs or stairs with sidewalls
Ready-mix

Volume climbs quickly and hand-mixing becomes the bottleneck.

When Sidewalls Change the Order

Open-sided steps

Set sidewall thickness to 0 when the stair is open on both sides and the concrete body is not boxed in.

Porch stairs with formed cheeks

A typical 4" sidewall is common when the stair is enclosed or cast with visible side faces.

Wide decorative stairs

Sidewalls can be the difference between a half-yard short load and a full yard order, so do not ignore them.

Frequently Asked Questions

A typical 3-step porch stair with a 6.5" rise, 12" run, 60" width, 5" throat, and 4" sidewalls needs about 0.48 cubic yards with waste. Most suppliers still have a 1-yard minimum or a short-load fee, so call before you order.
A 6-step stair with 7" rise, 11" run, 36" width, 5" throat, and 4" sidewalls lands around 0.57 cubic yards with 10% waste. That is why many small residential stair pours are priced as a short load rather than a full truck.
Ready-mix is usually the better choice once the stair gets close to half a yard, when access is good, or when you need consistent placement for multiple steps. Bags make more sense for very small repairs, isolated porch steps, or sites where a truck cannot get close.
Yes. Poured concrete stairs should be reinforced. Main #4 bars along the stair and #3 bars across the width are common residential planning defaults, but your final reinforcement should still follow local code, soil conditions, and the way the stair bears on the landing and slab.
Most homeowners like exterior steps around 6 to 7 inches of rise and 11 to 12 inches of run. That keeps the climb gentler than a tight interior stair while staying near common residential code limits.
Sidewalls matter more on wide stairs and tall stairs. If you have enclosed sides, cheek walls, or formed edges running the full stair height, the extra concrete can move a small order noticeably. If your stair is open on the sides, set sidewall thickness to 0 and the calculator removes that volume.

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