Concrete Cost Calculator
Estimate the real cost of your pour — not just the concrete, but delivery and placement too. Adjust the rates to your local market, then compare ready-mix delivery with batching on site.
Floors, pads, patios, driveways — flat rectangular pours.
What goes into the cost of concrete
The formula
Quoted concrete prices usually cover material only. The real bill adds delivery (and short-load fees) plus labour to place and finish it. This calculator lets you enter each rate so the total reflects your job.
- Material: price per yd³ or m³ × volume.
- Delivery: a flat fee, often with a short-load surcharge under ~3 yd³.
- Labour: placing & finishing, charged per yd³/m³ or per ft²/m².
Worked example
A 5 yd³ driveway at $140/yd³ material, $90 delivery, $40/yd³ placement:
- Material = 5 × $140 = $700.
- Labour = 5 × $40 = $200.
- Delivery = $90 flat → total ≈ $990.
About $990 delivered and placed, before reinforcement and prep.
Sizing, thickness & waste
Typical 2024–25 price ranges
- Ready-mix material: ~$120–160 per cubic yard ($155–210/m³).
- Short-load fee: $50–150 for loads under ~3 yd³.
- Placed & finished slab: ~$5–10 per square foot.
For contractors: delivery vs on-site batching
Per-load delivery is simple for one-off pours. But on repeat jobs, remote sites, or volumes above ~10 m³/day, batching on site removes delivery fees and waiting charges and locks in your mix consistency — often paying back a mobile plant within a single project.
What produces this much concrete?
If delivery costs are eating your margin, on-site production may be cheaper. Based on your volume:
Small pour — mix on site
Under ~0.5 m³ (≈0.65 yd³) you can mix on site from bags. A portable mixer saves time over hand-mixing once you pass a few bags.
Medium pour — small mixer or ready-mix
From ~0.5–2 m³, a small or self-loading mixer keeps you independent of delivery schedules; otherwise order ready-mix.
Large pour — self-loading mixer or delivery
At 2–10 m³, compare ready-mix delivery against a self-loading mixer or mixer truck if you pour regularly.
On-site batching becomes economical
Above ~10 m³, repeated or remote pours usually cost less with on-site batching than per-load delivery. A mobile or compact plant sets up fast.
Continuous production — dedicated plant
Beyond ~50 m³ per job, a stationary or ready-mix plant delivers the throughput and consistency large projects need.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate concrete cost?
Multiply your volume (in cubic yards or cubic metres) by the local concrete price, then add delivery and placement/labour. The calculator above breaks all three out so you can adjust each rate to your market.
How much does concrete cost per yard?
Ready-mix concrete typically costs $120–160 per cubic yard for material in 2024–25, before delivery and placement. Short loads under about 3 cubic yards usually carry an extra fee. (Per cubic metre, expect roughly $155–210.)
How much does a concrete slab cost?
Placed and finished, slabs commonly cost $5–10 per square foot depending on thickness, reinforcement and finish. Enter your slab above to see the material, delivery and labour split.
What affects concrete delivery cost?
Distance from the plant, load size (short-load fees under ~3 yd³), waiting time on site, and access. Multiple small loads cost far more per cubic metre than one full truck.
Is on-site batching cheaper than ready-mix delivery?
For one-off small pours, no. But for high volumes, repeated pours or remote sites, on-site batching avoids delivery and short-load fees and can cut cost per cubic metre significantly — a mobile plant can pay for itself within one large project.
How much concrete waste should be included in cost?
Budget 5–10% extra volume on top of the calculated figure. It is far cheaper to over-order slightly than to run short and pay for an emergency short load.
Are these estimates exact?
Results are planning estimates. Always confirm volumes, mix designs and structural details with your supplier or engineer before pouring.