See how many tubes one mixer batch fills.
⚙️Calculation Parameters
📊Calculated Output
How Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator Works?
To count tubes per batch, the Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator divides the usable yield of one mixer batch by the volume of one tube. The process takes 4 steps.
Enter the batch yield
Type the usable mixed volume per batch in cubic feet (ft³) or liters (L), or the bags per batch.
Enter the tube size
Type the diameter and depth.
Divide
The calculator divides batch yield by tube volume.
Read coverage
The tool shows tubes per batch, inches of tube per batch and batches per tube.
Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator Formula
The Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator compares batch and tube volumes.
Tubes per batch
T = V_batch ÷ V_tubeBoth in ft³.
Batch from bags
V_batch = bags per batch × Y2 × 80 lb = 1.20 ft³.
Rise per batch
h = V_batch ÷ (π × (D ÷ 24)²) × 12Inches of tube per batch.
Worked example: 3.5 ft³ drum mixer with 2 × 80 lb bags, 10 in × 48 in tubes
- V_batch = 2 × 0.60 = 1.20 ft³
- T = 1.20 ÷ 2.182 = 0.55 tubes per batch
- Batches per tube = 1.82, so 2 batches fill each pier
Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator Conversion Table
The batch coverage conversion table lists usable yield and tube coverage for 6 mixer sizes.
| Mixer | Usable ft³ | 10 in × 48 in tubes | 12 in × 48 in tubes | Rise in a 10 in tube |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.25 ft³ mixer (1 × 60 lb) | 0.45 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 10 in |
| 2.5 ft³ mixer (1 × 80 lb) | 0.60 | 0.28 | 0.19 | 13 in |
| 3.5 ft³ mixer (2 × 80 lb) | 1.20 | 0.55 | 0.38 | 26 in |
| 6 ft³ mixer (3 × 80 lb) | 1.80 | 0.83 | 0.57 | 40 in |
| 9 ft³ mixer (5 × 80 lb) | 3.00 | 1.38 | 0.95 | 66 in |
| Towable 0.5 yd³ trailer | 13.50 | 6.19 | 4.30 | 297 in |
Usable yield is about one-third to one-half of drum volume. Check the mixer label.
What is Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator?
A Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator is a coverage tool that shows how many tubes, or how much of one tube, a single mixer batch fills.
Drum mixers and towable trailers mix less than their nominal size. A 3.5 ft³ drum mixes 2 bags of 80 lb, or 1.20 ft³ usable. The calculator uses the usable figure and tells the crew that each 10 in × 48 in pier takes 2 batches.
The result sets the rhythm of the pour: mixer time, wheelbarrow trips and rodding between lifts.
What are the uses of Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Sonotubes per Concrete Batch Calculator.
Mixer rental choice
Crews pick a drum size that fills 1 pier per batch.
Towable trailers
Builders size trailer loads from a batch plant.
Pour rhythm
Supervisors schedule batches per pier.
Labor estimates
Estimators convert batches into mixer hours.
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