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Concrete Delivery Cost
Ready-mix is priced per cubic yard, but delivery and short-load or minimum fees can change the total on a small pour. Size your job to see the yards, compare a truck with bags, and get local quotes below.
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Estimate only. Bag yields, material density and waste vary by product and supplier. Confirm quantities with your supplier and check local building codes before you buy or build.
How much does concrete delivery cost?
Published 2026 guides give ready-mix concrete at roughly $125 to $175 per cubic yard delivered in many areas, higher on the coasts. On top of the per-yard price, plants may charge a delivery fee (often about $70 to $150), a minimum-load charge (about $110 to $200) or a short-load fee for orders below the plant's minimum (about $50 to $150 per yard under it). Fees and minimums differ by plant, so call two or three and ask what the total delivered price is for your exact quantity.
Short loads: why small pours cost more per yard
A mixer truck carries several cubic yards, and the driver, truck and time cost about the same whether it carries one yard or eight. Plants set a minimum order and charge extra below it, which is why a small slab often costs far more per yard than a large one. Ordering the minimum, or a little more, can cost less than a short load.
Example: a small 10 × 10 ft slab
A 10 × 10 ft slab at 4 inches with 10% waste needs about 1.36 cubic yards. At $160 per cubic yard the concrete is about $217. Add a delivery charge of about $70 to $150 and a minimum-load or short-load fee of about $110 to $200, and the delivered total is roughly $400 to $570. The same job with 62 bags of 80 lb at $7 each is about $434, so for a pour this small bags can match a truck.
Bags or a truck?
Bags avoid delivery fees and minimums and let you work at your own pace, but every bag is mixed by hand or in a mixer. Past about 1 to 2 cubic yards, a truck is usually cheaper and much faster. Use the calculator above with your own bag and ready-mix prices to compare.
Other things that raise the bill
A pump if the truck cannot reach the forms, a long distance from the plant, waiting time while the crew gets ready, special mixes such as fiber, air entrainment or higher strength, and Saturday or off-hours delivery. Ask about each before you book.
Get local quotes
Use the quote form below the results to send your measurements to up to two local contractors, who handle the ready-mix order and the pour. The delivery ranges above summarize published guides checked in October 2026; your local plants and quotes decide the real cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have concrete delivered?
Ready-mix is about $125 to $175 per cubic yard delivered in many areas, plus a delivery fee of roughly $70 to $150 and any minimum-load or short-load fee. Call local plants for a delivered total for your quantity.
What is a short-load fee on concrete?
A charge for ordering less than the plant's minimum quantity. Guides put it at roughly $50 to $150 per yard under the minimum, or a flat minimum-load charge of about $110 to $200. Ask each plant how it charges.
What is the minimum order for a concrete truck?
It depends on the plant, often a few cubic yards. Below the minimum you pay extra, so compare the cost of a short load with bags and with ordering a little more.
How many cubic yards do I need to order?
Multiply length × width × thickness in feet, divide by 27, and add about 10% for waste. Enter your size above to see the exact figure.
Is it cheaper to buy bags than order a truck?
For jobs under about one cubic yard, usually yes, because bags avoid delivery and short-load fees. For bigger pours a truck is usually cheaper and faster. Compare both with your local prices above.
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a planning estimate, not an order. Bag yields, material density and waste vary by product, supplier and job, so confirm quantities with your supplier and check local building codes before you buy or pour.
Are my measurements saved?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
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