Cure timeline calculator
Gives the practical waiting periods for a pour. The 24 to 48 hour and 7 day figures are industry convention rather than published standards. The 28 day test age is the specification reference under ASTM C39.
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This calculator needs JavaScript. The reference table below covers the common cases.
| Milestone | Typical timing | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Forms can be stripped | 24–48 hours | Industry convention |
| Foot traffic | 24–48 hours | Industry convention |
| Vehicles | 7 days | Industry convention |
| Moist cure minimum | 3–7 days | NRMCA CIP 11 |
| Specified strength verified | 28 days | ASTM C39 |
The formula
Below 40 °F, ACI 306 cold-weather protection applies and every interval roughly doubles
Worked example
Poured at 70 °F: walk at 24–48 hours, drive at 7 days, moist cure 3–7 days. Poured at 35 °F: expect all of those to roughly double, with protection in place.
Reference table
| Milestone | Typical timing | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Forms can be stripped | 24–48 hours | Industry convention |
| Foot traffic | 24–48 hours | Industry convention |
| Vehicles | 7 days | Industry convention |
| Moist cure minimum | 3–7 days | NRMCA CIP 11 |
| Specified strength verified | 28 days | ASTM C39 |
Assumptions
- Foot-traffic and vehicle timelines are industry convention, not a standard.
- Minimum moist cure of 3 to 7 days follows NRMCA CIP 11.
- ACI 306 cold-weather protocols trigger below 40 °F for three or more consecutive days.
- The widely repeated 70% strength at 7 days figure is an industry approximation, not found in ACI 318, ACI 308 or NRMCA CIP documents.