Concrete Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of a concrete slab from its size, thickness and ready-mix price per cubic yard, with delivery, short-load fees and labor. Get total and cost per sq ft.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Total estimated cost
- $915
- Concrete and delivery; labor, base, rebar, forms, pump and permit not included
- Concrete to order
- 5.43 cu yd
- 4.94 cu yd before 10% waste, 400 sq ft at 4 in. Plants batch in quarter yards, so the ticket reads 5.5 cu yd
- Concrete cost
- $815
- At $150 per cubic yard
- Delivery and fees
- $100
- Delivery only
- Cost per square foot
- $2.29 per sq ft
- Total divided by slab area
Concrete Cost formula
Cubic yards = Length x Width x Thickness (in) / 12 / 27 x (1 + waste %)
Concrete cost = Cubic yards x price per cubic yard
Total = Concrete cost + delivery + short-load fee x yards under 4 + labor rate x square feet
Cost per sq ft = Total / (Length x Width)Worked example
A 12 x 24 ft driveway 5 in thick: 12 x 24 x (5 / 12) = 120 cubic feet, times 1.1 for waste is 132 cubic feet, or 4.89 cubic yards. At $160 per yard the concrete is $782, plus a $75 delivery fee for $857 in materials.
With a contractor forming and finishing at $6 per square foot, labor on 288 sq ft is $1,728. The total is $2,585, or $8.98 per square foot. Doing the finishing yourself would bring it to about $3 per square foot.
Quick reference
| Thickness | Cubic yards | At $125/yd | At $150/yd | At $200/yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 1.36 | $170 | $204 | $272 |
| 5 in | 1.70 | $212 | $255 | $340 |
| 6 in | 2.04 | $255 | $306 | $407 |
| 8 in | 2.72 | $340 | $407 | $543 |
What goes into the price of a slab
The concrete itself is the smaller part of most slab budgets. Ready-mix typically runs $150 to $220 per cubic yard delivered in 2026. A 4 inch slab uses about 1.36 yards per 100 square feet with waste, so material is roughly $2 to $3 per square foot. The ticket shows the per-yard price, a short-load fee on orders under 4 to 6 yards, and a fuel or environmental surcharge. Standby is billed by the minute once the free unload window of about 5 to 7 minutes per yard runs out. Most plants will not dispatch under 2 to 3 yards at all.
Labor is where the total grows. Forming, placing rebar or mesh, pouring and finishing usually cost $4 to $8 per square foot for a plain broom finish, more for stamped or colored work. Add the 4 inch compacted gravel base, rebar, forms and any excavation or demolition. A finished plain slab typically lands at $6 to $10 per square foot.
How to keep the cost down
Order the right amount. Plants batch in quarter yards, so a 1.96 yard result is ordered as 2.25, not 2; a second truck for the missing half yard pays the full short-load fee and leaves a cold joint across the slab. Have forms, screeds, wheelbarrows and three people ready before the truck arrives, because standby starts when the free unload window closes. If your job is under the minimum, ask whether a neighbor or another site nearby can share the load.
Get quotes with the mix stated: 3,000 psi for patios and walks, 4,000 psi air-entrained for driveways and any exterior slab in a freeze-thaw climate. Never add water at the chute to make the mix flow; it cuts strength and scales the surface, so order a higher slump or a water reducer from the plant. A loaded mixer weighs 60,000 to 70,000 lb, needs about 10 feet of width and 13.5 feet of clearance, and its chute reaches about 16 feet; past that you wheelbarrow or pay for a line pump, typically $600 to $1,000 with a half-day minimum in 2026. Bagged mix makes sense only below about half a yard.
What this calculator leaves out
The 4 inch compacted gravel base, the vapor retarder under interior slabs (IRC R506.2.3), rebar or mesh on chairs, forms and stakes, and haul-off of the spoil. Control joints sawed 1/4 deep within 6 to 18 hours at 2 to 3 times the thickness in feet. Pump rental, the permit most towns want for a driveway, and a sealer for exterior slabs.
Mistakes that cost money
- Ordering 1.96 yards as 2 instead of 2.25: a second truck for the missing half yard pays the full short-load fee plus a cold joint.
- Forms, crew and wheelbarrows not ready when the truck arrives burn the free unload window; standby is billed by the minute after that.
- Adding water at the chute to make the mix flow cuts strength and causes scaling; order a higher slump or water reducer from the plant.
- A loaded mixer weighs 60,000 to 70,000 lb and cracks driveways and septic lines; its chute reaches about 16 ft, beyond that budget a pump.
- Comparing bare per-yard quotes: the ticket adds a fuel or environmental surcharge, the short-load fee, and hot-water charges in winter.
- Plain 3,000 psi on an exterior slab in freeze-thaw country scales within a few winters; 4,000 psi air-entrained costs $10 to $15 more per yard.
Key facts
- Ready-mix concrete typically costs $150 to $220 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, before short-load, fuel and standby charges.
- Most plants charge a short-load fee of $50 to $150 per missing yard on orders under 4 to 6 yards, and will not dispatch under 2 to 3.
- An installed 4 in slab typically costs $6 to $10 per square foot; the concrete itself is only $2 to $3 of that.
- A cubic yard of concrete covers 81 sq ft at 4 in thick, so a yard of ready-mix at $150 is about $1.85 per square foot in material.
- Bagged concrete costs 2 to 3 times as much per yard as ready-mix, but avoids the delivery and short-load fees on small jobs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of concrete cost?
Typically $150 to $220 per cubic yard delivered in 2026 for standard 3,000 to 4,000 psi ready-mix. Add a delivery fee, a fuel surcharge and a short-load fee on orders under 4 to 6 yards.
How much does a 20 x 20 concrete slab cost?
About 5.4 cubic yards with waste, or roughly $915 in concrete and delivery at $150 per yard. With labor at $4 to $8 per square foot, the installed cost is about $2,500 to $4,100.
What if the truck cannot reach my backyard?
The chute reaches about 16 feet from the back of the truck. A loaded mixer at 60,000 to 70,000 lb will crack a driveway or crush a septic line if you send it across them. Past 16 feet you wheelbarrow, which is 30 to 40 loads per yard and needs three people. The alternative is a line pump, typically $600 to $1,000 for a half day in 2026.
Is it cheaper to buy bags or ready-mix?
Ready-mix is cheaper per yard for anything over about half a cubic yard. Below that, bags avoid the delivery and short-load fees, though a yard of bagged mix costs $250 to $350 and needs 45 bags of 80 lb mix.
Sources and references
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Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.