How Much Does Concrete Delivery Cost?
Delivered ready-mix concrete costs $125–175 per cubic yard in 2026, plus a $50–100 short-load fee on orders under about 4 yards. That puts 1 yard at $175–275, 6 yards at $750–1,050, and 10 yards (a full truck) at $1,250–1,750 before fuel surcharges, weekend fees, or a pump truck. The table below prices every common order size from 1 to 20 yards.
Concrete delivery costs $125–175 per cubic yard for standard 3,000–4,000 PSI ready-mix in 2026, and the truck trip is built into that price once you order about 4 yards or more. Below that, suppliers add a $50–100 short-load fee, which is why a single yard delivered costs $175–275 while 6 yards costs $750–1,050 and a full 10-yard truck costs $1,250–1,750. Work out your yardage first with the concrete slab calculator, then find your order size in the table below.
Concrete Delivery Cost by Yards Ordered
This table uses the same base pricing as our concrete cost per yard guide: $125–175 per cubic yard, plus a $50–100 short-load fee on orders under 4 yards. The "delivered total" is concrete plus short-load fee only; fuel surcharges, weekend delivery, distance, and pump fees are covered in the next section.
| Yards Ordered | Concrete ($125–175/yd) | Short-Load Fee | Delivered Total | Effective $/Yard | Covers at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | $125–175 | $50–100 | $175–275 | $175–275 | ~81 sq ft |
| 1.5 yd³ | $188–263 | $50–100 | $238–363 | $158–242 | ~122 sq ft |
| 2 yd³ | $250–350 | $50–100 | $300–450 | $150–225 | ~162 sq ft |
| 3 yd³ | $375–525 | $50–100 | $425–625 | $142–208 | ~243 sq ft |
| 4 yd³ | $500–700 | usually none | $500–700 | $125–175 | ~324 sq ft |
| 5 yd³ | $625–875 | none | $625–875 | $125–175 | ~405 sq ft |
| 6 yd³ | $750–1,050 | none | $750–1,050 | $125–175 | ~486 sq ft |
| 7 yd³ | $875–1,225 | none | $875–1,225 | $125–175 | ~567 sq ft |
| 8 yd³ | $1,000–1,400 | none | $1,000–1,400 | $125–175 | ~648 sq ft |
| 9 yd³ | $1,125–1,575 | none | $1,125–1,575 | $125–175 | ~729 sq ft |
| 10 yd³ | $1,250–1,750 | none | $1,250–1,750 | $125–175 | ~810 sq ft |
| 12 yd³ | $1,500–2,100 | none | $1,500–2,100 | $125–175 | ~972 sq ft |
| 15 yd³ | $1,875–2,625 | none | $1,875–2,625 | $125–175 | ~1,215 sq ft |
| 20 yd³ | $2,500–3,500 | none | $2,500–3,500 | $125–175 | ~1,620 sq ft |
Coverage uses 81 sq ft per cubic yard at 4 inches thick (27 cu ft ÷ 0.333 ft). Some suppliers set the short-load threshold at 5 yards instead of 4; if yours does, add $50–100 to the 4-yard row. Near a full truck (9–10 yards), many plants discount $5–15 per yard, which brings the effective price to roughly $135–155 per yard.
What Gets Added to a Concrete Delivery Bill
The per-yard price covers the concrete and a standard trip. These charges sit on top of it, and they are where most small-order quotes jump:
| Charge | Typical Cost | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Short-load fee | $50–100 per load | Orders under about 3–4 yards |
| Fuel surcharge | $20–50 per delivery | Most suppliers, varies with diesel price |
| Saturday / overtime delivery | $50–100 | Weekend, early-morning, or late-day slots |
| Extra distance | $5–15 per mile | Beyond the plant's standard radius (often 20 miles) |
| Standby time | $1–2 per minute | After 5–10 minutes of free unloading time |
| Washout | $20–75 | If you have no on-site washout area |
| Pump truck | $150–500+ | Pour is out of reach of the truck chute |
| Higher strength (5,000+ PSI) | +$10–20 per yard | Structural or heavy-duty pours |
| Fiber, color, or air-entrainment | +$15–40 per yard | Special mixes |
A realistic small-order example: 2 yards for a walkway at $150/yd ($300), a $75 short-load fee, and a $35 fuel surcharge comes to $410, or about $205 per yard. The same supplier's 6-yard driveway order at $150/yd with the same fuel surcharge comes to $935, or about $156 per yard.
Delivered Cost for a Full Truck
"Concrete truck cost" usually means the price of a full load. A standard ready-mix truck carries about 8–10 cubic yards, so a full truck costs roughly $1,000–1,750 delivered at $125–175 per yard, with no short-load fee. You never pay for the truck itself; the trip is priced into the concrete.
| Truck Load | Yards | Delivered Cost | Typical Project (4 in thick) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter load | 2–3 yd³ | $300–625 (incl. short-load fee) | Walkway, small patio, shed pad |
| Half load | 4–5 yd³ | $500–875 | 12×24 patio, single-car pad |
| Full load | 8–10 yd³ | $1,000–1,750 | 20×30 slab, two-car driveway |
| Two trucks | 12–20 yd³ | $1,500–3,500 | 30×30 slab, large driveway or shop floor |
Once an order goes past one truck, ask the plant to dispatch the loads back-to-back. A long gap between trucks risks a cold joint where the first load has already started to set, and each extra truck may carry its own fuel surcharge.
Delivered Concrete Cost for Common Projects
Most people search by yards, but start from the project. These orders assume a 4-inch slab plus roughly 10% extra for waste and uneven subgrade, priced at $125–175 per yard with a short-load fee where the order falls under 4 yards.
| Project (4 in thick) | Exact Volume | Order | Delivered Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 patio or shed pad | 1.23 yd³ | 1.5 yd³ | $238–363 |
| 12×16 patio | 2.37 yd³ | 2.5 yd³ | $363–538 |
| 20×20 slab | 4.94 yd³ | 5.5 yd³ | $688–963 |
| 24×24 garage slab | 7.11 yd³ | 8 yd³ | $1,000–1,400 |
| 30×30 slab | 11.11 yd³ | 12 yd³ | $1,500–2,100 |
These are concrete-only numbers. Installed cost, with forms, base, labor, and finishing, typically runs $6–12 per square foot; the backyard concrete cost guide and concrete patio cost calculator cover the full project.
Regional Differences in Delivered Price
Ready-mix prices move with local competition, haul distance, and wage levels. These are the regional per-yard ranges from our cost per yard guide; multiply by your yardage to adjust the table above.
| Region | Delivered Price per Yard | 6 Yards | 10 Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | $120–150 | $720–900 | $1,200–1,500 |
| Midwest | $125–160 | $750–960 | $1,250–1,600 |
| Northeast | $140–180 | $840–1,080 | $1,400–1,800 |
| West Coast | $150–200 | $900–1,200 | $1,500–2,000 |
| Rural areas | +$10–20 for distance | +$60–120 | +$100–200 |
For installed project pricing by city (concrete plus labor, forms, and finishing), see the SlabCalc concrete cost index, which is built from state DOT bid records and BLS wage data.
Delivered Ready-Mix vs Bags vs Pump
Delivery is not always the cheapest route. Bagged concrete has no minimum and no fees, but 80-lb bags work out to roughly $290 per yard (45 bags per yard). That makes bags cheaper below about 1 yard and ready-mix cheaper above 1.5–2 yards.
| Order Size | Cheapest Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 0.5 yd³ | 80-lb bags | Under ~23 bags, no delivery or short-load fee |
| 0.5–1 yd³ | Bags or short load | Bags ~$145–290 vs $175–275 delivered |
| 1.5–3 yd³ | Ready-mix with short-load fee | $238–625 delivered vs $435–870 in bags |
| 4 yd³ and up | Ready-mix, no short-load fee | $125–175 per yard, and no hand-mixing |
| Any size, no truck access | Ready-mix + pump | Chute only reaches about 15–18 ft |
The truck's chute reaches about 15–18 feet from where it parks. Backyard pours behind a house, over a fence, or down a slope usually need a pump or a wheelbarrow crew; see bagged vs ready-mix vs pump truck for the decision rules and concrete weight if you are checking whether a loaded truck (about 4,050 lb per yard of concrete on board) can cross your driveway.
How to Order Concrete Delivery Without Overpaying
- Calculate yards, then add 5–10%. Run your dimensions through the concrete slab calculator. Running short means a second delivery with a second short-load fee.
- Ask for the all-in delivered price. Request the per-yard price plus short-load threshold, fuel surcharge, free unload time, and washout policy in one number.
- Round up to the short-load threshold when it's close. If you need 3.25 yards and the threshold is 4, ordering 4 can cost less than 3.25 yards plus a $50–100 fee.
- Book a weekday. Tuesday–Thursday avoids the $50–100 Saturday premium and is easier to schedule.
- Be ready when the truck arrives. Forms set, access cleared, and helpers on hand. ASTM C94 calls for ready-mix to be discharged within 90 minutes of water being added, and standby time bills by the minute.
- Specify the mix. 3,000 PSI is standard for patios and walkways; 4,000 PSI (about $5–10 more per yard) is typical for driveways and garage floors. See what PSI concrete do I need.
Key Takeaways
- Delivered ready-mix costs $125–175 per cubic yard; the trip is included once you pass the short-load threshold.
- Orders under about 4 yards add a $50–100 short-load fee, so small orders cost $150–275 per effective yard.
- 6 yards delivered: $750–1,050. 10 yards: $1,250–1,750. A full 8–10 yard truck: $1,000–1,750.
- Budget $20–50 for fuel, $50–100 for Saturdays, and $150–500 for a pump if the chute can't reach.
- For the full installed cost of a slab, patio, or driveway, use the concrete cost calculator or the patio cost calculator.