How Much for a Yard of Concrete – 2025 Cost Guide

How much for a yard of concrete depends on whether you order ready-mix or mix bagged concrete yourself. Ready-mix runs $125 to $165 per cubic yard delivered in 2025. Mixing your own from 80-pound bags costs $225 to $315 per yard in materials — but drops your total on small pours under 2 cubic yards when you factor out delivery fees and short-load surcharges. Estimating your project takes about 10 minutes with a tape measure and a calculator. Here's the full cost breakdown and the steps to get an accurate number.

How Much Does a Yard of Concrete Cost in 2025?

A cubic yard of standard 3000 PSI ready-mix concrete costs $125 to $165 delivered in 2025, depending on region, mix type, and order size. Mixing your own from bagged concrete costs $225 to $315 per yard in materials alone.

What Is the Average Price Per Cubic Yard for Ready-Mix Concrete?

The national average for ready-mix concrete sits between $130 and $150 per cubic yard for a standard 3000 PSI residential mix. Coastal and metropolitan areas trend toward $150 to $165. Rural markets and the Midwest often fall between $115 and $135.

• 3000 PSI standard residential mix: $125–$150 per yard
• 3500 PSI driveway and garage slab mix: $135–$160 per yard
• 4000 PSI high-strength mix: $145–$175 per yard

How Much Is Cement a Yard When You Mix It Yourself?

Self-mixed concrete from 80-pound bags costs roughly $225 to $315 per cubic yard in materials. One 80-pound bag yields approximately 0.6 cubic feet. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, requiring about 45 bags at $5 to $7 per bag.

Labor and time increase the real cost. Mixing 45 bags by hand takes 4 to 6 hours for one person. A portable drum mixer or handheld mixer cuts that time to 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

What Are Short Load Fees and Delivery Surcharges?

Short load fees range from $50 to $100 per yard below the plant's minimum order, which typically sits at 3 cubic yards. Ordering 1 yard from a ready-mix plant often results in $100 to $200 in surcharges on top of the per-yard price.

• Short load fee: $50–$100 per yard under minimum
• Saturday or after-hours delivery: $75–$150 surcharge
• Pump truck rental: $150–$250 for residential pours
• Fiber reinforcement additive: $5–$10 per yard
• Accelerant or retarder additive: $3–$8 per yard

Shop Concrete Mixers for This Job

These 10 picks from our concrete mixers range cover the equipment this job calls for. Check each product's specs against your machine and job before ordering. Browse all concrete mixers.

10 Cubic Foot Steel Drum Concrete Mixer for Construction | Honda GX270 Engine | Cast Iron Ring Gear | Brave$4,472BravePro 7 Cubic Foot Steel Drum Concrete Mixer for Portable Mixing | Honda GX270 Engine | 790 lbs | Brave$4,36910 Cubic Foot Poly Drum Concrete Mixer for Towable Equipment | Honda GX270 Engine | 580 lbs | Brave$4,828Electric Cement Mixer MIXZR for Portable Mixing | 5.5 Cu Ft | Steel Construction | Brave$944Hopper Extension for Mud Mixer | 300 lb Capacity | Mud Mixer$3251800W Electric Mixer for Professional Use | Dual Speed | Heavy Duty | Concrete & Grout | Makinex$447Concrete/Epoxy Mixing Station | 220 lb Capacity | Portable | Hands-Free Operation | Makinex$1,387Mixing Station for Floor Finishing | Epoxy | Self-Leveling Cement| 330 lb Capacity | Hands-Free Operation | Self-Leveling Cement | Makinex$2,600Mortar Mixer for Concrete Equipment | 8 Cu Ft Capacity | Honda GX240 Engine | Brave$5,6099 Cubic Foot Steel Drum Mortar Mixer for Construction | Honda GX240 Engine | 2.5-3 Bag Capacity | Brave$4,490

How Do You Calculate How Much Concrete You Need Per Yard?

Calculating concrete volume follows a 3-step formula: length × width × depth in feet, divided by 27. The result equals the number of cubic yards required. Add 5% to 10% for waste and overfill.

How Big Is a Cubic Yard in Real-World Terms?

One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet — a volume roughly 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. That volume pours a 10 × 10-foot slab at 4 inches thick (1.23 cubic yards). A standard sidewalk section 4 feet wide, 20 feet long, and 4 inches thick uses approximately 0.99 cubic yards.

What Are the Steps to Calculate Cubic Yards for a Slab?

The calculation takes 4 steps and under 5 minutes with a tape measure and calculator.

1. Measure the area. Record length and width in feet. For irregular shapes, divide the area into rectangles and calculate each separately.
2. Convert the depth. Convert slab thickness from inches to feet by dividing by 12. A 4-inch slab equals 0.333 feet.
3. Multiply the dimensions. Multiply length × width × depth in feet. A 20 × 20-foot slab at 4 inches: 20 × 20 × 0.333 = 133.2 cubic feet.
4. Divide by 27. Divide total cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards. 133.2 ÷ 27 = 4.93 cubic yards.
5. Add a waste factor. Multiply the result by 1.05 to 1.10. For 4.93 yards, order 5.2 to 5.4 yards — round up to 5.5.

How Do You Calculate Concrete for Post Holes and Footings?

Post holes and round footings use the cylinder formula: π × radius² × depth, divided by 27. A 12-inch diameter hole that is 36 inches deep requires 0.029 cubic yards. Ten such post holes require 0.29 cubic yards — a project where bagged concrete and a small mixer make more financial sense than a ready-mix truck.

What Factors Affect How Much for a Yard of Concrete on Your Project?

Five primary factors drive the per-yard cost: mix type, PSI rating, location, order size, and seasonal demand. Each variable shifts the price by $10 to $50 per yard in either direction.

How Do Concrete Mix Type and PSI Rating Change the Price?

Higher PSI ratings and specialty mixes cost more per yard. Standard residential work uses 3000 PSI. Driveways, garage floors, and load-bearing slabs require 3500 to 4000 PSI, adding $10 to $25 per yard. Fiber-reinforced, rapid-set, and colored mixes add $5 to $30 per yard.

• Standard 3000 PSI: baseline price
• 3500 PSI: +$10–$15 per yard
• 4000 PSI: +$20–$25 per yard
• Colored concrete: +$15–$30 per yard
• Stamped concrete (labor + materials): $12–$25 per square foot total installed

Does Location and Seasonal Demand Impact Concrete Pricing?

Regional material costs, plant proximity, and seasonal demand create price swings of 15% to 30%. Urban markets with high construction volume run higher than rural areas. Spring and summer represent peak demand months; ordering in late fall or winter often yields lower per-yard prices in temperate climates.

How Does Project Size Influence Your Per-Yard Cost?

Larger orders reduce the effective per-yard cost because fixed charges like delivery and fuel spread across more material. A 10-yard order absorbs a $75 delivery fee at $7.50 per yard. A 2-yard order absorbs the same fee at $37.50 per yard — before short-load surcharges.

Shop Handheld Cement Mixer for This Job

These 7 picks from our handheld cement mixer range cover the equipment this job calls for. Check each product's specs against your machine and job before ordering. Browse all handheld cement mixer.

Skid Steer Cement Mixer Attachment – On-Demand Concrete Mixing for Job Sites | Stinger Attachments$865Tractor Cement Mixer Attachment – Professional On-Site Concrete Mixing | Stinger Attachments$86510 Cu Ft Electric Cement Mixer for Concrete Mixing | 1-1/2 HP | 120V | Direct Drive | Kushlan Products$2,2733.5-Cubic Foot Electric Direct Drive Cement Mixer | 3/4 HP Motor | Polyethylene Drum | Kushlan Products$788Direct Drive Cement Mixer | 6-Cubic Foot Electric | 3/4 HP Motor | Polyethylene Drum | Kushlan Products$9137 Cubic Foot Steel Drum Mortar Mixer for Towable Construction | Honda GX240 Engine | 683 lbs | Brave$4,387Multi-Use Mixer for Commercial Equipment | Electric | Continuous Operation | Mud Mixer$3,695

Is It Cheaper to Mix Your Own Concrete Than to Order Ready-Mix?

DIY mixing costs less per yard than ready-mix delivery only on pours under 1 to 2 cubic yards. Above that threshold, ready-mix delivery becomes more cost-effective per yard, even with delivery fees. The breakeven point depends on local bag prices and the plant's short-load fee structure.

What Does the Math Look Like for a 20×20 Concrete Slab?

A 20 × 20-foot slab at 4 inches thick requires approximately 5 cubic yards. Ready-mix at $140 per yard totals $700 plus a delivery fee of $50 to $100 — roughly $750 to $800 total. Mixing 225 bags at $6 each totals $1,350 in materials alone, plus 20 to 30 hours of labor.

Ready-mix wins on any pour above 2 cubic yards in both cost and time. For projects under 1 yard — fence posts, small pads, repair patches — bagged concrete mixed on site costs 30% to 50% less than a short-load ready-mix delivery.

When Does DIY Mixing Save You the Most Money?

DIY mixing saves the most on projects requiring 0.25 to 1 cubic yard. Post holes, small equipment pads, step repairs, and column footings fall into this range. Owning one of the Concrete Mixers pays for itself within 2 to 3 small projects by eliminating ready-mix minimum-order fees entirely.

What Equipment Do You Need to Mix and Pour Concrete Yourself?

Self-mixing requires 5 categories of equipment: a mixer, measuring tools, transport vessels, finishing tools, and personal protective equipment. Missing any category slows the pour or produces weak concrete.

How Do Portable Concrete Mixers Speed Up a DIY Pour?

A portable drum mixer processes one 80-pound bag in 2 to 3 minutes versus 5 to 8 minutes by hand. Electric and gas-powered models with 3.5 to 9 cubic foot drums handle small-to-medium pours without fatigue. For jobs under half a yard — patching, post holes, or small footings — a Handheld Cement Mixer blends individual bags quickly without the footprint of a full drum unit.

What Tools Help You Measure, Transport, and Finish Concrete?

Accurate pours require measuring, moving, and finishing tools beyond the mixer itself. Each tool addresses a different phase of the pour process.

• Tape measure and calculator for volume estimation
• 5-gallon measuring bucket for water proportioning
• Heavy-duty Concrete Cement Buckets for transporting mixed concrete to the pour site where wheelbarrows cannot reach
• Wheelbarrow (6 cubic foot capacity minimum) for moving larger batches
• Bull float, hand trowel, and edging tool for surface finishing
• 2×4 screed board cut 2 inches wider than the form width

Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete Cost Per Yard

The most common concrete pricing questions cover per-project cost estimates, bag-to-yard conversions, alternative mix types, minimum orders, and decorative upgrades. The answers below resolve each with specific 2025 numbers.

How Much Does It Cost to Pour a 20×20 Concrete Slab?

A 20 × 20-foot slab at 4 inches thick costs $750 to $1,200 for materials and delivery using ready-mix concrete in 2025.

The slab requires approximately 5 cubic yards. At $140 to $160 per yard plus a $50 to $100 delivery fee, material cost lands between $750 and $900. Hiring a crew to form, pour, and finish adds $1,500 to $3,000 in labor, bringing total installed cost to $2,250 to $4,200 depending on region and site access.

How Many Bags of Concrete Make One Cubic Yard?

Approximately 45 bags of 80-pound concrete mix or 60 bags of 60-pound mix equal one cubic yard.

Each 80-pound bag produces about 0.6 cubic feet of mixed concrete. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Dividing 27 by 0.6 yields 45 bags. Each 60-pound bag produces roughly 0.45 cubic feet, requiring 60 bags per yard. Purchase 5% extra to account for spillage and overfill.

What Is Poor Man's Concrete Made Of?

Poor man's concrete — also called earth cement — consists of Portland cement, native soil or sand, and water mixed at a ratio of roughly 1 part cement to 6 to 8 parts soil.

This mix costs $30 to $50 per cubic yard in materials because it replaces gravel and most of the sand with on-site dirt. It hardens into a semi-rigid surface suitable for shed floors, non-structural pathways, and temporary pads. It does not meet code for load-bearing foundations, driveways, or any structural application.

Can You Order Half a Yard of Concrete from a Ready-Mix Plant?

Most ready-mix plants accept orders below 1 yard but charge short-load fees that make small orders expensive — typically $50 to $100 per yard under a 3-yard minimum.

A half-yard order often costs $200 to $300 after surcharges, compared to $35 to $50 in bagged concrete materials for the same volume. For orders under 1 cubic yard, purchasing 80-pound bags and using a portable mixer eliminates short-load penalties and gives full control over timing.

How Much Does Colored or Stamped Concrete Cost Per Yard?

Integral color additive costs $15 to $30 per yard on top of the base ready-mix price. Stamped concrete runs $12 to $25 per square foot installed, including labor, stamps, release agent, and sealer.

A 20 × 20-foot stamped patio (400 square feet) typically costs $4,800 to $10,000 installed. The wide range reflects pattern complexity, number of colors, and geographic labor rates. Acid staining after the pour costs $2 to $6 per square foot and offers a lower-cost alternative to integral color on existing or new slabs.