Concrete quantity calculation is easy if it is for a rectangular or square shape. When it is complex geometric shapes, then it seems like a daunting task.

Every Complex Geometric shape can be disintegrated into simple shapes. Here in the staircase concrete calculation, we are going to dismantle the staircase into simple elements and going to find the volume.

Staircase Components

In case the brickwork is planned for tread and risers means, the calculation becomes easy, or else have to follow the below method to calculate the quantity accurately.

Staircase Concrete Calculation

We need to calculate the concrete quantity for each component separately and have to sum it all to find the total volume of concrete.

Typical Staircase Drawing

From the drawing

  • Height of the flight = 4 Feet
  • Length of landing = 8′ 6″
  • Width of landing = 3 Feet
  • The thickness of landing = 6 Inches
  • Width of steps = 4 Feet
  • Height of the floor = 8′ 6″

Assumption – Riser as 6″ and Tread as 10″

STEP 1 – Find the Number of Riser and Treads

Number of riser = Height of the flight / riser = 4′ 6″/ 6″ = 4.5/0.5 = 9 Risers

Number of Treads = Number of Risers – 1 = 9-1 = 8 Treads

If you are confused here, we have a separate post for Riser and Treads Calculation. Please check that.

STEP 2 – Find the Concrete Volume for One Flight

The volume of Concrete (for one-step) = Area of one step x Length

If you look closely, the riser and tread form a right angle triangle. We know the formula for that (right angle triangle)

Steps Closer Look

Area of One-step = 1/2 x riser x tread

The volume of Concrete (for one-step) = 1/2 x riser x tread x length

= 1/2 x 6″ x 10 ” x 4′ = 1/2 x 0.5 x 0.833 x 4 = 0.833 cubic feet.

Therefore, the total concrete volume required for steps on first flight = Volume x number of steps

= 0.833 x 8 = 6.66 Cubic Feet

The above calculation is only for one flight. We know the 2 flights are having the same measurements.

So Total Concrete = First Flight Concrete Volume x 2 = 6.66 x 2 = 13.32 Cubic Feet

STEP 3 – Find the concrete volume of Landing Space

Landing Space

Volume of Landing = Length X Breadth X Thickness = 8′ 6″ x 3′ x 6″ = 8.5 X 3 X 0.5 = 12.75 Cubic feet

STEP 4 – Find the concrete volume of Waist Slab

Waist Slab Section

From the pic, since it is the right angle triangle in order to find the inclined length we use the Pythagorean theorem.

right angle triangle

Where, Inclined Length = √ (Horizontal Length)2 + (Height)2 

Horizontal Length = Tread Size X Number of Treads = 10″ x 8 = 6.4 Feet

Inclined Length = √ (Horizontal Length)2 + (Height)2 

= √ (6.4)2 + (4′ 6″)2 = √ (6.4)2 + (4.5)2 = √ 61.21 = 7.82 Feet

Volume of Waist Slab = Area of the slab x Thickness of the slab

Area of the slab = 4′ X 6.4 = 25.6 Sq.ft

Volume of Waist Slab = 25.6 x 6″ = 12.8 Cubic Feet

STEP 5 – Total Staircase Concrete Volume

Staircase Concrete Volume = Steps Volume + Landing Space Volume + Waist slab volume

= 13.32 + 12.75 + 12.8 = 38.87 Cubic Feet

Staircase Concrete Volume = 38.87 Cubic Feet

Happy Learning 🙂

Author

Bala is a Planning Engineer & he is the author and editor of Civil Planets.

5 Comments

  1. the height of the flight is given as 4 feet but while calculating no of risers you used flight height as 4’6″. so based on the first given the no of riser would be 8 instead of 9 . so can u elaborate on which value actually should be used as the height of the flight, 4 feet or 4 feet and 6 inches?

    • Anas Mohamed Reply

      Zion, Hope you all doing well. Just read this article today and interested to comment on the point you raised. I think the way used for counting the raiser is… Total hight from the base to the platform is correct. since there isn’t mentioned it as flight height the rest is all ok.
      Please correct me if i made it wrong

  2. Anas Mohamed Reply

    Adding a point on calculating the volume of waist slab i have observed that it has been used the value of horizontal length instead inclined length. May be a typo
    Please correct me of i understood wrong

  3. Adedapo olasunkanmi Reply

    Thumb up seeing this, very useful and simple to digest from my ends …please can we get the carpentry and reinforcement version … thank you

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