How thick should a concrete walkway be?

Four inches is the standard for foot traffic. Use 5 to 6 in where a vehicle may cross, such as a path that meets a driveway apron, and add a gravel base under any thickness.

How wide should a concrete path be?

At least 36 in for one person, which is also the usual minimum for accessible routes. Four feet is more comfortable and lets two people pass, and 5 ft allows people to walk side by side.

How far apart should the control joints be?

Keep panels roughly square, so joints about every 4 to 5 ft on a walkway that wide, and never more than about 10 to 12 ft apart for a 4 in slab. Cut them to about one-quarter of the slab depth, and add an isolation joint where the path meets a house, step, or driveway.

Is it cheaper to use bags or ready-mix for a path?

For a short path under about a cubic yard, bags are simpler, though a 30 ft path already takes dozens. Beyond that, ready-mix delivery is easier and usually costs less than the same volume in bags. Check the supplier's minimum order and short-load fee first.

How Much Concrete for a Walkway or Path? Sizes & Yards

Last updated October 4, 2026

A concrete walkway is a thin, long slab, so the volume is small per foot but adds up fast over a long path. This guide gives the concrete you need by length, width and thickness, how wide and thick a path should be, where the joints go, and what to put under it.

Quick answer: a 4 ft wide, 4 in thick walkway takes about 0.54 yd³ of concrete per 10 ft of length, including 10% extra. A 30 ft path takes 1.63 yd³, which is about 74 bags of 80 lb mix.

Concrete for common walkway sizes

Volume is length × width × thickness. The table uses a 4 in slab, adds 10% for uneven forms and spillage, and shows the equivalent in 80 lb bags (about 0.6 ft³ each, so 45 per cubic yard).

Length	3 ft wide	4 ft wide	5 ft wide
10 ft long	0.41 yd³ (19 bags)	0.54 yd³ (25 bags)	0.68 yd³ (31 bags)
20 ft long	0.81 yd³ (37 bags)	1.09 yd³ (49 bags)	1.36 yd³ (62 bags)
30 ft long	1.22 yd³ (55 bags)	1.63 yd³ (74 bags)	2.04 yd³ (92 bags)
50 ft long	2.04 yd³ (92 bags)	2.72 yd³ (123 bags)	3.40 yd³ (153 bags)
100 ft long	4.07 yd³ (184 bags)	5.43 yd³ (245 bags)	6.79 yd³ (306 bags)

Volumes include 10% waste. Orders for ready-mix are usually rounded up to the nearest quarter yard.

How thickness changes the amount

Every extra inch of thickness adds a quarter of the volume of a 4 in slab. The table shows a 30 ft × 4 ft path at each thickness.

Thickness	Concrete (with 10% waste)	80 lb bags
3 in	1.22 yd³	55
4 in	1.63 yd³	74
5 in	2.04 yd³	92
6 in	2.44 yd³	110

Four inches is standard for foot traffic. Use 5 to 6 in where a car or heavy cart might cross, such as where the path meets a driveway.

How wide should a walkway be?

Width	Use
3 ft (36 in)	Minimum comfortable width for one person and the usual accessibility minimum
4 ft	A good general-purpose width; two people can pass
5 ft	Two people walk side by side; good for a main entry path
6 ft or more	Wide entry walks and paths shared with equipment

Wider is more comfortable but costs proportionally more, so decide the width before you order.

Worked example: a 30 ft path, 4 ft wide

Area: 30 × 4 = 120 ft².
Concrete: 120 × (4 ÷ 12) = 40.0 ft³, or 1.48 yd³. With 10% waste that is 1.63 yd³, or 74 bags of 80 lb mix.
Cost: at an example price of $150 per cubic yard, the concrete is about $244 before delivery fees.
Gravel base: a 4 in base takes the same raw volume, so about 1.63 yd³ with 10% waste. Use the Gravel Calculator for tons and cost.

Enter the same numbers in the Concrete Calculator with your supplier's price per yard to get the cost directly. For a curved path, choose the circular ring or trapezoid shape, or split the path into straight sections and add them.

Base, forms, and slope

Gravel base. Put 3 to 4 in of compacted gravel under the path for drainage and even support. See how much gravel goes under a slab.
Forms. Use 2×4s on edge for a 4 in slab, staked every 2 to 3 ft and set level. For curves, use flexible forms or thin hardboard.
Slope. Pitch the path about 1/4 in per foot across its width so water runs off the side. On a 4 ft wide path, that is a 1 in drop from one edge to the other.
Reinforcement. A walkway on firm ground often needs only the joints. Wire mesh or rebar holds cracks tight where soil is soft or the path crosses a tree root zone.

Joints and finishing

Control joints. Cut or tool them about every 4 to 5 ft on a path that width, keeping the panels close to square, and to about one-quarter of the slab depth.
Isolation joints. Place a strip of expansion material where the path meets a house wall, steps, or a driveway, so each can move on its own.
Finish. Screed level, float, edge the sides, and finish with a broom for traction. A smooth trowel finish gets slippery when wet.
Curing. Keep the surface damp or covered for about seven days, and avoid pouring in freezing or very hot weather without precautions.

Bags or ready-mix?

A 10 ft path takes 25 bags and a 30 ft path takes 74, which is a lot of mixing, and every batch needs to be placed and finished before the first one sets. Under about a cubic yard, bags can work for a short path. Beyond that, ready-mix delivered by truck is usually easier and cheaper once you count your time. Ask the supplier about their minimum load and short-load fee, and have forms, wheelbarrows, and helpers ready before the truck arrives.

Related guides and calculators

Frequently asked questions

Every 10 ft of a 4 ft wide walkway at 4 in thick needs about 0.54 yd³ with 10% waste. A 30 ft walkway needs 1.63 yd³, or about 74 bags of 80 lb mix.