Estimate delivered ready-mix cost per cubic yard, short-load fees, and what the same pour costs in bags.
Quick answer: Ready-mix concrete typically runs about $140 to $200 per cubic yard delivered in the US, plus short-load fees on small orders. Five cubic yards at $165 per yard is $825. The same volume in 80 lb bags needs about 225 bags, so at $6 each the bagged route costs roughly $1,350.
What are you pouring?
ft
ft
in
4 in suits patios and shed floors; 5–6 in for driveways carrying vehicles.
$
Ready-mix in most U.S. markets runs roughly $125–$200 per cubic yard, plus short-load fees under 1–2 cu yd.
$
Bagged concrete usually costs far more per yard — convenient for small pours only.
Concrete needed
2.47 cu yd
66.7 cu ft · 1.89 m³
Order this
2.75 cu yd
Rounded up with 5% waste — ready-mix is sold in 1/4 yd steps
Bag equivalent
80 lb bags (0.60 cu ft each)112 bags
60 lb bags (0.45 cu ft each)149 bags
Weight of the pour4.9 tons (about 4,000 lb per cu yd)
Ready-mix vs bags
Delivered (2.47 cu yd)$371
Same volume in 80 lb bags (112)$728
Difference$358 cheaper delivered
Ready-mix trucks usually carry 8–10 cu yd. A short load under the minimum often carries a fee, and some suppliers charge for the return of unused concrete — say yes to 5% extra rather than a second trip.
Concrete is ordered in cubic yards and almost always rounded up. Add 5–10% for spillage, uneven subgrade and washout. Bag counts assume 80 lb bags at 0.60 cu ft each.
Core facts
Ready-mix range
roughly $140–$200 per cu yd delivered
Short-load fee
often applies under 3–5 cu yd
Bags per cubic yard
about 45 bags of 80 lb
Bag price range
roughly $5–$8 per 80 lb bag
What is Concrete Cost Calculator?
The price of concrete is mostly a delivery question. Ready-mix plants charge by the cubic yard, and the plant price is only part of it. Most add a short-load fee when you order less than a truck minimum, plus fuel and environmental charges that vary by state. Bagged mix avoids all of that but costs far more per yard, because you are paying for packaging and dry shipping. Working out the crossover point matters. As a rough planning figure, bagged concrete costs two to three times as much per cubic yard as delivered material, so bags win only on very small pours or where a truck cannot reach.
Common uses for Concrete Cost Calculator
Compare a delivered load against bags before ordering
Budget a driveway or patio pour from volume and unit price
See how much a short-load fee adds on a small order
Check whether pumping or wheelbarrowing is worth the cost
Build a materials line for a contractor quote
What the per-yard price actually covers
The quoted plant price covers the concrete, the truck and the driver for a limited time on site. It usually does not cover a short load, extra time if unloading stalls, pump rental, or a return trip. Ask for the total delivered charge in writing, including all fees, so you can compare suppliers on the number you will actually pay rather than the headline rate.
The bagged alternative, priced honestly
Bags are convenient, storable and available on a Saturday afternoon, and for a single fence post that is exactly what you want. Priced per cubic yard they are expensive: about 45 bags of 80 lb mix per yard, plus water, a mixer or a great deal of stirring, and hours of your own time. The calculator shows both figures side by side.
Cheaper ways to cut a concrete bill
Reduce the volume before you shop. Going from 5 to 4 inches on a patio that only carries foot traffic saves real money. Keep the pour close to the truck so you are not paying for pump or wheelbarrow time. Order once, on a weekday morning, at the correct volume. Chasing a slightly lower per-yard rate while paying fees on three small loads rarely works out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a yard of concrete cost?
Most US markets price delivered ready-mix somewhere between $140 and $200 per cubic yard, with higher figures in remote areas and lower ones where plants compete. That is the concrete only. Add short-load charges, fuel fees, pumping and any weekend delivery premium, and the effective price per yard climbs noticeably.
Why is there a short-load fee?
A truck carries a fixed amount and a driver's time costs the same whether the load is full or nearly empty. Plants charge extra when you order below their minimum, often three to five cubic yards. If your pour is just under the minimum, rounding up is sometimes cheaper than paying the fee for less concrete.
Is bagged concrete ever cheaper?
Only for very small pours. A cubic yard takes about 45 bags of 80 lb mix, so at typical retail prices the bagged route costs roughly two to three times the delivered price before you count mixing time and your own labor. For anything over about one cubic yard, compare the two carefully.
What else adds to the concrete bill?
Pumping for a pour the chute cannot reach, extra labor for wheelbarrowing, rebar or mesh, formwork lumber, a vapor barrier and disposal of washout. Ask the supplier for a delivered total including every fee, rather than comparing plants on the headline rate per yard, which rarely reflects what you pay.
Do these prices include finishing?
No. The figure is delivered concrete only. Flatwork finishing, meaning screeding, floating, troweling, cutting control joints and sealing, is separate labor and is often the larger part of a small job's cost. This calculator estimates material cost from the volume and unit price you enter.