How to Measure Cubic Yards of Concrete

Section the area off into squares and triangles. Separate stairs into levels, with each stairstep being a new level. The separation of the area into sections or levels is done only for reference and does not require that you physically mark the area.

Measure the height and width of each section. Height is the measurement from the top of the slab to the bottom of the slab. Width will be the horizontal measurement from left to right. Measuring the height of stairs means from the top of a stair to where it meets the top of the next stair.

Measure the depth of the flat sections. Depth, or length, is the measurement from the front corner to the back corner. Flat slabs of concrete are measured from the front corner to the back corner of the slab for the depth measurement.

Measure the depth of each stair. The depth of stairs that are solid all the way down -- as opposed to the kind found in public-building stairwells -- is calculated by measuring the top stair first. The second stair's depth is the distance from the front corner of the stair to where the second stair meets the top stair. Add that measurement to the depth of the first stair to the get the total depth of the second stair. Measure from the front corner of each step to the back of the concrete slab if you are able to see the actual sides of the stairs to get a more precise measurement of each step's depth.

Multiply the height times the width times the depth of each section. Add the totals of each section together to get the total cubic volume. If you're dealing with inches on stair measurements, convert from cubic inches or feet to cubic yards.