Concrete Shrinkage Calculator

Calculate concrete shrinkage strain, crack risk, V/S ratio, and recommended joint spacing for your slab project.

Total length of slab
Total width of slab
Slab depth
Ultimate strain (400–800)
Relative humidity
Moist curing duration
Time since pouring (applies ACI 209 time-factor)
Total Shrinkage
Effective Shrinkage Strain
Final Length After Shrinkage
Shrinkage Per 100 ft
Volume-to-Surface Ratio (V/S)
Crack Risk Level
Recommended Joint Spacing
Estimated Number of Joints
Volume of Concrete
With 10% Waste
How to use

1. Select Units: Choose between Imperial (ft/in) or Metric (m/mm) at the top of the input section.

2. Enter Dimensions: Input the length, width, and thickness of your concrete slab.

3. Set Environmental Factors: Enter the expected ultimate shrinkage rate (microstrain), ambient humidity, curing days, and the current age of the concrete.

4. Review Results: The calculator instantly updates the total shrinkage, V/S ratio, crack risk, joint spacing, and material volume. The 3D shape on the right updates live to reflect your dimensions and shrinkage forces.

5. Download Report: Click the "Download Report" button to save a branded PDF with all inputs, results, and the live 3D shape snapshot.

Formula used

Time-Dependent Shrinkage (ACI 209R):

Effective Strain = Ultimate Rate × (Age / (35 + Age))

Total Shrinkage Length:

Shrinkage = Initial Length × (Effective Strain ÷ 1,000,000)

Volume-to-Surface Ratio (V/S):

V/S = Volume / Exposed Surface Area (Critical for drying shrinkage prediction)

Crack Risk Assessment:

Based on shrinkage per 100 units. Low (< 0.10), Moderate (0.10 – 0.25), High (> 0.25).

Joint Spacing Recommendation:

Spacing = 24 × Thickness, adjusted downward for high shrinkage rates or low humidity.