Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total delivered cost
$1,481
Concrete material cost
$1,320
Estimated short-load surcharge
$66
All-in cost per cubic yard
$185.13
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How to use this
- 1Enter concrete needed (cubic yards).
- 2Enter base mix rate (2026 us avg) ($/yd³).
- 3Enter mix strength upcharge.
- 4Enter pump truck fee (0 if chute reaches) ($).
- 5Enter delivery / fuel surcharge ($).
- 6Enter plant full-truck minimum (yd³).
- 7Read your total delivered cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Ready-mix concrete is priced per cubic yard at the plant, but the delivered price you actually pay includes a base mix rate, a strength/mix upcharge for anything above standard 3000 PSI, a delivery or fuel surcharge, and often a pump truck fee if the truck can't back up to the pour. This calculator adds those pieces together so you can compare a quote against a realistic 2026 US national baseline: roughly $150-$185 per cubic yard for standard 3000-3500 PSI mix, plus $75-$150 for delivery and $150-$550 for a boom or line pump if needed. Rates swing 20-40% by region — the Northeast and West Coast run well above these numbers, the rural Midwest and South often run below. Enter your own local batch plant quote here as soon as you have one; these are starting points, not a bid. The tool also flags whether your order qualifies for a short-load surcharge, since most plants charge extra below a 9-10 yard minimum truck load, which catches a lot of homeowners pouring small slabs by surprise.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Concrete needed: 8 cubic yards
- Base mix rate (2026 US avg): 165 $/yd³
- Mix strength upcharge: 3000 PSI standard — no upcharge
- Pump truck fee (0 if chute reaches): 0 $
- Delivery / fuel surcharge: 95 $
- Plant full-truck minimum: 9 yd³
Results
- Total delivered cost: $1,481
- Concrete material cost: $1,320
- Estimated short-load surcharge: $66
- All-in cost per cubic yard: $185.13
What each field means
Inputs
- Concrete needed (cubic yards)
- The concrete needed used in the calculation, measured in cubic yards. Starts at 8 cubic yards so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.5–50 cubic yards.
- Base mix rate (2026 US avg) ($/yd³)
- The base mix rate (2026 us avg) used in the calculation, measured in $/yd³. Starts at 165 $/yd³ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 100–260 $/yd³.
- Mix strength upcharge
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: 3000 PSI standard — no upcharge, 3500 PSI — +6%, 4000 PSI — +12%, 4500+ PSI / fiber mesh — +20%.
- Pump truck fee (0 if chute reaches) ($)
- The pump truck fee (0 if chute reaches) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 0 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–800 $.
- Delivery / fuel surcharge ($)
- The delivery / fuel surcharge used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 95 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–300 $.
- Plant full-truck minimum (yd³)
- The plant full-truck minimum used in the calculation, measured in yd³. Starts at 9 yd³ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 4–12 yd³.
Results
- Total delivered cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Concrete material cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Estimated short-load surcharge
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- All-in cost per cubic yard
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why is my per-yard price higher than the quoted mix rate?
Delivery fees, pump fees, and short-load surcharges get spread across a small order, so a 3-yard pour can show an effective per-yard cost 40-60% above the plant's sticker mix rate. Larger pours dilute those fixed fees across more yards.
What counts as a short load?
Most ready-mix trucks hold 9-11 cubic yards. Ordering less than the plant's stated minimum — commonly 9 or 10 yards — triggers a short-load fee because the plant is sending a mostly-empty truck. It's usually cheaper to slightly oversize a small order than eat the surcharge.
Do these rates include labor for finishing the slab?
No — this is the delivered material cost only. Finishing labor (screeding, floating, troweling) is typically $2-$8 per square foot on top of material cost and is not included here.
How much do 2026 concrete prices vary by region?
National averages here are a starting point; coastal metro areas and anywhere with strong union labor markets often run 25-40% above these numbers, while rural areas with local batch plants can run 10-20% below. Always confirm with 2-3 local plant quotes.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Concrete Price Per Cubic Yard Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/concrete-price-per-cubic-yard
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/concrete-price-per-cubic-yard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Concrete Price Per Cubic Yard Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Concrete Price Per Cubic Yard Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/concrete-price-per-cubic-yard) (2026).