Add up tubes of more than one size.
⚙️Calculation Parameters
📊Calculated Output
How Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator Works?
To combine different tubes, the Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator adds one row per tube size and sums the rows into one order. The process takes 4 steps.
Add a row per size
Enter each diameter and depth pair with its count, such as 4 at 10 in × 48 in and 2 at 16 in × 60 in.
Calculate each row
The calculator finds the per-tube volume and multiplies it by the row count.
Sum the rows
Row totals add into one project volume in cubic feet (ft³), cubic yards (yd³) and cubic meters (m³).
Apply waste and bags
One waste margin and one bag rounding apply to the project total.
Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator Formula
The Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator sums row volumes.
Row volume
Vᵢ = nᵢ × π × (Dᵢ ÷ 24)² × (Hᵢ ÷ 12)nᵢ is the count of that size.
Project volume
V = Σ Vᵢ × (1 + w)Σ means add every row.
Share by row
Shareᵢ = Vᵢ ÷ Σ Vᵢ × 100%Shows which size uses the most concrete.
Worked example: the 4-row project in the table
- 8.73 + 6.28 + 13.96 + 1.05 = 30.02 ft³
- With 10% waste: 33.02 ft³ = 1.223 yd³
- 80 lb bags = ⌈33.02 ÷ 0.60⌉ = 56
Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator Conversion Table
The mixed-size conversion table shows a sample porch and deck project with 4 tube sizes and a project total.
| Tube size | Count | ft³ per tube | Row ft³ | Row yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 in × 48 in | 4 | 2.182 | 8.73 | 0.323 |
| 12 in × 48 in | 2 | 3.142 | 6.28 | 0.233 |
| 16 in × 60 in | 2 | 6.981 | 13.96 | 0.517 |
| 8 in × 36 in | 1 | 1.047 | 1.05 | 0.039 |
| Project total | 9 | — | 30.02 | 1.112 |
The 2 large 16 in piers use 47% of the concrete while making up 2 of 9 piers.
What is Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator?
A Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator is a takeoff tool that combines tubes of different diameters and heights into one concrete order.
Real projects mix sizes. Corner piers carry more load and get larger tubes, stair landings get shorter tubes, and a hot-tub pad gets heavy 16 in piers. The calculator keeps each size on its own row and adds them, so nothing is missed and nothing is counted twice.
Seeing each row share shows where the concrete goes. Large-diameter piers use concrete fast: a 16 in tube holds 2.56 times as much per foot as a 10 in tube.
What are the uses of Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Mixed-Size Sonotube Calculator.
Decks with heavy corners
Builders combine 10 in field piers with 12 in corner piers.
Additions and porches
Contractors total piers of 3 or 4 sizes on one foundation plan.
Single truck orders
Site leads combine every size into one ready-mix ticket.
Cost allocation
Estimators see which pier group drives the concrete bill.
🔗Related Sonotube Calculators
View all 106 subtools →Multiple Sonotube Calculator
Add up many tubes of the same size.
Sloped-Site Pier Quantity Calculator
Add up piers of many heights on a slope.
Sonotube Volume Calculator
Find how much concrete fills a round tube.
Sonotube Cubic Yards Calculator
See your concrete in cubic yards.