Solid concrete steps

How it is calculated

V = width × run × rise × steps × (steps + 1) / 2.

Keep the full result when using it in another calculation. Results show up to three decimal places; very small positive results use scientific notation (for example, 1e-6). No extra material for waste is added.

Record one repeated step profile

Measure the full step width, the horizontal depth of one tread, and the vertical rise of one step. Enter the number of equal steps. The model treats them as solid rectangular layers that extend down to one flat base.

The layers have different heights: the first is one riser high, the next is two risers high, and each following layer adds one riser. A landing or a separate concrete pad is not included in the step count.

See how the step count changes volume

For three steps that are 4 ft wide, with a 1 ft tread and a 0.5 ft rise, the three layers have heights 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ft. Their combined volume is 4 × 1 × (0.5 + 1.0 + 1.5), or 12 ft³.

A stair built as a sloped slab with a hollow space below it does not have this solid stepped profile. Measure that actual section with a method that represents its underside instead of using this total.

Before you use the result

• All steps must have the same width, tread depth, and riser height. Each step is solid concrete down to a flat base.
• The result excludes landings and stairs built as an inclined slab with a sloping underside.

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