How Thick Does Concrete Need to Be?

The thickness of concrete depends on its application. You’ll need to consider the soil or sub-grade conditions in the location you’re laying the concrete. It also depends on the purpose of the concrete you’re laying down.

Concrete sidewalk generally is 4” thick. If that concrete sidewalk crosses a driveway or service vehicles drive on it you would want to ensure it is 8” thick. In all cases you would want a minimum of 4” of compacted rock as your base.

Residential driveways should be no less than 6” thick as long as they are being used for average vehicles.

Commercial driveway aprons should be no less than 8” thick and in most cases should be 10” thick to allow for trash trucks and delivery vehicles to pass without damaging the concrete.

Concrete loading docks and dumpster pads should be at least 10” thick and in some cases 12” thick depending on the size and weight of the loads they bear.

Chemicals can be added to concrete to increase its strength in some cases, but doing so can shorten the life of your concrete by reducing its flexibility.

These thicknesses for concrete mentioned above are meant to serve as general guidelines. Before deciding on a thickness for concrete it’s important to take several things into consideration, including:

• How much traffic will this area be subjected to?
• How heavy are the vehicles that use this area?
• Does the drainage in this area allow water to run off of the pavement?
• If the previous pavement collapsed, why did it fail?
• What kind of additives can be added to increase the life of the new concrete?
• What kind of maintenance will be required with the new concrete?

If you have questions about your concrete, please let us know. By asking the right questions from the outset, you can ensure your concrete will hold up to the strain you put on it and last a long time.