How much concrete for 6 deck footings (10 inch tubes, 4 ft)?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

6 × 10 in Sonotubes 4 ft long need 13.1 cu ft of concrete — 24 × 80-lb bags with 10% extra.

A 10 in tube holds 0.545 cu ft per foot: π × (10 ÷ 24 ft)² = 0.545; × 4 ft = 2.18 cu ft.
Quik-Tube's data sheet lists 4 × 80-lb or 5 × 60-lb; Sonoco's table lists 4 × 80-lb or 5 × 60-lb per 4 ft tube — our 4 / 5 come from the same geometry.
For 6 columns with 10% extra: 24 × 80-lb bags (1,920 lb), about $155.
Dig a 20 in hole (twice the tube) and buy 6 × 4 ft tubes (about $86.88).
Six piers is a typical 12×12 deck: two rows of three.

Adjust it to your exact job

Tube size

Diameter

Sonotube sizes include 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24 in; Quik-Tube comes in 8, 10 and 12 in.

Exact diameter

= 10"

How many?

Concrete heightwhole tube

= 4' · 1.22 m

Above groundpart of it

= 6"

Footing under the tube

Pour a footing first

Quik-Tube method: 2 in of gravel, a 4–6 in footing as wide as the hole (2× the tube), then set the tube on it.

You need

24× 80-lb bags

3.6 bags per column · 0.53 yd³ including 10% extra · 1,920 lb

Per column: 2.18 ft³0.545 ft³ per foot of tube
Total concrete: 0.48yd³before waste
Hole to dig: 20in2× the tube diameter (Quik-Tube)
Bottom below grade: 3' 6"compare with your frost depth

Check against the tube makers

Bags per column, whole bags, no waste
Per column	60-lb	80-lb
This calculator (geometry)	5	4
Quik-Tube data sheet	5	4
Sonoco Sonotube table	5	4

All bag sizes for the job

Bags needed by size
Bag	Bags	Est. cost
40 lb · 0.3 ft³	48	—
50 lb · 0.375 ft³	39	—
60 lb · 0.45 ft³	32	$155
80 lb · 0.6 ft³	24	$155

That's 1 tons of bags — more than most pickups can carry in one trip. Ask about store delivery.

Footing depth

Deck and porch footings must sit at least 12 in below undisturbed ground (IRC R507.3.2 / R403.1.4) and below your local frost depth. Builder's-grade tubes stay in place — Sonoco notes they are not designed to be stripped.

Timeline for standard 4000 psi mix

Walk on: 24 hours
Light loads / posts: 24 hours
Keep moist (cure): 5 days ≥70°F · 7 days at 50–70°F
Protect from freezing: 48 hours

Shopping list

24 bags Standard 4000 psi mix — 80-lb bags$155
6 tubes 10 in form tube, 4 ft$86.88
6 pcs Post bases or anchor bolts, set in the wet concrete
27 gal Clean water for mixing18–27 gal; start low, never exceed the max

Estimated total$242

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

80-lb Standard 4000 psi mix
24 bags × $
$155
10 in × 48 in form tube
6 tubes × $
$86.88

Materials total$242

Typical U.S. big-box prices checked 2026. Tap any price to enter your store's.

Did this answer your question?

Compare

10 in tubes (× 6) at other lengths

Length	Cu ft per tube	80-lb per tube	60-lb per tube	80-lb for 6 (+10%)
2 ft	1.09	2	3	12
3 ft	1.64	3	4	18
4 ft ←	2.18	4	5	24
5 ft	2.73	5	7	30
6 ft	3.27	6	8	36
8 ft	4.36	8	10	48

How this was worked out

Round forms are cylinders: area = π × radius². A 10 in tube has a 5 in radius, so π × 5² = 78.5 sq in ÷ 144 = 0.545 sq ft. Multiply by the length in feet for cubic feet.

2.18 cu ft ÷ 0.6 cu ft per 80-lb bag = 3.64, and ÷ 0.45 per 60-lb bag = 4.85. Tube tables round each tube up.

At 0.53 yd³ this is a bag job: a truck's 1 yd minimum plus fees would cost about $485.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main sonotube & column concrete calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

Quikrete QUIK-TUBE Building Form No. 6922 — technical data sheet — Table 1 bags per 1–4 ft of 6/8/10/12 in tube; hole 2× tube diameter; 2 in gravel and a 4–6 in footing; brace at 2 ft above grade; up to 3 ft above grade · checked October 2026
Sonoco Sonotube Builder's Tube — bags per 4 ft: 8 in 4×60/3×80, 10 in 5/4, 12 in 8/6, 16 in 13/10; below grade and up to 3 ft above · checked October 2026
Home Depot Sakrete 48 in form tubes — price history (Glassit) — 8 in × 48 in $10.88, 10 in × 48 in $14.48 (Jul 13, 2026, one tracked store) · checked October 2026
Quikrete Concrete Mix No. 1101 — technical data sheet — bag yields (80 lb = 0.60 cu ft, 60 lb = 0.45, 50 lb = 0.375, 40 lb = 0.30), water per bag, curing times; post method: 6 in of dry mix in the hole bottom, 24 h before strain · checked October 2026
Home Depot & Lowe's listings — Quikrete 80 lb Concrete Mix — $5.98–$6.98 per 80-lb bag; $5.93 bulk tier at 42+ bags; 42 bags per pallet; Fast-Setting 50 lb $7.97 · checked October 2026
Published 2026 ready-mix plant price sheets (e.g. Gehring Concrete) — $146–$285 per yd³ before fees; short-load fees $50–$200 · checked October 2026
International Residential Code 2021 — R403.1 footings & Table R403.1(1) — 12 × 6 in minimum footing, width by soil bearing, 12 in below undisturbed ground, 3 in cover over bars cast against earth; deck footings R507.3 · checked October 2026

Short answer

6 × 10 in Sonotubes 4 ft long need 13.1 cu ft of concrete — 24 × 80-lb bags with 10% extra.

A 10 in tube holds 0.545 cu ft per foot: π × (10 ÷ 24 ft)² = 0.545; × 4 ft = 2.18 cu ft.

Quik-Tube's data sheet lists 4 × 80-lb or 5 × 60-lb; Sonoco's table lists 4 × 80-lb or 5 × 60-lb per 4 ft tube — our 4 / 5 come from the same geometry.

For 6 columns with 10% extra: 24 × 80-lb bags (1,920 lb), about $155.

Dig a 20 in hole (twice the tube) and buy 6 × 4 ft tubes (about $86.88).

Six piers is a typical 12×12 deck: two rows of three.

Adjust it to your exact job

Tube size

Diameter

Sonotube sizes include 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24 in; Quik-Tube comes in 8, 10 and 12 in.

Exact diameter

= 10"

How many?

Concrete heightwhole tube

= 4' · 1.22 m

Above groundpart of it

= 6"

Footing under the tube

Pour a footing first

Quik-Tube method: 2 in of gravel, a 4–6 in footing as wide as the hole (2× the tube), then set the tube on it.

You need

24× 80-lb bags

3.6 bags per column · 0.53 yd³ including 10% extra · 1,920 lb

Per column: 2.18 ft³0.545 ft³ per foot of tube
Total concrete: 0.48yd³before waste
Hole to dig: 20in2× the tube diameter (Quik-Tube)
Bottom below grade: 3' 6"compare with your frost depth

Check against the tube makers

Bags per column, whole bags, no waste
Per column	60-lb	80-lb
This calculator (geometry)	5	4
Quik-Tube data sheet	5	4
Sonoco Sonotube table	5	4

All bag sizes for the job

Bags needed by size
Bag	Bags	Est. cost
40 lb · 0.3 ft³	48	—
50 lb · 0.375 ft³	39	—
60 lb · 0.45 ft³	32	$155
80 lb · 0.6 ft³	24	$155

That's 1 tons of bags — more than most pickups can carry in one trip. Ask about store delivery.

Footing depth

Timeline for standard 4000 psi mix

Walk on: 24 hours
Light loads / posts: 24 hours
Keep moist (cure): 5 days ≥70°F · 7 days at 50–70°F
Protect from freezing: 48 hours

Shopping list

24 bags Standard 4000 psi mix — 80-lb bags$155
6 tubes 10 in form tube, 4 ft$86.88
6 pcs Post bases or anchor bolts, set in the wet concrete
27 gal Clean water for mixing18–27 gal; start low, never exceed the max

Estimated total$242

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

80-lb Standard 4000 psi mix
24 bags × $
$155
10 in × 48 in form tube
6 tubes × $
$86.88

Materials total$242

Typical U.S. big-box prices checked 2026. Tap any price to enter your store's.

Length

Cu ft per tube

80-lb per tube

60-lb per tube

80-lb for 6 (+10%)

2 ft

1.09

3 ft

1.64

4 ft ←

2.18

5 ft

2.73

6 ft

3.27

8 ft

4.36

How this was worked out

Round forms are cylinders: area = π × radius². A 10 in tube has a 5 in radius, so π × 5² = 78.5 sq in ÷ 144 = 0.545 sq ft. Multiply by the length in feet for cubic feet.

2.18 cu ft ÷ 0.6 cu ft per 80-lb bag = 3.64, and ÷ 0.45 per 60-lb bag = 4.85. Tube tables round each tube up.

At 0.53 yd³ this is a bag job: a truck's 1 yd minimum plus fees would cost about $485.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main sonotube & column concrete calculator page.