Shallow foundation is practicable for a depth upto 5 metre and is normally convenient above the water table. Various types of shallow foundation are:

Spread footing

In case of spread footing, the base of footing is made wider so as to distribute the load over wider area. Various types of spread footings are:

1. Wall footing: A spread footing for a continuous wall is called strip footing or wall footing. When the wall carries light loads or when bearing capacity of soil is very high, simple strip footing is provided.
2. Reinforced concrete footing: In places where the walls are subjected to heavy loads and the bearing capacity of the soil is low, the wall footing described above will work out to be massive in size. This reduces the volume of masonry work in footing and depth of bed concrete and proves to be economical.
3. Inverted arch footings: This type of construction is used on soft soils to reduce the depth of foundation. One of the drawbacks in the type of construction is that the end columns must be strong enough to resist the outward pressure caused by the arch action.
4. Column footings: They are used to support individual columns. They can be either of stepped type or projections in the concrete base. In case of heavy loaded columns, steel reinforcement is provided in both the directions in concrete bed.

Combined Footing

A combined footing supports two columns. It may be rectangular or trapezoidal in shape. A combined footing is provided:

1. When two columns are so close to each other that their individual footings would overlap.
2. When the property line is so close to one column that a spread footing would eccentrically loaded when kept entirely within the property line.

The location of center of gravity of column loads and the centroid of the footing should coincide.

Strap Footing

A strap footing consists of two isolated footings connected with a structural strap. The strap connects the two footings such that they behaves as one unit. It simply acts as a connecting beam and does not take any soil reaction. The strap is designed as rigid beam.

Raft Foundation

A raft or mat foundation is a large slab supporting a number of columns and walls under the entire structure or a large part of the structure. It is suitable under following situations:

1. When allowable pressure of soil is low.
2. When the structure loads are heavy.
3. When the columns and walls are so close that their individual footings would overlap.
4. When there is a large variation in the loads on individual columns.