How a concrete bill adds up
total cost = yards ordered × price per yard + delivery fees + extras
Prices vary a lot by region and change through the year, so this page does not quote national averages. It shows you what goes into the number so you can get a complete quote and compare plants fairly. The calculator above multiplies your yards (with the waste allowance) by whatever price per yard you type in.
What sets the price per yard
| Factor | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Strength (psi) | Higher-strength mixes use more cement, the costliest ingredient |
| Mix design | Air entrainment for freeze-thaw areas, smaller stone for pumping, special aggregates or color |
| Additives | Fibers, accelerators for cold weather, retarders for hot weather, water reducers |
| Location | Distance from the plant and local material and fuel costs |
| Season and demand | Busy months and cold-weather measures such as heated water |
| Order size | Larger orders spread the fixed cost of the truck over more yards |
Fees that are often added
Not every plant charges all of these, and the names differ. Ask about each one when you get a quote:
- Short-load or small-load fee. Charged when your order is below a set quantity. This is the biggest surprise on small pours.
- Delivery or distance charge. For sites far from the plant.
- Waiting time. Trucks usually get a set amount of time to unload; time beyond that may be billed.
- After-hours, weekend or holiday delivery.
- Environmental, fuel or energy surcharges.
- Pump or conveyor. Needed when the truck cannot reach the forms. Often a separate company with its own minimum charge.
- Returned concrete. Some plants charge to take back unused concrete.
Worksheet: your real price per yard
Fill this in from your quote:
| Line | How to work it out |
|---|---|
| A. Cubic yards to order | From the calculator, with waste, rounded up to the plant’s increment |
| B. Price per yard | From the quote, for the mix you need |
| C. Concrete subtotal | A × B |
| D. Short-load fee | If A is below the plant’s threshold |
| E. Other fees and extras | Delivery, surcharges, additives, pump, time on site |
| F. Total | C + D + E |
| G. True price per yard | F ÷ A |
Line G is the number to compare between plants, and against bags.
Ready-mix or bags: comparing on price
One cubic yard takes about 45 bags of 80 lb or 60 bags of 60 lb. To compare:
bag cost per yard = 45 × price of one 80 lb bag
Then set that against line G above. On a small job, line G can be high because a short-load fee is spread over few yards, which is why bags often win below about a yard. On larger pours the truck usually wins, and it also saves hours of mixing: a cubic yard of bags is 3,600 lb of mix. Do not forget the cost of renting a mixer and any delivery charge for the bags themselves. The concrete bag calculator gives the bag count for your job.
What to tell the plant when you call
- Cubic yards you need (the calculator gives this with your waste allowance).
- What you are pouring: slab, footing, driveway, walls. They will suggest a strength and mix.
- Strength (psi), slump and stone size if your plans specify them.
- Address, date and time, and whether a truck can drive to the forms or needs a pump.
- How long the pour will take, so they can tell you about waiting-time charges.
Ask them to list every fee on the quote, not just the price per yard.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Measure accurately with the concrete calculator, so you order once and not twice. A second short load costs far more per yard than a little extra on the first.
- Combine pours where you can: a slab, a walk and some post footings in one delivery spread the fixed charges.
- Make it easy for the truck. Good access can avoid a pump.
- Be ready on time. Forms set, base compacted and a crew on hand keep waiting time down.
- Avoid the busiest days if the plant charges more for them.
Prices and fee policies differ between plants, even in the same town. Get at least two written quotes that list every charge, and compare them on the true price per yard.
Questions people ask
- How much is a yard of concrete?
- It depends on where you are, the strength and mix you order, and the size of the load. Prices change with cement, fuel and local demand, so the only reliable figure is a quote from a plant near you. Ask for the price per yard and every fee that applies to your order.
- Why is a small load of concrete more expensive per yard?
- A truck costs about the same to send whether it carries one yard or a full load, so many plants add a short-load fee below a set quantity. Spread over a small order, that fee raises the effective price per yard a lot.
- How do I calculate the total cost of concrete?
- Total = cubic yards ordered × price per yard + delivery and short-load fees + extras such as a pump, additives or overtime on site. Divide the total by the yards to see your true price per yard.
- Is it cheaper to mix concrete from bags?
- For small jobs it often is, because you avoid minimums and short-load fees. A cubic yard takes about 45 bags of 80 lb, so compare 45 × your bag price with the delivered price per yard, and count the labor.
- Does stronger concrete cost more?
- Usually yes. Higher-strength mixes (higher psi) contain more cement, which is the most expensive ingredient, so plants price them higher.