Frost depth in Minnesota
Minnesota has two code depths: 42 inches in 60 inches — and which one applies depends on the county you build in. Add 6 inches of bearing and that becomes a dig depth of 48" / 66". The numbers below are the code values an inspector measures, not climate averages — the local building department always has the final word.
| Area / zone | Frost depth | Dig depth | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone II, Twin Cities & south | 42" | 48" | Minn. R. 1303.1600 |
| Zone I, north & central | 60" | 66" | Minn. R. 1303.1600 |
Two rows, two numbers: the county you build in decides which one governs your permit. Never take the shallower value to a counter in a deeper zone.
Why Minnesota's number looks the way it does
Minnesota is the textbook two-zone state. Minnesota Rules 1303.1600 draws a line across the state: 42 inches through the Twin Cities and the south, 60 in the northern and central counties — Duluth digs a foot deeper than Rochester.
From frost depth to dig depth in Minnesota
Footings bear on undisturbed soil below the frost line, so the hole goes 6 inches deeper than the code number. In Minnesota that means:
| Code frost depth | Dig depth | Shortest Sonotube |
|---|---|---|
| 42" | 48" | 4 ft tube |
| 60" | 66" | 6 ft tube |
A 4-inch gravel base at the bottom of the hole is common practice for drainage, and if you use one, add it to the tube length rather than the dig depth — the footing still has to reach the full 42–60 inches below grade.
How much concrete a footing takes in Minnesota
Bags of 80-lb mix per footing, for a solid pier with no post in the hole, at Minnesota's code depth:
| Frost depth | 10" hole | 12" hole | 16" hole | 20" hole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42" (48" dig) | 4 bags | 6 bags | 10 bags | 15 bags |
| 60" (66" dig) | 5 bags | 8 bags | 13 bags | 20 bags |
The bags calculator converts any total into 80, 60, 50 or 40-pound bags, and the concrete calculator handles slab and footing volumes.
Minnesota frost depth FAQ
How deep is the frost line in Minnesota?
Minnesota has two code depths, and the county you build in decides which one an inspector measures: 42 inches in Twin Cities & south, and 60 inches in north & central. These are code values, not the average depth the ground actually froze last winter.
How deep do footings have to go in Minnesota?
Bearing sits below the frost depth, so dig to the code depth plus 6 inches: 42 inches of frost means a 48-inch dig, and 60 inches of frost means a 66-inch dig in Minnesota. The extra 6 inches is the bearing layer that keeps the footing from sitting on frost-susceptible soil, and it is what Minn. R. 1303.1600 expects to see on a permit drawing.
How do I know which Minnesota zone my county is in?
The citation in the table above names the authority that drew the lines — Minn. R. 1303.1600. Your county or city publishes its own amendment to IRC Table R301.2(1) (or its own zone map), and that local document, not a state table, is what a permit reviewer checks. One call to the building department settles it before you rent an auger.
Plan a pour in Minnesota
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Last updated: 2026-11-02