Basics

Concrete vs cement

Cement is one ingredient in concrete. Concrete combines cement, water, sand, and coarse aggregate into a hardened material used for slabs, footings, posts, and walls.

What each term means

• Cement: the binder that reacts with water.
• Concrete: cement paste plus sand and aggregate.
• Mortar: a masonry mix generally used between units, not for slabs.
• Ready-mix: concrete batched by a supplier and delivered by truck.

For calculator inputs, measure the finished concrete shape. Product yield then determines bag count or ready-mix volume.