Skip to content

Concrete Cost Calculator

The real cost of ready-mix concrete, with delivery and short-load fees, compared with bags, and the point where a truck becomes cheaper.

How much concrete
cu yd
Not sure? Work it out with the concrete calculator first, extra included.
Ready-mix prices (examples: use your quotes)
Ready-mix prices (examples: use your quotes)
$
$
cu yd
$
$
Bagged concrete price (example)
Bagged concrete price (example)
$
Ready-mix total $800.00 3 cubic yards by truck works out to $266.67 per yard, all fees included.

Ready-mix

Cost per cubic yard, fees included
$266.67
Concrete
$450.00
Short-load fee
$250.00

Bagged (80 lb)

Bags needed
135 bags
Bagged total
$877.50

Compare

Bags are cheaper below
2.6 cu yd
Difference at your size
$77.50

How much does concrete cost?

Ready-mix costs the price per cubic yard × yards, plus a delivery fee, plus a short-load fee if you order less than the plant's minimum, plus a pump if the truck can't reach. Bags cost the number of bags (45 bags of 80 lb per cubic yard) × the bag price. With the example prices shown, 3 cubic yards by truck costs $800.00 ($266.67 per yard), against $877.50 in bags. Put in your local quotes to see your numbers.

Worked example: 3 cubic yards for a patio

These are example prices to show how the math works, not a quote. Prices vary widely by region and plant.

  1. Concrete: 3 yd × $150 = $450.00.
  2. Short load: the plant's minimum is 8 yd, so 5 yd short × $50 = $250.00.
  3. Delivery: $100. Ready-mix total: $800.00, or $266.67 per cubic yard.
  4. Bags instead: 3 yd × 27 = 81 cu ft ÷ 0.60 = 135 bags × $6.50 = $877.50.
  5. Break-even: at these prices, bags are cheaper below about 2.6 cubic yards, and the truck is cheaper above it.

What goes into a ready-mix bill

  • Price per cubic yard: depends on the mix strength (PSI), additives such as fiber or accelerators, and your region.
  • Delivery fee: many plants charge per load, and more for long distances.
  • Short-load fee: trucks carry a full load of several yards. Order less than the plant's minimum and you pay a fee for each yard you are short. This is why small orders cost far more per yard.
  • Pump truck: needed when the mixer can't get close enough to chute the concrete into place.
  • Waiting time: plants often allow a set unloading time and charge for extra minutes, so be ready before the truck arrives.

When bags make sense

Bags win for small jobs: post holes, a few steps, a small pad. Above the break-even size, a truck usually costs less and saves a lot of work. An 80 lb bag makes 0.60 cu ft, so a single cubic yard is 45 bags, or 3,600 lb to lift and mix. For anything over a yard or two, consider renting a mixer or ordering a truck.

First work out the volume with the concrete calculator, then bring the cubic yards here.

Getting a good quote

  • Call two or three local plants. Ask for the price per yard, the delivery fee, the minimum load and the short-load fee.
  • Tell them the job: a driveway, patio or footing may call for a different mix.
  • Ask about unloading time and the charge for waiting.
  • Labor is separate. This calculator covers materials only.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to buy bags or ready-mix concrete?
Bags are usually cheaper for small amounts, because ready-mix adds delivery and short-load fees. Above a certain size, often a couple of cubic yards, ready-mix becomes cheaper. The calculator finds that point for your prices.
What is a short-load fee?
An extra charge from ready-mix plants when you order less than their minimum load. It is often charged per cubic yard under the minimum, which makes small truck orders expensive per yard.
How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
45. Each 80 lb bag makes about 0.60 cu ft, and a cubic yard is 27 cu ft.
Why does a small concrete order cost so much per yard?
The delivery fee and any short-load fee are spread over only a few yards. In the worked example, 3 yards cost $266.67 per yard all-in, against $180 per yard for a 10-yard order with a pump.

Guides

Related calculators

Concrete CalculatorCubic yards and 40, 60 or 80 lb bags for slabs, footings, posts and steps.Concrete Block CalculatorBlocks, mortar bags and core fill for any block wall, with cost.Gravel CalculatorTons, cubic yards and bags of gravel for a driveway, path or patio.Cubic Yard CalculatorTurn feet, inches or meters into cubic yards, cubic feet, m³ and tons.

Sources and method

Last checked October 12, 2026. How we build and test every calculator: methodology.