Ready-mixed concrete typically costs $125-$180 per cubic yard delivered, with a common small residential pour totaling $700-$2,500 once delivery, labor, and site preparation are included. The cost of ready mixed concrete depends on order size, mix strength, delivery distance, access, and whether the crew must place and finish the concrete.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete | $115/yd³ | $150/yd³ | $190/yd³ | Standard mix, before placement labor |
| Delivered order | $350 | $900 | $2,200 | Varies with volume and short-load fees |
| Installed concrete slab | $6/sq ft | $10/sq ft | $18/sq ft | Typical residential slab with basic finish |
| Concrete placement labor | $45/hour | $75/hour | $110/hour | Per worker; regional rates vary |
What ready-mix costs per cubic yard and per pour
Standard ready-mix concrete generally costs $125-$180 per cubic yard at the plant or delivered for a full truckload. Higher-strength mixes, fiber reinforcement, special admixtures, and long delivery routes can raise the material price to $160-$220 per cubic yard. The quoted rate may include delivery for larger orders but often excludes pumping, placement, finishing, and sales tax.
A typical 10-by-10-foot patio at 4 inches thick requires about 1.23 cubic yards before waste. With a 10% allowance, the order is roughly 1.35 cubic yards, but many suppliers sell in quarter-yard increments or impose a minimum truck charge. Concrete alone could therefore cost $250-$500; a contractor-installed patio with excavation, base preparation, forms, and finishing may run $1,000-$2,500.
For a full truckload of ordinary residential concrete, a practical delivered budget is about $130-$180 per cubic yard. Smaller orders can have a much higher effective cost per yard because of minimum charges and truck time.
Assumptions: Standard 3,000-4,000 PSI mix, accessible residential site, ordinary local delivery, and no pumping or demolition.
How truck delivery, mix ingredients, and placement shape the quote
A concrete quote may combine material, delivery, equipment, and crew charges—or list each separately. Comparing the line items helps identify whether the price covers only the concrete or a completed pour. These typical ranges apply to U.S. residential jobs and vary by market and supplier.
| Quote component | Typical price | Common basis | What changes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete mix | $125-$180/yd³ | Standard 3,000-4,000 PSI | Strength, fiber, air entrainment, color |
| Delivery and truck time | $75-$250 | Local order or route charge | Distance, wait time, restricted access |
| Short-load charge | $100-$350 | Orders below supplier minimum | Minimum volume and local policy |
| Placement and finishing labor | $2-$8/sq ft | Flatwork crew | Thickness, finish, reinforcement, access |
| Pump or conveyor equipment | $400-$1,200 | Per setup or project | Reach, setup time, pour volume |
Material prices may be quoted per cubic yard, while labor is usually quoted by square foot, crew day, or hourly rate. A four-person crew working 6-8 hours at an effective $60-$95 per worker-hour can account for roughly $1,400-$3,000 before equipment and materials, though contractors commonly price the finished scope as a package.
Ask whether the bid includes forms, reinforcement, base gravel, delivery, finishing, cleanup, and taxes. A low material-only figure is not directly comparable with an installed price.
How thickness, strength, and truck access change concrete pricing
Concrete volume is the largest project-specific driver. Calculate slab volume as length in feet × width in feet × thickness in feet ÷ 27. A 20-by-20-foot slab at 4 inches requires about 4.94 cubic yards; adding 10% for uneven ground and waste brings the order to about 5.4 cubic yards. Ordering too little can trigger a costly second delivery, while excessive overage leaves paid-for concrete to dispose of.
Thickness also changes the quantity quickly: a 4-inch slab uses about 0.0123 cubic yard per square foot, while a 6-inch slab uses about 0.0185 cubic yard per square foot, 50% more. A 4-inch patio is common for foot traffic, but driveways and vehicle pads often need 5-6 inches and suitable reinforcement based on soil and use.
Mix strength commonly ranges from 2,500-3,000 PSI for some non-structural applications to 3,500-4,000 PSI for many slabs and driveways. Upgrading strength may add roughly $5-$20 per cubic yard; special air-entrained mixes for freeze-thaw exposure or fibers can add another $5-$25 per yard. Structural plans and local code determine the appropriate specification.
Truck access matters as much as the recipe. A truck chute can place concrete close to the form, but a long carry, narrow driveway, overhead wires, or backyard location may require wheelbarrows, a buggy, or a pump. Pumping often adds $400-$1,200, while difficult hand placement can increase labor by several hundred dollars or more.
Thickness, access, and order volume can change a quote more than a modest adjustment in PSI. Confirm dimensions and delivery method before comparing supplier rates.
How much can careful ordering and site preparation save?
Reducing concrete cost starts with accurate measurements and a defined scope. Measure each section separately, confirm thickness with the contractor, and ask how much overage is included. A 5%-10% allowance is common for straightforward forms; irregular excavation, slopes, or uncertain subgrade may justify more. Avoid choosing an undersized order solely to reduce the initial bill if a second truck would incur a separate minimum charge.
Prepare access and forms before the truck arrives. Remove obstacles, establish a clear truck route, compact the base, and make sure the crew can reach the pour. Delays may be charged by the minute or by additional truck time, and concrete begins setting after mixing. The contractor should handle work requiring tools or skill, such as setting elevations, compacting fill, and installing reinforcement to specification.
Choose a finish that matches the use rather than paying for decorative work by default. A standard broom finish is usually less expensive than stamped, exposed-aggregate, colored, or polished concrete. Decorative finishes can add several dollars per square foot, depending on design and region. Keep joints, edges, and color choices simple when appearance requirements allow.
Request written quotes from at least three local suppliers or contractors using the same yardage, PSI, delivery window, reinforcement, and finish. Compare the final installed total, not only the advertised price per yard. Accurate quantity, ready access, and a like-for-like scope are the most controllable ways to limit overcharges.
Why concrete prices differ between metro areas and rural routes
Ready-mix prices are local because concrete is heavy, perishable, and expensive to transport. In major metro markets with higher wages, fuel costs, and demand, material and installed rates can run about 10%-25% above a national midrange. Rural buyers may see lower labor pricing but higher delivery charges when the nearest batch plant is farther away.
As a broad comparison, a standard delivered mix may fall around $140-$195 per cubic yard in high-cost coastal or dense urban markets, compared with roughly $115-$165 in lower-cost inland markets. These ranges are not fixed regional tariffs: nearby plants, aggregate availability, seasonal demand, and fuel surcharges can shift local quotes. A project more than 20-30 miles from a plant may incur additional mileage or truck-time fees.
Finished flatwork can vary even more. Basic residential slab installation may start near $6-$9 per square foot in lower-cost markets and reach $10-$18 or more in expensive metros, especially for small jobs or complex access. Local supplier quotes are more reliable than a national per-yard average. Check whether each quote includes delivery and minimum-load charges before judging the regional difference.
What short-load, waiting, and pump fees add to a small pour
Small projects often pay more per cubic yard than full-truck orders. A typical ready-mix truck carries roughly 8-10 cubic yards, though capacities and supplier limits differ. When an order is below the plant’s minimum, a short-load fee of $100-$350 is common; the base charge can make a 1-yard order cost $250-$500 for concrete and delivery before labor.
Truck waiting time can create another fee if the crew is not ready. Suppliers may include a limited unloading window, then charge around $75-$150 per hour or apply a per-minute rate. Rush scheduling, weekend delivery, or a narrow delivery window may carry an added $50-$250 charge, depending on supplier policy and local demand.
Pump rental is usually worthwhile when the truck cannot discharge near the forms, but it can be a large share of a small project’s budget. Setup, minimum rental time, hose length, cleanup, and crew requirements affect the bill. For a small backyard slab, compare pumping with a concrete buggy or a crew’s wheelbarrow placement, while considering labor time and site conditions.
Get every minimum, waiting-time rule, and equipment charge in writing before booking the truck. These fees can exceed the difference between two suppliers’ per-yard material rates.
Three residential pours show how concrete totals build up
A 10-by-10-foot patio at 4 inches, including 10% overage, needs about 1.35 cubic yards. At $150 per cubic yard, the material is about $203, but a $150-$300 short-load or delivery charge and $500-$1,000 for basic placement and finishing can bring the total to roughly $850-$1,500. A pump is not assumed.
A 20-by-20-foot driveway section at 5 inches needs about 6.2 cubic yards with 10% overage. At $145-$175 per yard, concrete costs roughly $900-$1,085. With $300-$700 for base preparation, $1,000-$2,000 for reinforcement, forms, and labor, plus possible equipment, a straightforward installed total can reach $2,300-$4,500.
A 24-by-30-foot garage slab at 5 inches requires about 11.1 cubic yards including 10% overage. Material at $140-$180 per yard costs $1,550-$2,000. Forms, compacted base, reinforcement, placement, and finishing may add $3,500-$7,000, producing a rough total of $5,000-$9,500 before excavation, drainage work, or unusual access.
These examples assume uncomplicated sites and ordinary finishes, not engineered foundations or major grading. Regional labor rates, soil conditions, reinforcement plans, and local code can move totals substantially.
Ready-mix delivery versus bagged concrete for small jobs
Bagged concrete can be economical for posts, patches, steps, and repairs that need only a few bags. A 60-pound bag typically yields about 0.45 cubic foot, and an 80-pound bag about 0.60 cubic foot. At roughly $5-$9 per bag, bagged mix costs around $225-$540 per cubic yard before water, delivery, mixing equipment, and labor. The total volume is usually far less practical to mix by hand.
For a slab needing 1 cubic yard, the job takes about 45-60 bags of 80-pound mix. Bag prices may total $225-$540, but the buyer must transport and mix each bag, often with a rented mixer costing about $50-$150 per day. Ready-mix may instead have a short-load charge, but it arrives mixed and can be placed quickly. For several yards, a truck is commonly more efficient and can reduce intensive labor.
Repairing an existing slab can cost less than replacement when damage is limited to small cracks or surface spalling. Concrete crack repair materials may cost $10-$50 for a small DIY repair, while professional crack injection or patching can run $300-$1,500 depending on access and extent. Replacement is more likely when the slab has broad settlement, severe cracking, or drainage problems; a contractor should assess the cause before a new pour is priced.
Bagged mix suits low-volume repairs; ready-mix usually makes more sense once the pour approaches a cubic yard or requires a consistent slab mix. Compare total labor and delivery expense, not just the price printed on a bag.