Concrete Cost per Yard
Delivered ready-mix concrete typically costs about $125 to $195 per cubic yard before extras. This guide explains the ranges, the fees and the variables that move your quote. Prices last verified 2026-10-04.
Typical price ranges
Published guides put the cost of delivered ready-mix around $125 to $195 per cubic yard, with the Concrete Network citing an average of roughly $180 per yard in 2025. Delivery is sometimes folded into that price and sometimes charged separately, up to about $200. Orders below about 7 yd³ commonly add a short-load fee of $50 to $200.
These are ranges, not quotes. Prices differ by region, by plant, by season and by the strength you order. Use them to sanity-check a quote, and always get at least two prices from local plants.
Prices last verified: 2026-10-04. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
What moves the price
- Strength: higher-strength mixes need more cement and cost more per yard. See the PSI guide.
- Distance: plants add a charge when the job is far from the plant.
- Load size: small loads carry short-load fees.
- Time of day and day of the week: Saturday and after-hours deliveries cost more.
- Season: cold-weather mixes with heated water or accelerators add to the price.
- Admixtures: air entrainment, fibers, water reducers and color are all extras.
- Placement: a pump truck, hourly standby time and washout charges are billed separately.
- Region: prices in dense metro areas and remote areas often differ.
Bagged concrete cost per yard
| Bag | Bags per yd³ | Price per bag | Cost per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 lb | 45 | $5.50–$8.00 | $248–$360 |
| 60 lb | 60 | $5.00–$7.00 | $300–$420 |
| 50 lb | 72 | $4.50–$6.50 | $324–$468 |
| 40 lb | 90 | $3.75–$5.50 | $338–$495 |
80 lb range is anchored on retail listings seen on 2026-10-04 ($5.38 at pallet quantity to $6.56 per bag). The 40, 50 and 60 lb ranges are estimates scaled from it - check your local store.
A bag is cheap by itself but a yard of concrete made from 80 lb bags costs about double the truck price, and you provide the mixing labor. Bags make sense for small, remote or awkward jobs where a truck cannot reach, or the order is below a yard.
Worked example: a 12 × 16 ft slab
A 12 × 16 ft slab at 4 in thick needs 2.61 yd³ with 10% waste. At the published range, the concrete itself is about $376–$908 before the extras. Because this is a small order, the plant may add a short-load fee of $50 to $200 and a delivery fee. In bags the same slab is 118 bags, roughly $649–$944. Use the concrete cost calculator with your own prices to compare.
| Quantity | Result |
|---|---|
| Net volume | 2.370 yd³ (64.00 ft³, 1.812 m³) |
| Order with 10% waste | 2.61 yd³ (1.99 m³) |
| 80 lb bags | 118 |
| 60 lb bags | 157 |
| Weight at 150 lb/ft³ | 10,560 lb |
The costs the yard price leaves out
- Excavation, grading and haul-away.
- Gravel base and compaction.
- Forms, stakes and release agent.
- Rebar, mesh, chairs and tie wire.
- Labor for placing, screeding, floating and finishing.
- Control joint cutting and sealing.
- Curing compound or covers.
- Permits and inspections.
How to lower the bill without cutting corners
- Get at least two quotes for the same mix and quantity.
- Order the correct amount: every extra half yard is paid for at the full per-yard price.
- Choose a delivery window the plant prefers.
- Prepare the site so that the truck does not wait. Standby time is billed.
- Avoid unneeded extras, but never skip air entrainment where freezing is expected.
- Ask about the rate per extra yard for a small overage.
Ready-mix or bags: when each wins
Above about two yards, ready-mix is usually cheaper and certainly faster. Below one yard, bags avoid the delivery and short-load charges. Between the two, work it out with the break-even in the cost calculator and read the detailed comparison in bagged vs ready-mix.
Material budgets for common jobs
| Job | Order yd³ | Ready-mix | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 16 ft patio, 4 in | 2.61 | $376–$908 | $649–$944 |
| 20 × 20 ft garage slab, 5 in | 6.79 | $899–$1,724 | $1,683–$2,448 |
| 4 × 40 ft sidewalk, 4 in | 2.17 | $322–$824 | $539–$784 |
The ready-mix figure uses the per-yard range on this page and excludes delivery and short-load fees. The bagged figure is bag price times the number of bags. Add the base, steel, forms, labor, finishing and curing to get a budget.
Why price per yard is not the whole picture
Two quotes with the same price per yard can differ by hundreds of dollars once the fees are added. A plant that charges a low yard price but a high delivery and short-load fee may cost more for a small order than one with a higher yard price and no fees. Compare the total delivered price for your exact quantity. Check whether the quote includes the strength, air entrainment, fibers and any admixtures you need.
A written quote checklist
- Quantity and mix (strength, slump, aggregate size, air).
- Price per yard and any extras per yard.
- Delivery charge and short-load fee.
- Unloading time allowed and standby rate.
- Pump charges, if any.
- Washout and environmental fees.
- Taxes.
- Date, time window and cancellation terms.
Example: pricing a 24 × 24 ft garage slab
A 24 × 24 ft slab at 5 in needs 9.78 yd³ with 10% waste. At the published range the concrete alone is about $1,222–$2,107. Because the order is close to one full truck, the delivery should be priced as a single load, and the order is above the short-load threshold of about 7 yd³, so the short-load fee should not apply. Add the base, steel, forms, finishing and cutting joints, and ask for quotes both for supply only and for the complete job. Compare the numbers with the cost calculator and keep a margin of at least 10% for the unexpected.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of concrete cost?
Published ranges for delivered ready-mix are roughly $125 to $195 per cubic yard before extras. Prices last verified 2026-10-04.
What is a short-load fee?
An extra charge on small orders, because the truck and driver cost the same regardless of the quantity.
How much does concrete cost per square foot?
For a 4 in slab, one yard covers 81 ft². At $150 per yard the material is about $1.85 per square foot, before labor and base.
Is an 80 lb bag cheaper than a truck?
Per cubic yard, no. A yard of 80 lb bags costs about $248 to $360 against the truck range, but bags have no delivery fee.
Why do concrete prices vary so much?
Distance, strength, season, load size and local competition all change the price.
Does the price include a pump?
Not usually. Pumping is billed separately.
Sources
- Concrete Calculate - How Much Does Concrete Cost Per Yard Delivered? (2026)
- Concrete Network - concrete cost overview (2025 average about $180 per cubic yard)
- AllConcreteCalculator - concrete delivery cost and short-load fees (May 2026)
- Home Depot - Quikrete 80 lb. Concrete Mix, model 110180
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 data sheet (bag yields)
Estimate only. Results depend on the numbers you enter, ground conditions and your supplier. For structural work consult a licensed engineer and follow local codes. Brand names such as Quikrete and Sakrete are used only to cite published product data. This site is not affiliated with any brand.