How deep should a footing be?

Author: Dr. Sydnee Tremblay  |  Last update: Thursday, February 12, 2026

A minimum of 12”inches deep for all footings and the width will be determined by the amount of stories, 12” inches for a single story, 15” inches for a two story and 23” inches for a three story. This is based on a soil bearing capacity of 1500(psf).

What is the minimum depth of a footing?

The minimum depth of footings below the surface of undisturbed soil, compacted fill material or controlled low strength material (CLSM) shall be 12 inches (305 mm). Where applicable, the requirements of CBC Section 1809.5 shall also be satisfied. The minimum width of footings shall be 12 inches (305 mm).

How do I know if my footings are deep enough?

The footing depth, on the other hand, is typically determined by the soil type and the extent to which you must dig before striking undisturbed soil. Still, we recommend that the depth of the footing extends to a minimum of 12 inches after you've hit undisturbed soil.

What is the rule of thumb for concrete footing depth?

While there are many factors at play, a common rule of thumb for foundation depth is to go as deep as the width of the foundation wall. For instance, if your foundation wall is 8 inches wide, a depth of 8 inches is a starting point.

How deep should a footing be buried?

A minimum of 12”inches deep for all footings and the width will be determined by the amount of stories, 12” inches for a single story, 15” inches for a two story and 23” inches for a three story. This is based on a soil bearing capacity of 1500(psf).

Finally! I started building my own house. Pt1- foundations and concrete slab

How deep are normal footings?

Footings need to be 600mm wide x 1m deep minimum,in some cases depending on ground quality/type,proximity of large trees footings are required to be up to 2m deep.

How deep do footings need to be for a house?

Required Footing Sizes

In most cases, a house should have a minimum footing of 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep, with foundations that are 8 to 10 inches thick. This should be enough to support house weight and resist lateral soil and water pressure.

What is the effective depth of wall footing?

Strip Wall Footings are constructed with typical slab depths between 6”-8” (15-20 cm), footing widths of 12”-24” (30-61 cm), and lengths that vary as needed. Strip Wall Footings are commonly paired with column widths of 6”, 8”, 10” (15, 20, 25 cm).

How do I calculate my footing size?

To determine the size of the footing, a simple formula is used: Structural Load (lbs) / Soil Capacity (psf) = Footing Surface Area Required (sq. ft.)

What should be the depth of footing?

All foundations shall extend to a depth of at least 50 cm below the natural ground level. The minimum depth of footing on sandy soil is 0.8 - 1 m, for rocky soil, it is 0.05 - 0.5 m and for clayey soil, it is 0.9 - 1.6 m. The minimum depth of foundation for the load-bearing wall is 900 mm.

Do footings need to be perfectly level?

Even the best contractors occasionally have to build on a sloppy footing. Ian Geisler, a noted ICF expert who has worked on hundreds of projects across the continent, says that realistically a perfect footing is anything within ¼” of level. “If it's within ½”, then it's workable,” he writes.

What happens if foundations are not deep enough?

If you make your foundations too shallow or too deep, there is a risk to the integrity of the build, and a danger that any reinforcement, be it mesh panels or rebar rods, is positioned incorrectly, leading to reduced tensile strength and load-bearing capacity.

What is considered a shallow footing?

Shallow foundations, often called footings, are situated beneath the lowest part of the structure. A footing is the first constructed element of a structure which is built after excavating the ground. In general, the depth of a shallow foundation is less than its width.

How far below the ground should a footing be?

The thickness of the footings should be not less than 200mm and is usually mass concrete only, ie. no reinforcement. The depth below ground level to the base of the footing should be not less than 300mm or to rock, whichever occurs first, which allows for a minimum of 100mm of ground cover to the pad.

What is the difference between a footing and a foundation?

The footing is what's actually in contact with the ground, while the foundation is the structure that transfers the load to the earth. A simple way to visualize the difference when comparing it to the human body would be to view the footing as the actual feet of the legs and the foundation being the legs themselves.

What is the rule of thumb for concrete footings?

For every 2 feet of adjustment to the width of the house, add or subtract 2 inches of footing width and 1 inch of footing thickness (but not less than 6 inches thick).

What is the minimum depth of the bottom of the footings?

❖ Footings are required to extend below the ground surface a minimum of 12 inches (305 mm). This is considered a minimum depth to protect the footing from movement of the soil caused by freezing and thawing in mild climate areas.

What is the standard footing size for a residential building?

Footings shall be a minimum of 8 inches by 24 inches (203 mm by 610 mm) for houses two and one-half stories and less. The footings for a three-story building shall be 10 inches by 24 inches (254 mm by 610 mm).

What is the difference between a footer and a footing?

Footings are structural supports that are used in addition to a foundation. They help transfer the load's weight from the foundation into the soil. Footers are typically in direct contact with the ground, while the foundation is in contact with the footing.

How deep should a wall footing be?

Your first and most important task is to lay the wall's foundation. Mark out the line and position of the wall and then dig out the foundations. Dig a trench (approx. 200mm deep and 300mm wide) where the wall will be.

How far apart should rebar be in footing?

Generally, a minimum of two #4 bars are required for residential footing. The rebar should be placed in a grid pattern with a spacing of no more than 18 inches apart.

What is the minimum effective depth of footing?

Depth of footing above bottom reinforcement shall not be less than 150 mm for footings on soil, nor less than 300 mm for footings on piles.

How deep do house footings have to be?

Depth of Footings

Footings should extend to a minimum depth of 12 inches below previously undisturbed soil. Footings must also extend at least 12 inches below the frost line (the depth to which the ground freezes in winter) or be frost-protected.

What is the maximum depth of footing?

(i) Size of footing : 1000 mm to 3000 mm in multiples of 250 mm. (ii) Maximum depth near column face: 500 to 1000 mm in multiples of 50 mm.

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