How do I know what size footing I need?

Author: Prof. Lavon Fisher  |  Last update: Friday, October 24, 2025

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

How to decide the size of footing?

Calculate footing size by determining vertical and horizontal loads, assessing soil bearing capacity, and selecting an appropriate type. Divide net load by soil bearing capacity to find footing area. Check local codes, consider settlement, and iterate as needed.

What is the rule of thumb for footing size?

Simple Gravel and Concrete Footing Design

The minimum footing thickness should not be less than the distance the footing extends outward from the edge of the foundation wall, or 6 inches, whichever is greater.

What size footings are required for a foundation?

The minimum footing width is 12 inches. Calculation of footing size may result in a smaller footing but the code requires a minimum 12 x 6 or 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep footing.

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.

How to decide the size of footing? | Area of footing | Design of RCC footing | Civil Tutor

What is the size of footing for a 3 storey house?

For a 3-storey (G+2) house, using standard 9″ thick walls, it is recommended the minimum size of the Foundation for footing should be 5'× 5'× 5′ (1.5m x 1.5m×1.5m) with respect to length, breadth and depth. How deep is the foundation of a 4 story building ?

How do you estimate footing?

to measure the length, width, and thickness of the footing in metres. Then, multiply those measurements together to get the cubic metre volume of the beam. To calculate the amount of steel needed for the footing in kilograms, multiply the volume of concrete footing by 0.5% and the density of steel (7850 kg/m3 ).

How do I work out how much concrete I need for footings?

You will want to:
  1. Determine how thick you want the concrete.
  2. Measure the length and width that you'd like to cover.
  3. Multiply the length by the width to determine square footage.
  4. Convert the thickness from inches to feet.
  5. Multiply the thickness in feet by the square footage to determine cubic feet.

Where do you measure footings from?

Minimum foundation depths should be measured from the reduced level where the reduced level will be the finished ground level.

How far apart should footings be?

When measuring for where to place your footers, make sure that the holes will be square with your house and that they are are no more than 8-feet apart in either direction. This is a general recommendation to keep your deck as sturdy as possible.

What type of footing is most common in residential construction?

The most common types of footing in residential construction are Isolated and Continuous spread footings. They are both part of a shallow foundation construction hence why they are used in residential construction. In addition, the other five footing types are Raft, Strap, Strip, Pile, and Combined footings.

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 average size of a concrete footing?

A concrete footing should be 100mm deep by 300mm wide if the footing is for a free standing wall. The footing should be increased to 150mm deep and 450mm wide if the wall being built is a retaining wall.

How much weight can soil support?

The load-bearing capacity of soils range from 4,000 psf for sedimentary rock to as little as 1,500 psf for clay and silt. Soils that are a predominantly sand or gravel typically fall in the middle, from 2,000-3,000 psf.

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.)

How much does a 30x40 concrete slab cost?

How much does a 30x40 concrete slab cost? The average cost is $4 to $8 per square foot. The median price is about $6 per square foot. Based on these averages, you may pay $4,800 to $9,600 with a median estimate of $7,200.

How much will 10 yards of concrete cover 4 inches thick?

A general rule of thumb is on cubic yard of concrete will cover the following areas: 4″ thick – covers 81 square feet. 5″ thick – covers 65 square feet. 6″ thick – covers 54 square feet.

What is the formula of footing?

So, the area of the footing = (Total Load)/(Bearing Capacity).

What is the standard footing size?

How deep and wide must my house footings be? That depends on the number of stories the house will be. 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.

How much do footings cost per foot?

The footings range between $10 to $15 per linear foot installed. This does not include the prices of the crawl space walls, only the price of the concrete foundation. The average concrete block wall adds another $6 to $7 per linear foot, for a total crawl space price per linear foot of $16 to $22.

What is the minimum size of footing?

Concept: For footing: i) The thickness at the edge shall not be less than 150 mm for footings on soil and not less than 300 mm for footing on piles. ii) The depth of the foundation should be a minimum of 500 mm.

How far apart are footings?

Spacing and deck footing size should be properly calculated. and must be spaced and sized accordingly. To figure the deck footing spacing, factor in the size of the footing and beam, as well as the beam's span. In most cases, it's best to space the footings/posts no farther apart than 8 feet in the center.

How to design a footing for a building?

  1. Step 1 : Determine the size of footing. Assume self weight of footing equal to 10% of superimposed load. ...
  2. Step 2 : Net upward pressure. ...
  3. Step 3: Depth of the footing on the basis of BM. ...
  4. Step 4: Area of R/F. ...
  5. Step 5: Check for one way shear. ...
  6. Step 6: Check for two way shear.

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