What affects the cost of concrete?
- Your region. Ready-mix prices vary a lot between states and between city and country.
- Order size. Many suppliers charge a short-load fee on small orders below their minimum.
- Mix strength. Stronger mixes and additives such as fiber or accelerators cost more per yard.
- Access. If the truck can't reach the pour, a pump or extra labor adds to the bill.
- Timing. Weekend, after-hours or cold-weather pours can carry extra charges.
Ready-mix or bags: which is cheaper?
For small jobs, bags usually win because there's no delivery or short-load fee. As the pour gets bigger, ready-mix becomes cheaper per yard and saves hours of mixing. Enter both prices above and the calculator shows the cost of each for your exact slab.
How to estimate concrete cost
Ready-mix is ordered in quarter-yard steps, so the calculator rounds your volume up before working out the cost. This is a materials estimate; labor, forms, gravel and finishing are extra.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to mix concrete yourself?
For small jobs, often yes, because you avoid delivery and short-load fees. For anything over about a cubic yard, ready-mix usually works out cheaper once you count the bags and the hours of mixing.
What is a short-load fee?
A charge some ready-mix suppliers add when you order less than their minimum load. Ask about it when you get a quote, and enter it in the fees box above.
How do I work out concrete cost per square foot?
Divide the total cost by the slab's area. The calculator shows this for the ready-mix price you enter.