What strength concrete is used for footings?

Author: Mervin Walsh  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Concrete footings and slabs on grade typically require a concrete of 3,500 to 4,000 psi. Suspended slabs, beams, and girders (as often found in bridges) require 3,500 to 5,000 psi. Traditional concrete walls and columns tend to range from 3,000 to 5,000 psi, while 4,000 to 5,000 psi is needed for pavement.

What strength concrete for footings?

Strength: 25 Newtons after 28 days.

C25 is often used as a foundation concrete mix when pouring foundations (footings). It is also the ideal concrete for domestic slab foundations for house and bungalow floors.

What grade of concrete is used for footings?

C25 standardised mix concrete or ST2 Concrete is widely versatile and used in numerous commercial and domestic projects. It is commonly used for footings and foundations, including mass concrete fill, trench fill and reinforced fill, as well as general groundworks.

What is 2000 PSI concrete used for?

The bare minimum is usually between 2,000 and 3,000 psi for fill and simple surfaces (e.g., patios or sidewalks). ACI sets 2,500 psi as the structural concrete minimum. Pavement, slabs, and footings can be up to 4,000 psi. Suspended slabs, beams, and girders (typically found in bridges) might be 5,000 psi.

What is the best concrete mix for footings?

For concrete footings, the best mix to use is:
  • 1 part cement.
  • 2 parts sand.
  • 4 parts stone (aggregate by volume)

Post Support Footing using Extra Strength Concrete Mix

Which grade cement is best for footing?

53 grade cement offers higher strength and durability compared to 43 grade cement. It is suitable for structural projects that require greater load-bearing capacity, such as bridges, high-rise buildings, heavy infrastructure and industrial construction.

Can I use quikrete for footings?

J&W Lumber recommends using QUIKRETE to build your concrete footings. Take a look at this step-by-step informational video on how to build the footings for your deck.

Is 2500 PSI concrete good for footings?

The ideal concrete psi for a given project depends on various factors, but the bare minimum for any project usually starts around 2,500 to 3,000 psi. Each concrete structure has a normally acceptable psi range. Concrete footings and slabs on grade typically require a concrete of 3,500 to 4,000 psi.

Is 5000 PSI concrete better than 4000 PSI concrete?

Pavement and floor slabs in homes and business are made of concrete at 4,000 PSI and able to withstand traffic and support heavy loads. Concrete that exceeds 5,000 PSI is used in special construction projects that require building materials that are able to withstand heavy impact and extreme wear and tear.

How much is 2500 PSI concrete cost?

2,500 PSI Concrete Cost per Yard

The typical price per cubic yard for 2,500 PSI concrete ranges from $150 to $170, or $1,405 to $1,595 per full load, delivered. Concrete with a 2,500 PSI is the most affordable.

What is the standard concrete mix for footings?

A concrete mix of 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 4 parts coarse aggregate (by volume) should be used for footings.

What is the best base for concrete footings?

Soil compaction is often necessary to create a stable base for footings. This process increases soil density and load-bearing capacity. In some cases, engineers may recommend using gravel or crushed stone to improve drainage and stability beneath the footing.

What thickness of concrete for footings?

The depth of concrete you need will depend on the use: footings for extensions, for example, will need to be at least 200mm thick, while around 100mm should be deep enough for a shed base.

What is the best concrete for post footings?

Fast-setting concrete is ideal for setting posts because there's no mixing—you simply pour the dry concrete from the bag right into the hole, then add water.

What psi concrete to use for foundation?

A strength of 4,000 psi (pounds per square inch) after a one month cure is the industry minimum for concrete driveways, slabs, and sidewalks. However, 4,500 psi as the ideal. According to guidelines published by AsktheBuilder.com, a home foundation requires a thicker pour of 8-10 inches and a psi of 3,500-4,000.

What is the rule of thumb for concrete footing size?

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).

When to use 4000 PSI concrete?

Structural components like beams and footers require a PSI of 3,500-4,000. Concrete in this range is also a good choice for concrete slabs for storing RVs or other heavy loads. Concrete used in warehouses, factories, and other large-scale commercial properties often requires 4,000-5,000 PSI.

What is 6000 PSI concrete used for?

PSI 6000 can be used for any application requiring concrete in a minimum thickness of 50 mm (2”), such as slabs, footings, steps, columns, walls and patios. Each - 25 kg (55 lb) bag of QUIKRETE® PSI 6000 will yield approximately 12.2 L (0.43 cu ft) of mixed concrete.

How long does it take for 5000 PSI concrete to cure?

Curing should be started as soon as possible and should continue for a period of 5 days in warm weather at 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) or higher or 7 days in cooler weather at 50 – 70 degrees (10 – 21 degrees C). Protect concrete from freezing for at least 48 hours.

Does higher psi concrete crack more?

Concrete strength is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). The higher the PSI the more durable your concrete will be and will thus be resilient to cracking.

What PSI should concrete be for deck footings?

Your footing should be at least as thick as it is wide at its base. The ideal temperature for pouring concrete is between 50-90 degrees F. Make sure you use 5,000 psi concrete mix.

Is bagged concrete as strong as concrete?

Believe it or not, the concrete in the bags that you see at hardware stores and home centers is pretty much the same concrete you would get if you called a ready-mix plant and had it delivered to your home in a giant truck equipped with a rotating drum.

Do concrete footings need gravel?

Gravel provides drainage, stabilizes the soil, prevents erosion, and helps distribute weight more evenly. Without it, you risk the potential damages listed above. If you're planning a concrete project, don't skip the gravel layer—it's a foundation that ensures your concrete work stands the test of time.

How long to leave concrete footings before building?

How long after pouring concrete can you build on it? Concrete curing is a vital process in the construction of your home. Typically, your foundation will have good resistance when it's 7 days old, be better at 14 and at it's best at 28 days. However, it's unlikely you'll want to wait that long.

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