Concrete Cost Calculator — What Will Your Pour Cost?

Start from the yards you need and compare the two ways to buy concrete: bags you mix yourself vs. a ready-mix truck, delivered. All prices are editable — the defaults are national averages, not quotes.

Your project

Concrete needed (cubic yards) Not sure of the yards? Get them from the concrete calculator first.

Waste / overage allowance Always order a little extra. You cannot send back a shortage mid-pour.

Prices — national-average defaults, edit to your local prices

80 lb bag ($)

60 lb bag ($)

50 lb bag ($)

40 lb bag ($)

Ready-mix ($ per cu yd) National average; roughly $140–$170 in most areas.

Delivery fee ($)

Defaults are planning averages, not quotes. Your supplier's prices are the real ones — type them in.

Concrete to order (with your waste allowance)

0 cu yd

80 lb bags

60 lb bags

50 lb bags

40 lb bags

Mix it yourself (bags)

Ready-mix truck

Effective cost — bags

$0 / cu yd placed

80 lb bags, waste allowance included. Your labor is free — your Saturday is not.

Effective cost — ready-mix

$0 / cu yd placed

Delivery fee spread across the load. Bigger loads make the truck cheaper per yard.

Estimates only, for budgeting — never a quote. Ready-mix defaults to $155 per cu yd (national average, roughly $140–$170 in most areas) plus a $75 delivery fee; bag defaults are typical big-box prices. Fuel surcharges, taxes, short-load and environmental fees vary by supplier. Get a real quote before you commit.

Worked example: 3 cu yd needed, 10% waste allowance → order 3.30 cu yd. Ready-mix: 3.30 × $155 + $75 delivery = $587. Bags: 3.30 cu yd = 89.1 cu ft → 149 bags of 80 lb at $6.50 = $969 — plus mixing roughly 9,000 lb of concrete by hand. Past about a yard, the truck usually wins on both price and effort.

What else goes in the budget

Gravel base: 2–4 inches of compacted stone under slabs — often $30–60 per cubic yard of stone, delivered.
Reinforcement: wire mesh or rebar, chairs, and tie wire. Modest material cost, real crack insurance.
Forms: lumber and stakes; reusable if you are careful.
Tools: a drum mixer rental runs roughly $50–75/day; a concrete pump or power buggy for hard-to-reach pours is a few hundred and worth every penny on big jobs.
The hidden one: your time. Mixing a cubic yard by hand is 45 bags lifted, opened, mixed, and placed — most people call that a full, hard day for two people.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a yard of concrete cost in 2026?

Ready-mix typically runs about $140–$170 per cubic yard before delivery in most of the US, with $155 a fair national planning average. Bags work out to roughly $290 per cubic yard in 80 lb bags at $6.50 each (45 bags) — before you count your labor. Prices move with fuel and region; always confirm locally.

Why is the delivery fee such a big deal on small loads?

Because it is flat. A $75 delivery fee adds $75 per yard to a 1-yard load but only $7.50 per yard to a 10-yard load. That, plus short-load fees on small orders, is why the truck gets relatively cheaper as the job grows — and why combining your pour with a neighbor's can save both of you money.

Does this include finishing and labor?

No — this is material and delivery only. Hiring a finisher or a full crew is a separate, local price. If you are comparing DIY against hiring the whole job out, get contractor quotes for the complete pour and compare against your total here plus tools and your time.