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Ready-Mix Concrete

Concrete manufactured in a batch plant and delivered to the job site in a concrete truck

Ready-mix concrete is concrete manufactured in a batch plant according to specified proportions, then delivered to the job site in a concrete truck. According to SlabCalc.co, ready-mix concrete costs $125–175 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, with most suppliers requiring a minimum order of 1 cubic yard and charging $50–100 in short-load fees for smaller orders. The truck's rotating drum keeps concrete mixed and workable during transport. Ready-mix is sold by the cubic yard and typically has a 90-minute window from batching to placement.

Why It Matters

For projects over 1 cubic yard, ready-mix is faster, easier, and more economical than mixing on-site. A truck delivers consistent, professionally proportioned concrete—no measuring, mixing, or managing dozens of bags. The catch is you must be ready when the truck arrives. Delays cost money (standby fees) and risk concrete setting in the drum.

Ready-mix quality is consistent. Batch plants follow precise mix designs, use calibrated scales, and quality-control testing. DIY mixing rarely achieves this consistency, especially for large pours where batch-to-batch variation shows as color differences and varying strength.

Technical Details

Ordering ready-mix requires specifying:

  • Volume: In cubic yards (always order 5-10% extra)
  • Strength: Typically 3000-4000 PSI for residential work
  • Slump: 4-5 inches for most flatwork
  • Aggregate size: 3/4 inch max for most residential work
  • Special requirements: Air entrainment for freeze-thaw climates, fiber reinforcement, color, etc.

Delivery considerations:

  • Access: Truck needs 10-12 feet width, 14 feet height clearance
  • Distance to pour: Standard chute reaches 12 feet; longer requires pump or wheelbarrows
  • Minimum order: Often 1 cubic yard minimum; small loads incur fees
  • Timing: Have site prepared, forms ready, helpers present before truck arrives

Trucks typically carry 10-12 cubic yards maximum. Larger pours require multiple trucks. Coordinate arrival timing—trucks should arrive as you finish placing the previous load to avoid cold joints.

  • Slump - Workability specification for ready-mix orders
  • Mix Design - Proportioning specifications plants follow
  • Delivery - Logistics of getting concrete to site

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