Cubic feet
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Bell Pier & Footing Calculator
Bell Pier & Footing calculator
Calculate concrete for bell piers — a Sonotube on a spread footing. Cubic yards, bags, ready-mix loads and weight — with a waste margin built in, nothing leaves your browser.
Dimensions
FIG. 01Volume ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Pros order to the nearest ½ yard and add a waste margin — running short mid-pour risks a cold joint.
You need
—cu yd
Order to nearest ½ yd → — · —
Cubic meters
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80 lb bags
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60 lb bags
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Est. weight
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Best buy
see above
How this is calculated
A bell pier (or belled pier) is a round column poured on top of a wider square footing pad, common under deck posts and pole barns. The pad spreads the load; the tube carries it up to grade. This calculator sums both in one pour.
cubic yards = volume in cubic feet ÷ 27 × (1 + waste%)
For the full method and sources, see the methodology page. Comparing buying options? Use the bags-vs-ready-mix calculator.
FAQ
What is a bell pier?
A bell pier (or belled pier) is a round column poured on top of a wider square footing pad, common under deck posts and pole barns. The pad spreads the load; the tube carries it up to grade. This calculator sums both in one pour.
How do I calculate concrete for a deck footing?
Add the footing pad (width × width × depth) to the tube above it (π × radius² × height). A 12-inch tube 4 ft tall on a 2×2×1 ft pad is about 7.1 cubic feet — roughly twelve 80-lb bags, or a short-load truck if you have several.