Ready-mix concrete costs about $125 to $195 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, with a national average ready-mix price near $180 per yard. But the per-yard figure you Google is rarely what lands in your driveway: small orders get hit with short-load fees of $30 to $60 per yard under the truck’s minimum, which can add a few hundred dollars to a small pour before a single wheelbarrow moves.
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Find a handyman near you →These ranges come from 2026 industry data, including ConcreteNetwork’s 2026 concrete price report and HomeGuide’s 2026 concrete delivery cost guide. The two sources bracket the range because one quotes material-only and the other includes delivery — which is exactly why “cost per yard” is a slippery number.
| Project | Cubic yards needed | Total delivered cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk (4×30 ft) | 1.5 – 2 | $250 – $350 |
| Small patio (10×10 ft) | 1.5 – 2 | $250 – $350 |
| 1-car driveway (10×20 ft) | 2.5 – 3 | $375 – $500 |
| 2-car driveway (20×20 ft) | 5 – 6 | $700 – $900 |
| Garage floor (20×24 ft) | 6 – 7 | $850 – $1,050 |
| Foundation (1,500 sq ft) | 8 – 12 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
Concrete Cost Per Cubic Yard
Ordered straight from a ready-mix supplier, concrete is priced by the cubic yard. In 2026 that base runs $125 to $150 per yard for material with a full-load delivery, per HomeGuide, while ConcreteNetwork puts the all-in nationwide figure at $160 to $195 per yard — the national average ready-mix price was about $180. The gap is not a contradiction; it is the difference between the material sticker and what you actually pay once delivery and fees are counted.
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The takeaway: order size drives the per-yard price more than anything. Spread across a full 10-yard load, delivery and fees are pennies per yard. On a 3-yard patio pour, the same fixed fees can push your effective rate to $200 or more per yard.
Short-Load and Delivery Fees
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Find a handyman near you →The base per-yard price is only the start. Suppliers add fees for conditions and services that can total $50 to $500 or more — and most won’t volunteer them unless you ask. Here are the common ones in 2026:
| Fee | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Short-load fee (under ~10-yd minimum) | $30 – $60 per yard under |
| Overtime / waiting (after 5–7 min per yard) | $2 – $5 per minute |
| Saturday delivery | $50 – $200 surcharge |
| Fuel surcharge | $25 – $100 |
| Washout fee | $25 – $50 |
| Concrete pump rental (if truck can’t reach) | $150 – $300 per hour |
The waiting-time fee catches DIYers most often: once the truck arrives you typically get about 5 to 7 minutes per yard to unload before the meter starts at $2 to $5 a minute. A 4-yard pour gives you roughly 20 to 30 minutes — not long if you’re moving concrete by wheelbarrow alone. Line up help before the truck rolls.
How Many Yards Do You Need?
Concrete is sold by volume, so you need to convert your project to cubic yards. The rule of thumb: one cubic yard covers about 81 square feet at 4 inches thick. For a quick estimate, multiply length × width × thickness (all in feet) and divide by 27.
Always round up and order a little extra — 5 to 10 percent is standard to cover uneven subgrade and spillage. Running short mid-pour is the worst case: you cannot pause a slab, and a rush second delivery means a second short-load fee on top.
Per-Yard vs. Finished-Slab Cost
This is where quotes confuse people. A ready-mix supplier quotes $125 to $195 per yard for concrete delivered. A contractor quotes $6.50 to $10.50 per square foot for a finished slab — and those aren’t the same thing. The finished price includes forming, a gravel base, rebar or mesh, the pour, finishing, control joints, and cleanup. The concrete itself is often only about a third of the installed cost; labor and materials around it are the rest.
How to Save on a Concrete Order
Consolidate pours so you clear the truck’s minimum in one delivery instead of paying short-load fees twice. Have the site formed, graded, and crew-ready before the truck arrives to avoid waiting fees. Take weekday delivery to skip the Saturday surcharge. And because per-yard rates and fees vary widely between suppliers and finishing crews, it pays to post the job and compare a few local bids rather than accept the first quote — especially on a finished slab, where labor is most of the price.
How we sourced these numbers. Per-yard and delivered ranges reflect 2026 U.S. data from ConcreteNetwork’s 2026 concrete price report and HomeGuide’s 2026 concrete delivery cost guide. Yardage figures assume a standard 4-inch slab (one cubic yard ≈ 81 sq ft at 4″). The effective-per-yard chart spreads typical delivery and short-load fees across small and full-load orders. Confirm current pricing and fees with your local ready-mix supplier before ordering.
Concrete Cost Per Yard FAQ
How much does a yard of concrete cost in 2026? About $125 to $195 per cubic yard delivered, averaging near $180; small orders cost more per yard due to short-load fees.
What is a short-load fee? A $30 to $60 per-yard charge for ordering under the truck’s ~10-yard minimum — it can add $200+ to a small pour.
How many yards of concrete do I need? One cubic yard covers ~81 sq ft at 4 inches; a 2-car driveway needs about 5 to 6 yards. Order 5 to 10 percent extra.
Why is a contractor’s per-square-foot price higher than the per-yard price? The finished-slab price ($6.50 to $10.50/sq ft) includes forming, base, rebar, pouring, and finishing — the concrete is only about a third of it.
For related pricing, see our guides to concrete slab cost by thickness and asphalt driveway cost, or browse more homeowner cost breakdowns on the AllBetter handyman blog.
Pouring a driveway? The driveway paving cost guide translates per-yard concrete prices into full installed-project numbers against asphalt and pavers.
And if the slab is destined to be a garage floor, our epoxy flooring cost guide covers what a coating adds per square foot.
