Key numbers
- 3 steps + 3 ft landing, 4 ft wide: 1.25 yd³ (order 1½ yd³)
- Same 3 steps, no landing: only 0.48 yd³; the landing is most of the concrete
- Weight: about 5,075 lb of concrete for the 3-step example
- Chipped edges can often be patched instead of replaced
On this page
- How to use the Concrete Steps Cost Calculator
- How much do concrete steps cost?
- How much concrete is in concrete steps?
- What goes into a concrete steps quote?
- Should I repair or replace concrete steps?
- What riser and tread sizes should I plan for?
- Common mistakes when pricing steps
- Steps cost vs the other step pages
- Frequently asked questions
How to use the Concrete Steps Cost Calculator
- 1Enter your numbersFill in number of steps, rise per step (in), run (tread depth) (in), width (ft), top landing depth (in), concrete price ($/yd³), labor + forms per step ($) or rebar, demo, railing, extras ($).
- 2Check the assumptionsSolid steps on grade. Fill in your own quotes; prices vary by region, access and season.
- 3Read the resultsThe calculator shows estimated total, per step, concrete (exact), order with 10% extra or concrete material, updated as you type.
- 4Use the resultRound up to what your supplier sells, and keep a little extra for waste.
Results update as you type. Back to the calculator ↑
How much do concrete steps cost?
Poured concrete steps cost the concrete you order, plus labor and forms for each step, plus extras such as demolition, rebar and a railing. The concrete is the part you can calculate exactly; labor is the part you need quotes for. This page does the first and gives you a structure for the second.
Total = concrete ordered (yd³) × price per yd³ + labor per step × steps + extras
Enter the number of steps, rise, tread depth, width and landing above, then your ready-mix price, your contractor’s per-step labor figure and any extras. The calculator returns the concrete volume, the order with 10% extra (or the number of 80 lb bags), and the estimated total. We do not print national average prices: concrete, labor and delivery vary too much by region and season to be useful. Get two or three quotes and compare them line by line.
How much concrete is in concrete steps?
Three solid steps 4 ft wide with a 3 ft landing hold 1.25 cubic yards. The steps calculator treats each step as a block from the ground up, and the landing as a block the full height of the stair. That is why the landing usually holds most of the concrete.
| Steps | Total rise (in) | Steps only (yd³) | With 36 in landing (yd³) | Order +10% (yd³) | 80 lb bags (+10%) | Weight in place (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 0.08 | 0.34 | ½ | 17 | 1,371 |
| 2 | 14 | 0.24 | 0.76 | 1 | 38 | 3,062 |
| 3 | 21 | 0.48 | 1.25 | 1½ | 63 | 5,075 |
| 4 | 28 | 0.79 | 1.83 | 2¼ | 91 | 7,408 |
| 5 | 35 | 1.19 | 2.48 | 2¾ | 123 | 10,063 |
| 6 | 42 | 1.66 | 3.22 | 3¾ | 160 | 13,037 |
All rows are 4 ft wide with a 7 in rise and 11 in tread; weight uses 150 lb/ft³ for normal concrete. Width scales the volume directly: three steps with a landing need 0.94 yd³ at 3 ft wide, 1.57 yd³ at 5 ft and 1.88 yd³ at 6 ft.
Worked example: 4 front steps with a landing
- Steps: 4 ft × (11 ÷ 12) × (7 ÷ 12) × (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) = 21.4 ft³
- Landing: 4 ft × 3 ft × (28 ÷ 12) = 28.0 ft³
- Total: 49.4 ft³ = 1.83 yd³ → order 2¼ yd³, or 91 × 80 lb bags
- Estimate = 2.25 × your $/yd³ + 4 × your labor per step + demolition, rebar and railing
What goes into a concrete steps quote?
Labor and forming usually outweigh the concrete on a small set of steps. Ask each contractor to price these lines separately so the quotes compare:
| Line item | What drives it | How to estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Volume, ready-mix price, delivery and short-load fees | This calculator × your plant’s price |
| Forms | One riser form per step, side forms, stakes | Part of the per-step labor quote |
| Labor | Forming, placing, finishing, stripping; several site visits | Contractor quote per step or lump sum |
| Base and footings | Compacted gravel; footings where local code requires them | Gravel calculator; ask your building department |
| Reinforcement | Rebar or mesh, dowels into the slab or foundation | Rebar calculator |
| Demolition | Breaking out and hauling old steps | Concrete removal cost page |
| Railing | Required by many codes at four or more risers | Separate quote; anchors set wet or drilled later |
| Access | Truck reach; pump or wheelbarrows if it cannot reach | Ask the plant; NRMCA notes a loaded truck weighs ≈80,000 lb |
A short flight is a small order of concrete, so ask the plant about short-load fees, or compare bagged concrete for one or two steps with the ready-mix vs bagged concrete calculator.
Should I repair or replace concrete steps?
Repair if the damage is at the edges and corners and the steps are otherwise sound; replace if they have settled, tilted toward the house or cracked through. QUIKRETE’s step repair guide notes that damage usually occurs at the leading edges of the treads or at corners, which are the cheapest problems to fix.
The manufacturer’s method for chipped edges, in brief:
- Undercut and widen the broken area with a cold chisel and hammer, and clean out loose concrete.
- For repairs under 1 in deep, mix Quick-Setting Cement with acrylic fortifier (5½ parts cement to 1 part liquid); for deeper repairs use water.
- Dampen the surface, apply the patch, and shape it once it holds a firm thumbprint (initial set in 5 to 10 minutes).
- Keep the repair moist for 24 hours. Use forms for larger repairs or where the tread overhangs the riser.
A worn or scaled surface that is still structurally sound can be resurfaced; see concrete resurfacing cost. Steps that have pulled away from the house, rock when walked on or have a sunken landing usually point to a base or footing problem, and a patch will not fix that.
What riser and tread sizes should I plan for?
The International Residential Code limits risers to 7¾ in and requires treads of at least 10 in, with no more than ⅜ in variation between steps in a flight (IRC R311.7.5, as printed in the City of Boise’s handout). This page’s examples use a 7 in rise and 11 in tread, inside those limits. Local codes and editions vary, so confirm with your building department; the precast vs poured concrete steps page has a risers-per-height table.
Common mistakes when pricing steps
- Forgetting the landing. On three steps it can hold more than half the concrete.
- Comparing lump sums. Ask for concrete, labor, demolition and railing on separate lines.
- Ordering exactly the calculated volume. NRMCA advises 4–10% extra; running short leaves a cold joint.
- Patching steps that are moving. Fix the base or replace; a patch on a settling step will crack again.
- Skipping the permit question. Many towns treat new entry steps as a permitted project.
Steps cost vs the other step pages
This page estimates the price of poured steps and repairs. For the concrete volume alone, use the concrete steps calculator. To weigh a precast unit against a poured set, see precast vs poured concrete steps. For flatwork next to the steps, see cost to pour a concrete slab, and for breaking out the old ones, concrete removal cost.
Brand names are used descriptively; this site is independent and not affiliated with QUIKRETE.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to pour 4 concrete steps?
Four solid steps 4 ft wide with 7 in risers, 11 in treads and a 3 ft landing need 1.83 yd³ of concrete, ordered as 2¼ yd³ or 91 × 80 lb bags. The total is that order × your ready-mix price, plus labor for four steps, forms and any demolition. Enter your quotes above.
How much concrete do I need for 3 steps?
Three steps 4 ft wide (7 in rise, 11 in tread) need 0.48 yd³ on their own, or 1.25 yd³ with a 3 ft deep top landing. With 10% extra, order 1½ yd³ of ready-mix or buy 63 × 80 lb bags.
What makes concrete steps cost more?
Mostly labor and the landing. Each step needs its own riser form, and a deep landing can hold more concrete than all the steps. Demolishing old steps, footings, rebar, railings, poor truck access and a small-load delivery fee all add to the quote.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace concrete steps?
Repair is usually cheaper when the damage is chipped edges or corners and the steps are sound. QUIKRETE's repair guide notes damage usually happens at tread edges and corners and can be patched with quick-setting cement. Replace steps that have settled, pulled away from the house or cracked through.
How much does a concrete step weigh?
Solid poured steps are heavy: the 3-step example with a landing is about 34 ft³, or roughly 5,075 lb at 150 lb/ft³. That weight is why steps need a compacted base and, where local code requires it, footings.
Are precast steps cheaper than poured concrete steps?
Sometimes. Precast units skip forming and on-site curing but need a truck that can reach the door, often with a boom. Compare both quotes line by line on our precast vs poured concrete steps page; this site does not print average prices.
How many bags of concrete do I need for steps?
Divide the step volume in cubic feet by 0.60 for 80 lb bags. Three 4 ft steps with a landing are 33.8 ft³: 57 bags exact, 63 with 10% extra. Two steps with a landing need 38 bags with extra.
What riser height should concrete steps have?
The IRC sets a maximum riser of 7¾ in and a minimum tread of 10 in for residential stairs, and risers in a flight may differ by no more than ⅜ in. Local codes can differ, so confirm with your building department before you form.
6 Sources
- QUIKRETE project sheet, Repairing Steps: damage usually at tread edges and corners; undercut, clean, Quick-Setting Cement 5½ parts to 1 part liquid; use forms for larger repairs
- QUIKRETE project sheet, Repairing with Quick-Setting Cement: sets in 5 to 10 minutes; acrylic fortifier for damage under 1 in deep; keep moist 24 h
- City of Boise IRC Code Handout #437 (02/2022): R311.7.5.1 risers ≤ 7¾ in, R311.7.5.2 treads ≥ 10 in, ⅜ in variation
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) data sheet: 80 lb bag yields 0.60 ft³
- WSDOT Bridge Design Memo 05-2010: normal-weight concrete 150 lb/ft³
- NRMCA CIP 31, Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete: order 4–10% extra; loaded truck ≈80,000 lb and may not cross residential curbs
Last reviewed October 11, 2026 by M Bilal. Found an error? Tell us.