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New HampshireConcrete Calculator — Yards, Bags & Cost
Calculate cubic yards, bags needed, and NH-accurate ready-mix costs for any New Hampshire concrete project — driveways, sidewalks, patios, foundations, footings & more.
The New Hampshire Concrete Calculator helps homeowners, contractors, and builders estimate cubic yards, bag count, and ready-mix costs for any concrete project in New Hampshire. NH pricing typically runs $155–$220/yd — above the national average — driven by New England labor rates, limited local ready-mix plant density, and the state's extreme freeze-thaw climate. Northern NH can see frost depths up to 60 inches, making proper mix design critical. Enter your dimensions below for instant, NH-accurate results. You can also explore the full Concrete Toolkit for more free calculators and guides.
🏔️ New Hampshire Concrete Calculator
🏔️ NH-Accurate Pricing · IBC Compliant · New England
Enter your project dimensions to calculate volume, bags needed, and estimated NH material cost.
Residential driveway: 6 in. min, 4,000 PSI air-entrained required statewide. NH building permit may be required.
Sidewalk 4 in · Driveway 6 in · Footing 12 in · Foundation 8–12 in
Cubic Yards Required
—
Including waste factor
📋 Project Summary
💵 NH Cost Estimate
📐 New Hampshire Driveway Cross-Section — NH Standard Layers
Broom / Brushed Finish — NH Standard
Concrete — 6 in. Min (NH Driveway) 4,000 PSI · Air-Entrained 5–7% · W/C Ratio ≤ 0.45
⬛ Rebar / Wire Mesh (Structural & Heavy Load Projects)
🪨 6 in. Compacted Gravel Base (NHDOT Spec)
Compacted Subgrade / Granular Fill
27
Cu ft per cubic yard
45
80 lb bags per cu yd
$175
Avg NH ready-mix / yd
Concrete SlabRebar LayerGravel BaseSubgrade
New Hampshire Concrete Calculator — What You Need to Know
New Hampshire is one of the most demanding states in the US for concrete durability. The Granite State experiences 40–80 freeze-thaw cycles per year in most regions, making air-entrained concrete (5–7% air) mandatory for any exterior flatwork. The NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) oversees licensed contractors, while the NH State Building Code adopts the International Building Code (IBC) with local amendments. Most municipalities require a building permit for driveways, foundations, and structural concrete work — check with your local NH town office before starting.
🔵 NH Minimum Concrete Requirements — Exterior Work
Driveways & sidewalks: 4,000 PSI min, 5–7% air entrainment · Structural exposed to weather: 4,000–4,500 PSI · W/C ratio: max 0.45 · Frost depth: 48–60 in. (north), 36–48 in. (south). Never use calcium chloride accelerator in NH exterior concrete — it accelerates rebar corrosion under freeze-thaw conditions.
🚗 NH Driveway Concrete
A standard 20×20 ft NH two-car driveway at 6 inches requires ~7.4 cubic yards. At NH ready-mix prices ($168–$215/yd for 4,000 PSI), material alone costs roughly $1,240–$1,590. Full installed cost including labor, gravel base, and forming typically runs $5,500–$10,500 in NH.
🌲 NH Barn & Garage Floors
NH outbuilding floors are a top use case — barns, garages, and sheds often pour on granular fill over rocky NH soil. Use 4 in. at 3,500 PSI for storage-only floors, or 6 in. at 4,000 PSI for vehicle access. Vapor barrier under slab is strongly recommended in NH.
🏗️ NH Foundation & Footings
NH foundations must extend below the frost line — up to 60 inches in Coos County (North Country). Use 4,000–4,500 PSI with waterproofing admixture. NH building code requires a licensed engineer to stamp drawings for any structural concrete over certain dimensions.
How to Calculate Concrete Volume in New Hampshire
Start by measuring your project in feet (length and width) and depth in inches. Multiply length × width × (depth ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For irregular shapes, break the area into smaller rectangles and add the volumes together. In NH, always add at least 10% waste — remote locations north of Concord can mean long wait times for a second delivery, and short-load fees quickly exceed the cost of the extra yard.
Example: 20 ft × 10 ft NH driveway × 6 in = 100 cu ft = 3.70 cu yd → Order 4.1 cu yd
⚠️ NH Short-Load Fees & Remote Delivery
Most NH ready-mix suppliers charge a short-load fee of $100–$200 for orders under 3–5 cubic yards. In northern NH (White Mountains, North Country), delivery surcharges of $50–$150+ apply for remote sites. For jobs under 0.5 cu yd, bagged Quikrete or Sakrete from local NH hardware stores (Aubuchon Hardware, Home Depot in Concord or Manchester) is far more practical.
New Hampshire Concrete Pricing — Current Reference
NH ready-mix pricing sits 10–30% above the national average due to New England labor rates, fewer competing batching plants outside Manchester and Concord, and the added cost of air-entraining admixtures required in this climate. Southern NH (Nashua, Manchester metro near MA border) is most competitive; northern NH commands the highest rates.
Mix Type / PSI
NH Price / Cu Yd
National Avg
Best For
Air Entrained?
NH Code
3,000 PSI — Standard
$148–$175
$143–$158
Interior slabs only — not for NH exterior
Not Sufficient
Interior Only
3,500 PSI — Residential
$158–$188
$153–$166
Sheltered patios, garage floors
Recommended
Limited Use
4,000 PSI — NH Standard
$168–$205
$161–$173
Driveways, sidewalks, exterior slabs
Required
Compliant
4,500 PSI — Structural
$182–$220
$171–$181
Foundations, exposed structural work
Required
Compliant
5,000 PSI — High Strength
$198–$240
$178–$193
Commercial, heavy load slabs
Required
Compliant
Fiber-Reinforced / Colored
$210–$265
$160–$200
Decorative driveways, stamped patios
Required
Compliant
3,000 PSI — Standard
NH Price / Cu Yd$148–$175
National Avg$143–$158
Best ForInterior slabs only
NH CodeInterior Only
3,500 PSI — Residential
NH Price / Cu Yd$158–$188
National Avg$153–$166
Best ForSheltered patios, garage floors
NH CodeLimited Use
4,000 PSI — NH Standard
NH Price / Cu Yd$168–$205
National Avg$161–$173
Best ForDriveways, sidewalks
NH CodeCompliant
4,500 PSI — Structural
NH Price / Cu Yd$182–$220
National Avg$171–$181
Best ForFoundations, structural
NH CodeCompliant
5,000 PSI — High Strength
NH Price / Cu Yd$198–$240
National Avg$178–$193
Best ForCommercial, heavy load
NH CodeCompliant
New Hampshire Concrete Cost by Region
NH is divided into five main regions, each with distinct pricing driven by proximity to batching plants, population density, and delivery distance. The Nashua–Manchester corridor in southern NH has the most competitive rates due to proximity to Massachusetts suppliers. The North Country (Coos County) is the most expensive due to remoteness and low demand volume.
NH Region
Key Cities / Areas
4,000 PSI / Cu Yd
Frost Depth
Air Entrainment
Permit Required
North Country
Coos County, Berlin, Lancaster
$195–$240
48–60 in.
Required
Yes
White Mountains
Carroll County, Conway, Laconia
$182–$218
42–54 in.
Required
Yes
Lakes Region
Belknap County, Laconia, Meredith
$172–$208
42–48 in.
Required
Yes
Concord / Capital
Merrimack County, Concord, Keene
$168–$202
40–48 in.
Required
Yes
Southern NH
Hillsborough, Nashua, Manchester
$162–$195
36–44 in.
Required
Yes
Seacoast
Rockingham, Portsmouth, Exeter
$165–$198
36–42 in.
Required
Yes
North Country — Coos County
4,000 PSI$195–$240/yd
Frost Depth48–60 in.
Air EntrainmentRequired
White Mountains — Carroll County
4,000 PSI$182–$218/yd
Frost Depth42–54 in.
Air EntrainmentRequired
Concord / Capital Region
4,000 PSI$168–$202/yd
Frost Depth40–48 in.
Air EntrainmentRequired
Southern NH — Nashua / Manchester
4,000 PSI$162–$195/yd
Frost Depth36–44 in.
Air EntrainmentRequired
Seacoast — Portsmouth / Exeter
4,000 PSI$165–$198/yd
Frost Depth36–42 in.
Air EntrainmentRequired
✅ Verify Your NH Contractor Before You Pour
New Hampshire requires contractors performing concrete and construction work to be licensed. Verify your contractor's license through the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification at oplc.nh.gov. Always request proof of Workers' Compensation and general liability insurance before any work begins on your property.
New Hampshire Concrete Project Tips
Air entrainment is non-negotiable in NH — 5–7% entrained air is required for all exterior concrete in New Hampshire. Without it, concrete will spall and flake within 1–2 winters due to the high number of freeze-thaw cycles.
Set footings deep — very deep — frost depth in northern NH reaches 60 inches. All permanent structure footings must clear the frost line or they will heave and crack. Confirm local frost depth with your town building department.
Never use calcium chloride in NH exterior concrete — it accelerates corrosion of rebar and wire mesh and reduces concrete durability in freeze-thaw climates. Use hot water, insulating blankets, or non-chloride accelerators in cold weather.
Cure slowly in NH summers — summer temps in NH can spike to 90°F, especially in the southern tier. Pour early morning, cover with wet burlap, and keep moist for 7 days minimum. Sun and low humidity accelerate shrinkage cracking.
Seal driveways every 2–3 years — NH towns use heavy road salt and sand. Seal with a silane/siloxane penetrating sealer after the 28-day cure and re-apply every 2–3 years to prevent salt and water penetration.
Plan pours between May and September — NH concrete season is short. Below 40°F, ACI 306 cold-weather procedures apply. Most NH contractors avoid pours from November through March without heated enclosures.
Order 10–15% overage for remote sites — if your project is north of Concord or in a rural area, add 15% waste. A second ready-mix truck call for 0.5 yards can cost $200–$300 in delivery and short-load fees alone.
Use granular backfill under NH slabs — NH's rocky, clay-heavy soils drain poorly. A well-compacted 6-inch gravel base (NHDOT Item 304 or equivalent crushed stone) is essential to prevent slab settling and cracking from seasonal ground movement.
Frequently Asked Questions — New Hampshire Concrete Calculator
How much does concrete cost per yard in New Hampshire?+
$155–$240 per cubic yard for standard 4,000 PSI air-entrained ready-mix in New Hampshire, depending on region. Southern NH (Nashua, Manchester) runs $162–$195/yd; northern NH (Coos County, White Mountains) runs $195–$240/yd due to remote delivery. Nationally, the average is $125–$165/yd. Short-load fees of $100–$200 apply for orders under 3–5 cubic yards.
What PSI concrete is required for NH driveways?+
4,000 PSI with 5–7% air entrainment is the standard for NH residential driveways. NH's high freeze-thaw cycle count — often 40–80 cycles per year — makes air entrainment essential to prevent surface spalling. Minimum depth is 6 inches for vehicle traffic. Using 3,500 PSI for exterior flatwork in NH is not recommended by most NH contractors.
How deep must footings be in New Hampshire?+
NH frost depth varies significantly by region: 48–60 inches in Coos County (North Country), 42–54 inches in Carroll and Grafton counties (White Mountains), 36–48 inches in central and southern NH (Merrimack, Hillsborough), and 36–42 inches on the Seacoast. All footings for permanent structures must extend below the local frost line. Confirm exact depth requirements with your local NH town building department before digging.
Do I need a permit for concrete work in New Hampshire?+
Yes for most structural and site work. NH towns enforce the NH State Building Code (IBC-based) and most require permits for driveways, foundations, retaining walls, and any structural concrete. Permit requirements vary by municipality — some towns require permits for patios and walkways as well. Contact your local NH town building/zoning office to confirm what requires a permit in your specific town.
Who supplies ready-mix concrete in New Hampshire?+
Major NH ready-mix suppliers include Pike Industries (statewide), Aggregate Industries, Continental Concrete (southern NH / Manchester area), and numerous local independent yards. In the North Country and Lakes Region, local independent suppliers are the primary source — delivery zones are tightly limited, so always confirm your project site is within the supplier's service area before ordering.
How many cubic yards for a standard NH driveway?+
A typical NH two-car driveway at 20 ft × 20 ft × 6 inches requires approximately 7.4 cubic yards (plus 10% waste = ~8.2 cu yd). At current NH pricing for 4,000 PSI ($168–$205/yd), material alone costs roughly $1,380–$1,680. Full installed cost including NH labor, compacted gravel base, wire mesh, and forming typically runs $5,500–$10,500 depending on region.
When is the best time to pour concrete in New Hampshire?+
The optimal NH concrete season is May through September, when daytime temperatures are consistently above 50°F. June, July, and August offer the best curing conditions. Avoid pours when temperatures are forecast to drop below 40°F within 24 hours. Cold-weather pours (October–April) require insulating blankets, heated enclosures, or hot water mixes per ACI 306 — significantly adding to project cost in NH.
NH OPLC, NH DOT, and industry references for compliant concrete work in New Hampshire.
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NH Office of Professional Licensure
Contractor Licensing
Verify licensed NH contractors, look up disciplinary records, and confirm that your concrete contractor holds valid NH credentials before any work begins on your property.
NHDOT provides standard specifications for concrete construction on NH state roads, driveway access permits, and concrete mix design standards for public works projects statewide.
The American Concrete Institute's ACI 306 guide covers cold-weather concrete practices essential for NH contractors. Proper insulation, heating, and mix design protect pours in NH's long winter season.