How to use the ready mix concrete calculator calculator
- 1
Size the pour
Enter the area and thickness, or tick the known-volume box if you already have a cubic-yard figure from your own take-off or from the concrete calculator.
- 2
Add an allowance
Ready-mix is difficult to top up once the truck has gone, so many people order slightly above the calculated figure. Choose your own percentage based on how level the subgrade is and how confident you are in the measurements.
- 3
Enter your quoted price per cubic yard
Use the price the supplier quoted for your mix, your quantity, and your location. YardCalc does not publish concrete prices, because they vary too much for a general figure to be useful.
- 4
Add delivery and any other fixed fees
Enter whatever flat charges appear on the quote. These are listed separately in the result so you can see how much of the total they represent.
- 5
Confirm the order with the supplier
Take the volume, the mix, and the schedule to your supplier and confirm the increments they deliver in, how partial loads are handled, and what access they need. See the ordering checklist for the full list.
Formula
Estimated total = (cubic yards x your price per cubic yard) + delivery + other fees
The volume comes from geometry. Every currency figure is one you enter.
Worked example
A 600 square foot pour at 6 inches, with a 5 percent allowance, at a quoted $170 per cubic yard and a $120 delivery fee
- 1Find the volume: 600 x 6 / 324 = 11.11 cubic yards.
- 2Apply the allowance: 11.11 x 1.05 = 11.67 cubic yards.
- 3Material subtotal: 11.67 x $170 = $1,983.33.
- 4Add the delivery fee: $1,983.33 + $120 = $2,103.33.
The estimated total is $2,103.33 for about 11.67 cubic yards. The $170 price and $120 fee are the figures entered for this example, not published rates.
Worked examples
How the fee weighs on a small order
A 1 cubic yard order at the same entered price and the same $120 delivery fee
- 1Material: 1 x $170 = $170.
- 2Add the fee: $170 + $120 = $290.
- 3Effective delivered rate: $290 / 1 = $290 per cubic yard.
On a single cubic yard the fixed fee raises the effective rate by 71 percent. On the 11.67 cubic yard order above the same fee adds only about $10 per cubic yard.
Converting a bag estimate to a delivered order
A project previously estimated at 250 cubic feet
- 1Convert to cubic yards: 250 / 27 = 9.26 cubic yards.
- 2Apply a 5 percent allowance: 9.26 x 1.05 = 9.72 cubic yards.
- 3At an entered $170 per cubic yard: 9.72 x $170 = $1,652.78.
The delivered order is about 9.72 cubic yards. Suppliers work in cubic yards, so converting before you call avoids confusion.
Why suppliers quote by the cubic yard
Ready-mix plants batch and bill by volume, and the cubic yard is the standard unit for that in the United States. Trucks are loaded to a volume, quotes are given per cubic yard, and delivery tickets record cubic yards.
That makes the cubic yard the number to bring to the conversation. A supplier asked for a quantity in cubic feet, or in bags, will convert it before doing anything else, and a conversion done twice is a conversion that can go wrong.
It also means the divide-by-324 shortcut is worth having in your head. Square feet times thickness in inches, divided by 324, gives cubic yards directly, so you can sanity-check a quantity without a calculator while standing on site.
Volume calculation for a delivered order
The volume calculation is the same geometry used everywhere else on the site: area multiplied by thickness, converted to cubic yards. What changes for a delivered order is how much the answer matters at the margins.
With bags, a shortfall means another trip to the store. With ready-mix, a shortfall means either a second delivery, which usually carries its own charge, or a cold joint where the pour had to stop. That asymmetry is why ready-mix orders are commonly placed slightly above the calculated figure.
YardCalc does not set that allowance for you. How much to add depends on the subgrade, the size of the pour, how carefully it was measured, and what a shortfall would cost you on that particular job. The allowance field applies whatever percentage you choose and shows both the base and adjusted figures.
Delivery and fixed fees
Fixed charges behave differently from material cost, and on small orders they dominate. The examples above show the same $120 fee adding $10 per cubic yard on an 11.67 yard order and $120 per cubic yard on a single yard.
Because of that, comparing suppliers on the headline rate per cubic yard alone can mislead. The number that matters is the delivered total for your actual volume, which is why the calculator lists the material subtotal, each fee, and the total as separate lines.
What charges apply, and what they are called, varies between suppliers. YardCalc does not publish or assume any of them, including minimum quantities, short-load charges, waiting-time charges, or Saturday rates. Enter the ones on your own quote.
Common mistakes
What goes wrong on ready-mix orders:
- Ordering the exact geometric figure with no allowance on a pour that cannot be topped up.
- Quoting the supplier a figure in cubic feet or bags rather than cubic yards.
- Comparing suppliers on the per-yard rate without including delivery in the comparison.
- Assuming a minimum order or truck capacity rather than asking.
- Booking a continuous pour without checking how fast consecutive loads can arrive.
- Forgetting to check truck access, overhead clearance, and chute reach before the delivery date.
- Not having the crew, forms, and reinforcement ready when the concrete arrives.
Material subtotal arithmetic by entered price and volume
A multiplication grid showing the material subtotal for a given volume at a given price. These prices are arithmetic examples chosen to span a range, not market rates, published averages, or quotes. Enter the price your own supplier gives you, and remember that fees are added on top of these figures.
| Price you enter | 1 cu yd | 2 cu yd | 5 cu yd | 10 cu yd | 15 cu yd | 20 cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $120 per cu yd | $120 | $240 | $600 | $1,200 | $1,800 | $2,400 |
| $140 per cu yd | $140 | $280 | $700 | $1,400 | $2,100 | $2,800 |
| $160 per cu yd | $160 | $320 | $800 | $1,600 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| $180 per cu yd | $180 | $360 | $900 | $1,800 | $2,700 | $3,600 |
| $200 per cu yd | $200 | $400 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much ready-mix concrete do I need?
- Calculate the volume from your measurements: square feet times thickness in inches, divided by 324, gives cubic yards. A 600 square foot pour at 6 inches is 11.11 cubic yards before any allowance. Enter your own dimensions above.
- How much does a yard of ready-mix concrete cost?
- YardCalc does not publish concrete prices. Ready-mix pricing varies by mix design, order size, season, fuel costs, and distance from the plant, so the only figure worth using is the one your supplier quotes. See the yard of concrete cost guide for what drives the variation.
- What is the minimum concrete order?
- That is set by each supplier and is not something YardCalc publishes or assumes. Minimums, short-load charges, and how partial loads are handled all vary, so ask your supplier directly.
- How much extra ready-mix should I order?
- There is no universal figure. Because a delivered pour is hard to top up, many people order somewhat above the calculated volume, but how much depends on the subgrade, the size of the pour, and how carefully it was measured. Use the allowance field to apply your own judgment.
- How many cubic yards does a concrete truck hold?
- Truck capacity varies by vehicle and by local weight limits, so YardCalc does not state a figure. Ask your supplier what their trucks carry and how they would split your order.
- Can I use this if I already know my volume?
- Yes. Tick the known-volume box and enter your cubic yards directly, then add your price and fees.
Volume is calculated from your measurements and converted at exactly 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. Prices and fees are yours alone: YardCalc publishes no concrete price, delivery charge, order minimum, or truck capacity. Concrete calculations estimate material quantity from geometry and user-entered values. Confirm mix design, thickness, reinforcement, code requirements, bag yield, delivery, and final order quantity with the appropriate supplier or professional.
Results are planning estimates. Last reviewed 2026-07-28.