🚜 Concrete Yardage Calculator

Stop guessing. Calculate exact cubic yardage or bag counts for your slab pour.

Total Volume Needed

0.00

Cubic Yards

Estimated Truck Cost (at $0/yd): $0

Option B: 80lb Bags Needed: 0 Bags

Option C: 60lb Bags Needed: 0 Bags

* Includes a standard 10% contingency for uneven subgrade avoiding short loads.

📏 How the Concrete Yardage is Calculated

To ensure accuracy for your pour, this calculator uses the following engineering steps:

      Yardage = ((Length × Width × (Depth / 12)) / 27) × 1.10
    

Step 1: Volume in Cubic Feet. We multiply your square footage (L x W) by the depth (converted from inches to feet).
Step 2: Conversion to Yards. Since concrete is sold by the cubic yard, we divide the total cubic feet by 27.
Step 3: The 10% Waste Factor. Standard contractor practice is to add 10% to account for spillage, uneven subgrade, or variations in formwork. This prevents "short loads" which can be extremely expensive.

💡 Expert Tip

Always order at least 0.25 to 0.50 yards more than your minimum requirement. It is far cheaper to wash out a small amount of leftover concrete than to pay a 'short-load' delivery fee for a second truck.

💵 Concrete Material & Delivery Pricing Guide (2026 Averages)

Understanding typical material and installation costs is key to planning a successful contracting project. Below are regional averages for cost planning.

Volume Required

Estimated Bagged Cost

Ready-Mix Delivered

Avg. Contractor Cost (with labor)

1 Cubic Yard

$150 - $180 (45 bags)

$220 - $280 (Short load fee applies)

$750 - $1,100

3 Cubic Yards

$450 - $540 (135 bags)

$480 - $550

$2,200 - $3,300

5 Cubic Yards

$750 - $900 (225 bags)

$750 - $850

$3,500 - $5,000

10 Cubic Yards

$1,500 - $1,800 (not recommended)

$1,400 - $1,600

$6,800 - $9,500

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does a cubic yard of concrete cost delivered?

In 2026, ordering ready-mix concrete by the truckload averages between $140 and $180 per cubic yard. However, most delivery companies require a 3-yard to 5-yard minimum, and smaller orders may incur a short-load surcharge of $100 to $200.

Is it cheaper to mix concrete by hand or order a truck load?

For projects under 1 cubic yard (about 45 bags of 80lb mix), mixing bags by hand is generally cheaper, costing around $150 to $180 total. For projects exceeding 1 cubic yard, ordering ready-mix delivered by a truck is significantly more cost-effective and saves hours of intense labor.