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Concrete Mix Design — Absolute Volume Method (ACI 211.1 tables, U.S. units)

First trial batch per cubic yard: mixing water and air, w/c from the required average strength, cement, dry-rodded coarse aggregate volume, fine aggregate by absolute volume, and batch weights corrected for aggregate moisture.

Requirements

f′c psi

Strength used for w/c

Max w/c (exposure, optional)

Nominal max. aggregate size in

Slump in

Air

Materials

Sand fineness modulus

Coarse dry-rodded unit wt pcf

Coarse SG (SSD)

Fine SG (SSD)

Coarse absorption %

Coarse moisture %

Fine absorption %

Fine moisture %

Default inputs reproduce the University of Memphis CIVL 1112 worked example (7000 psi, ¾ in, 3–4 in slump).

Results per yd³

Water · air · strength for w/c · w/c—

Cement—

Coarse: bulk volume · oven-dry · SSD—

Fine aggregate (SSD)—

Absolute volumes W · C · air · CA · FA (ft³)—

Batch weights: water · cement · coarse · fine (lb)—

Fresh unit weight (SSD basis)—

TablesACI 211.1-91 Tables 6.3.3, 6.3.4(a), 6.3.6. ACI 211.1-91(09) has been superseded by ACI PRC-211.1-22, Selecting Proportions for Normal-Density and High-Density Concrete—Guide (July 2022); the absolute-volume procedure is the same, but confirm the table values against the current guide. ACI 318-19 Table 26.4.3.1(b) for f′cr.

VerifiedTable values against several independent reproductions; the full chain against the University of Memphis CIVL 1112 Example 2.

Preliminary calculation tool. Final design requires the full text of ACI 318 and review by a licensed PE. This tool follows ACI 318-19, the edition referenced by the 2021 and 2024 IBC; ACI CODE-318-25 was published in January 2025 and is expected in the 2027 IBC (changes include development length equations and seismic provisions).