Curb and Gutter Calculator
Enter the curb and gutter cross section and the run length, and this curb and gutter calculator returns the concrete volume in cubic yards and cubic meters, plus bag counts and a cost estimate. It fits driveway aprons, parking lot edges, road curbs and drainage channels.
Curb and Gutter Calculator
A curb and gutter is a long shape with a steady cross section, so the volume is the cross section area times the length. The trick is that the shape has two parts: the raised curb and the flat gutter pan beside it. Add both, then multiply by the run.
How to calculate curb and gutter concrete
Work out the area of the end profile, then multiply by the length. The curb body is close to a rectangle of height times width. The gutter pan is a flat strip of width times thickness. Add the two areas, then multiply by the run length.
Worked example, a driveway apron
Take a curb 6 inches high and 8 inches wide, with a 12 inch gutter pan 6 inches thick, running 40 feet. The curb area is 0.5 by 0.667 feet, or 0.33 square feet. The gutter area is 1 by 0.5 feet, or 0.5 square feet. Together that is 0.83 square feet. Multiply by 40 feet to get 33.3 cubic feet, which is 1.23 cubic yards. Add 10 percent for waste and order about 1.35 yards.
Typical curb profiles
| Profile | Curb height | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Barrier curb | 6 to 8 in | Roads, parking lots, keeps vehicles in |
| Rollover curb | 2 to 4 in sloped | Driveway entries, easy to drive over |
| Mountable curb | low sloped face | Residential streets |
Curb and gutter is poured in long continuous runs, so order enough for the full length and avoid cold joints between sections where you can.
Related calculators
- Concrete slab calculator for the driveway or apron the curb edges
- Bags calculator for short curb runs
- How to calculate concrete guide for formulas
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate concrete for curb and gutter?
Find the area of the end cross section, adding the curb body and the gutter pan, then multiply by the run length. Divide the cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards.
How much concrete is in a foot of curb and gutter?
It depends on the profile. A 6 inch curb with a 12 inch gutter pan holds roughly 0.8 cubic feet per foot of run, so 40 feet is about 1.23 cubic yards.
What is the difference between a curb and a gutter?
The curb is the raised edge. The gutter is the flat channel beside it that carries water. They are usually poured together as one shape.
Should curb and gutter be reinforced?
Many road and lot curbs use rebar or dowels at joints. Residential aprons may use less. Follow the local standard or the project drawings.
References
- American Concrete Institute, ACI 318: https://www.concrete.org
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, roadway design references: https://www.transportation.org
- Quikrete, Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet (bag yields): https://www.quikrete.com/PDFs/DATA_SHEET-Concrete Mix 1101.pdf
Methodology: volume uses the combined cross section area of the curb and gutter times the run length, divided by 27 for cubic yards; bag counts use published yields. Estimates are for planning. Confirm profile and reinforcement with the local standard or a licensed engineer. Recommended: attribute this page to a named author and add a review date.