Ready Mix Concrete Calculator
Estimate cubic yards for ready-mix delivery - with truckload planning and cost ranges.
Your Ready Mix Estimate
- Enter dimensions - length, width, and thickness of your pour.
- Select thickness - 4" for patios, 5–6" for driveways, 8–12" for walls and footings.
- Set waste lower - 5% is typical for ready-mix since trucks deliver precisely measured volumes.
- Check truckloads - standard mixer trucks hold 8–11 yd³. Plan labor and finishing crew around delivery windows.
- Call your plant - confirm pricing, delivery fees, short-load minimums, and any overtime charges for weekend pours.
Ready-mix concrete is ordered by the cubic yard: a 10 × 20 ft slab at 4 inches thick needs about 2.5 cubic yards, and a two-car 20 × 20 ft driveway at 5 inches needs about 6.8 yards including 10% waste. A standard mixer truck carries 8 to 11 cubic yards, so most residential pours are a single truck. Orders under about 3 yards usually carry a short-load fee. Enter your dimensions above for the exact yardage to order.
How Your Pour Maps to Truckloads
Ordering Ready-Mix Concrete
Ready-mix concrete is ordered by the cubic yard from a local batch plant. A standard mixer truck holds 8 to 11 cubic yards. The plant mixes your concrete to spec (typically 3,000 or 4,000 PSI for residential work) and delivers it to your site within a specified window - usually 90 minutes from batching, after which the concrete starts to set.
When you call to order, you'll need to specify: total cubic yards, mix design (PSI strength), any additives (fiber mesh, accelerator, retarder), and your pour date and time. Most plants require 24-hour advance notice for standard orders and 48 hours for specialty mixes.
Ready-Mix Pricing Guide
Concrete pricing varies by region, mix design, and delivery distance. Here are typical 2026 ranges:
| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 3,000 PSI mix | $140–$180 per yd³ | Most residential work |
| 4,000 PSI mix | $150–$200 per yd³ | Driveways, garage floors |
| 5,000 PSI mix | $160–$220 per yd³ | Commercial, high-strength |
| Short-load fee | $30–$60 per yd³ under minimum | Typically applies under 3–5 yd³ |
| Delivery / fuel surcharge | $50–$150 flat | Varies by distance from plant |
| Saturday / overtime pour | $100–$200 extra | Weekday pours avoid this fee |
| Concrete pump truck | $150–$250 per hour | Needed when truck can't reach the pour site |
Always get quotes from at least 2 local plants. Prices can vary by $20–$40 per yard between suppliers in the same area.
Formulas Used in This Calculator
Same volume math as any concrete calculator - the ready-mix context just changes how you interpret results:
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
With waste = Cubic yards × (1 + Waste %)
Truckloads = Cubic yards ÷ 10 (rounded up)
Waste factor for ready-mix is typically 5% - lower than bags because the truck delivers an exact measured volume. Add more waste for irregular forms or uneven subgrade.
Ready-mix concrete cost by US region (2026)
| Region | Per yd3 (3,000 PSI) | Per yd3 (4,000 PSI) | Short-load surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | $125-$155 | $140-$170 | +$40-$60/yd |
| Midwest | $130-$165 | $145-$180 | +$40-$60/yd |
| South and Southwest | $130-$160 | $145-$175 | +$45-$65/yd |
| Mountain West | $145-$180 | $160-$200 | +$50-$75/yd |
| West Coast | $155-$200 | $175-$220 | +$50-$80/yd |
| Northeast | $160-$210 | $180-$230 | +$50-$80/yd |
National average: $160-$180/yd for standard 3,000 PSI in 2026. Delivery typically included up to 20 miles. Pump truck adds $150-$500 if direct truck access is not possible. Short-load surcharges apply to orders under 5-7 cubic yards.
Sources & Standards
- Ready-mixed concrete production, batching tolerances, delivery, and acceptance are governed by ASTM C94. When you order by specified strength (PSI), the plant is responsible for the mix design under this specification - state the strength, slump, and any air-entrainment on the order.ASTM C94/C94M - Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete
- The long-standing default limit of 90 minutes from batching to complete discharge was revised in the 2021 edition: the time limit is now set by the purchaser on the order, or established by the producer if unstated. Keep site access clear so trucks can discharge promptly either way.ASTM C94-21 revision - discharge time limit
After You Know Your Yardage
The yardage is what you phone in to the plant. The usual order of business around it:
Need installed prices, not just delivered material? Our concrete slab installed cost breakdown for 2026 shows real contractor pricing by slab size, finish, and region - with labor and prep included.
Related Calculators
Get your cubic yard quantity first, then order ready-mix. Browse the construction calculator collection.