How Much Is a Yard of Concrete?

Cost of Concrete

Concrete costs $125 per yard on average, with most people spending between $100 and $200 per yard. You’ll pay less for a full 10-yard load vs. a short load since overhead remains constant. Pricing factors include the type of concrete, additives and the type of cement used.

The national average cost for concrete is $5,096, with a typical range of $2,082 and $8,310. Expect to pay about $750 on the low end, and up to $15,000 on the high end.

Concrete Cost Per Yard

Concrete costs $100 to $200 per cubic yard, or around $125 on average. The total cost of concrete may vary depending on location, type of concrete and how much you order.

*These prices reflect the average $125 per cubic yard price and short load fees. Most companies tack on an extra fee when you purchase less than a full load (usually 8 to 12 cubic yards).

Cost of Concrete Per Cubic Foot (Bags)

Expect to pay $9 to $10 per cubic foot of concrete. Many homeowners purchase bags of pre-mixed cement, sand, and gravel for small jobs. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. A 50-pound bag ($3 to $4) yields .375 cubic feet, and an 80-pound bag ($5) yields .6 cubic feet. You will also need a large wheelbarrow and a shovel for mixing, as well as access to water and the forms and tools you need to install and finish the concrete.

Concrete Truckload Cost

A truckload of concrete costs $800 to $1,300 for 8 to 10 cubic yards. Add $10 per load for every mile past a certain radius, set by the delivery company. You’ll often pay a surcharge of $25 per cubic yard for fuel when you don’t order a full truck.

Short or Mini Load Cost

Short load prices range from $140 to $200 per cubic yard. Anything under 10 cubic yards is a short load, increasing the price an additional $40 to $60 per cubic yard. This helps defray the cost of running the truck less than full. Sometimes, a company will charge a flat short load fee of $60 to $110.

Tow-Behind Concrete Costs

Renting a tow-behind costs $100 to $125 per day or $400 to $500 per week. It’s a better option for small loads and onsite mixing (gas or electric), which can handle only a couple cubic yards at a time. Some concrete companies will fill these with dry mix for you and sometimes even rent them out or send them out with mixing pros to help with the mix and pour.

On-Site Mixing Trucks

A new type of truck on some sites is the on-site mixing truck, also called on-demand concrete, which costs $500 to $800 per day. They work by keeping all the ingredients in separate compartments in the truck. They mix the concrete on demand and stop only when they’ve mixed enough to complete the job. There’s no waste, and the mix is always fresh.

Average Concrete Prices Near You

Concrete Cost Estimator

If you’re looking for complete project costs including delivery and installation, you’ll want more information, depending on the project you’re looking for. Follow the links in this table to find out more about your specific project.

Concrete Delivery Cost

Concrete delivery costs $100 to $200 per cubic yard for ready-mix. But you need to be aware of a few surcharges you might run into:

• Short Load: $40–$110

• Environmental: $5–$15 per load

• Fibers and Accelerator Additive: $5–$20 per cubic yard

• Coloring Additive: $100–$150 per truckload

• Fuel Surcharges: $20-$40 per load

Concrete Pricing

Concrete alone, without delivery or installation, runs anywhere from $3 to $15 per cubic foot. You’ll spend less per cubic foot if you purchase in bulk than you would if you just buy bags. In bulk, you’ll purchase in cubic yards, not feet. Look for 40-, 50-, 60- or 80-pound bags, which have between one-third to three-fifths of a cubic foot of concrete.

Ready-Mix Concrete Prices

Ready-mix concrete costs $100 to $200 per cubic yard plus any surcharges for short loads, local regulations or long trips. Ready-mix concrete is the name of the concrete you purchase that’s already mixed at the plant and delivered in a truck or pull-behind.

Premixed Concrete Price Per Bag

Concrete Prices by PSI Rating

PSI ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 PSI and costs anywhere from $100 to $150 per cubic yard for a standard delivery and materials. Concrete comes in differing strengths, rated in Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI). A few things to note:

• Stronger (higher PSI) slabs are more expensive.

• Non-load bearing structures (patios, sidewalks, etc.): 2,500-3,000 PSI

• Load-bearing structures (foundations, structural piers, basements): 3,000-5,000 PSI

• The smaller the aggregate, the smoother the finish, the higher the price.

Concrete Equipment Prices

Floats and other large concrete tools cost $10 to $25 per day per tool depending on where you rent them. Most home improvement stores rent out this equipment. Large machinery costs far more, and renting a truck may be impossible.

Pump Truck Cost Per Hour

You usually can’t rent a concrete pumper truck. It comes with the price of concrete delivery, or $100 to $200 per cubic yard. However, if you take too long to empty a truck, for example, if they show up and you still need to finish the forms, you might pay $50 to $100 per hour for them to wait.

Cost to Rent a Pull-Behind or Cement Mixer

• Small Mixer: $35 per half-day, $50 per day, or $200 per week for a portable cement mixer you can fit in a pickup bed.

• Pull-Behind: $75 per half-day, $100 per day, or $400 per week. A cement mixer usually comes on a trailer and needs a truck to haul it to the worksite.

DIY vs. Hire a Concrete Delivery Pro

You’ll almost always want to hire a concrete delivery professional. Concrete requires exact measurements for correct consistency followed by testing and proper transportation. This all adds up to a smooth, professional-looking pour vs. a cracked pad that you might need to replace soon. Plus, on large jobs, you can’t mix concrete by hand fast enough to get it poured before it starts setting. Call a local concrete delivery professional today.

FAQs

How much concrete mix do I need?

Use HomeAdvisor’s concrete calculator for an accurate measurement of how much concrete you’ll need.

How much does one yard of concrete cover?

• One yard of concrete, also known as a cubic yard, covers:

• 81 square feet at 4 inches thick.

• 65 square feet at 5 inches thick.

• 54 square feet at 6 inches thick.

How do concrete delivery trucks work?

Delivery trucks mix the concrete at the plant then drive to your location at a specific time. They’ll sometimes make split deliveries, in the case of a contractor pouring two slabs. Ready-mix has about 90 minutes to 2 hours to get to the site and poured. Otherwise, it may start to set, and you’ll have to discard it.

What are average concrete delivery times?

Concrete in wet form has a shelf life of about 90 minutes to two hours, so it’s incredibly important to schedule your deliveries accurately or risk losing money. From the time water is added, a truck has 90 minutes to deliver it or 300 rotations of the barrel, whichever comes first, before the product may start to set depending on temperature.

• 2+ hours with ambient temp. below 60 degrees Fahrenheit

• 2-5 hours when 60-80 degrees

• 5 hours when 80-90 degrees

• Under 90 degrees, retest and monitor after 90 minutes

• Over 90 degrees, discard after 1.5 hours

How much concrete can a concrete truck hold?

Most concrete trucks can hold between 11 and 15 cubic yards of concrete. However, weight limits on roads often limit the amount they can carry to 8 to 11 cubic yards.

How do I pick a concrete contractor?

Once you are ready to order your concrete, there are a few key questions to ask both yourself and the batch plant before settling on a delivery date.

• What strength of concrete do you need? Load-bearing structures need more.

• What day of the week do you want the concrete delivered? Weekend rates are higher.

• How much time will you need to unload it? You get about 7 minutes per cubic yard to unload. Inquire about costs for "overtime" spent on your project site.

• How will you unload the concrete?

• Will you be able to use the cement truck's chute to offload the concrete, or do you need wheelbarrows? Some small and difficult-to-reach areas require skid-steer loaders, where the concrete truck pours the concrete into the bucket, and an operator drives the loader to the installation location.

• Do you need to hire a concrete contractor? Although messy, concrete work is a technical skill and requires quick work.

• What will you do with the leftover concrete? Consider an on-demand service for no wasted concrete. Ordering more concrete than needed is always a good idea because it’s less expensive than ordering a second small batch.