Concrete cost calculator — price per yard, bags & installed

Estimate what your pour will cost. Enter how many cubic yards you need for a ready-mix estimate, see how bagged compares, and get an installed per-square-foot range — with small-load fees factored in. Not sure how much concrete you need? Start with the concrete calculator.

$825
estimated ready-mix cost (small load)
range $625$975 depending on market
$1,350
if bagged (225 × 80 lb)

Over 2 yards — order ready-mix. Bagging this much is impractical (225 bags).

Small pours carry either a short-load fee (~$50–150) or a 3-yard minimum — ask your plant which applies. The estimate above uses the cheaper of the two.

$3,600  typical  ·  $2,400$4,800 range
Finished, poured & labor at $6–$12/sq ft (most jobs $8–$10). Stamped/colored, thick, or rebar-reinforced slabs run higher.

How much does concrete cost?

Ready-mix concrete costs about $125–$195 per cubic yard in 2026, averaging near $165 for a standard 3,000–4,000 PSI mix — delivered, most orders run $160–$195 per yard. Price depends on your region, the PSI you spec, and how big the load is. A full truck holds roughly 9–11 yards.

Small loads: fees and minimums

Because trucks are expensive to roll, small pours cost more per yard. Orders under about 5–8 yards carry a short-load fee of $50–$150, or the plant simply bills a minimum of about 3 yards regardless of what you place. Suppliers use one model or the other — never both — so ask your plant which applies. The calculator above estimates the cheaper of the two.

Bagged vs. ready-mix

Bagged concrete looks cheap per bag, but a single cubic yard is about 45 eighty-pound bags to haul and mix by hand. Under ~1 yard, bags win; over ~2 yards, ready-mix wins clearly on both cost and labor. See the bags-per-yard breakdown for the exact counts.

Installed cost per square foot

A finished slab — poured, formed, and finished with labor — typically runs $6–$12 per square foot, with most projects at $8–$10. Stamped or colored finishes, thicker driveways, and rebar reinforcement push the number up. Regional labor rates are the biggest swing.

Concrete cost FAQ

How much does concrete cost per cubic yard?

In 2026, ready-mix runs about $125–$195 per yard, national average near $165 for a standard 3,000–4,000 PSI mix. Delivered, most orders land ~$160–$195/yd. It varies by region, PSI, and load size.

What is a short-load fee?

Trucks hold ~9–11 yards, so small orders (usually under 5–8 yd) carry a short-load fee of ~$50–$150, or the plant bills a ~3-yard minimum. Suppliers use one model or the other — ask which applies.

Is it cheaper to buy bags or order ready-mix?

Under ~1 yard, bags win. But 1 yard ≈ 45 eighty-pound bags to mix by hand, so most crews order ready-mix well before 2 yards, where delivered wins on cost and labor.

How much does an installed slab cost per square foot?

$6–$12/sq ft installed (materials + labor), most jobs $8–$10. Stamped/colored finishes, thicker slabs, and rebar push it higher.

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