Ready-mix concrete costs about $120 to $180 per cubic yard in the US in 2026, before delivery fees, and about £125 to £160 per cubic metre in the UK. Small orders cost more per yard because fixed fees spread across fewer yards. Treat every figure as an example and confirm rates with local suppliers.
Prices were checked against industry price guides for 2026 in October 2026; they are starting points, not quotes.
How much ready-mix costs in the US
Most US suppliers price per cubic yard. The example range covers common residential mixes of roughly 3000 to 4000 PSI; stronger mixes cost more because cement is the expensive ingredient. Delivery usually sits on top, so ask what the quote includes before comparing.
| Volume (example material cost only) | At $120 per yd³ | At $150 per yd³ | At $180 per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | $120 | $150 | $180 |
| 2 yd³ | $240 | $300 | $360 |
| 3 yd³ | $360 | $450 | $540 |
| 5 yd³ | $600 | $750 | $900 |
| 10 yd³ | $1,200 | $1,500 | $1,800 |
Add delivery on top, plus 5 to 10% extra for waste. Try the concrete cost calculator to build an estimate from your own measurements.
Price by mix strength
Do not over-specify: a garden path does not need the same strength as a structural beam, and the stronger mix wastes money. Premiums below are examples; your plant sets its own numbers.
| Strength | Typical residential use | Example premium over 3,000 PSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2,500 PSI | Blinding, mass fill | Slightly less than base |
| 3,000 PSI | Patios, paths, shed bases | Base price |
| 3,500 PSI | Light driveways, garage floors | Small premium |
| 4,000 PSI | Driveways, footings, structural slabs | Moderate premium |
| 5,000 PSI | Heavy-duty and commercial work | Larger premium |
| Fibre-reinforced | Crack control in slabs | Add-on per yard |
| Coloured or decorative | Exposed or stamped concrete | Larger add-on per yard |
How much ready-mix costs in the UK
UK suppliers sell by the cubic metre. Example prices run about £125 to £160 per m³ for standard mixes in 2026, with stronger mixes and longer hauls costing more. So 2 m³ costs about £250 to £320 and 5 m³ about £625 to £800, before delivery. A cubic metre is about 1.31 cubic yards, so convert before comparing with US prices. The concrete cost calculator works in both metric and imperial units.
The small-order trap: why your invoice is higher than the guide price
A site says $150 per yard, you order 2 yards, and the invoice comes out near $270 per yard. Nothing is wrong: the guide price is material only, and your invoice added delivery plus a short-load fee for orders under the supplier minimum.
Worked example: 2 cubic yards at $150 per yard is $300 of material, plus $150 delivery and a $90 short-load fee: $540 total, or $270 per yard. The trap shrinks as the order grows:
| Order size | Material at $150/yd³ | Delivery | Short-load | Delivered total | True cost per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | $150 | $150 | $90 | $390 | $390 |
| 2 yd³ | $300 | $150 | $90 | $540 | $270 |
| 3 yd³ | $450 | $150 | $0 | $600 | $200 |
| 5 yd³ | $750 | $150 | $0 | $900 | $180 |
| 10 yd³ | $1,500 | $150 | $0 | $1,650 | $165 |
Every fee here is an example; ask your supplier for their real charges and run the same maths.
What drives the price up or down
Volume matters most: fixed costs spread across more yards, so a 10-yard pour costs less per yard than a 1-yard pour. Mix strength comes next: match the PSI or C rating to the job. Region matters too: urban plants charge more than rural ones, and two plants in the same town can differ, so get more than one quote. Watch for extras: delivery charge, short-load fee, fuel surcharge, pump hire, waiting-time charges, weekend premiums and admixtures.
Bags or ready-mix: where the crossover sits
For small jobs, bagged concrete is usually cheaper: you avoid delivery and short-load fees, and you mix only what you need. The crossover sits around one cubic yard. Below that, bags win; above it, ready-mix wins.
The bag maths: an 80 lb bag yields 0.60 ft³, so 45 bags make one cubic yard. A 60 lb bag yields 0.45 ft³ (60 per yard) and a 40 lb bag yields 0.30 ft³ (90 per yard).
Breakeven with example numbers: bags at an example store price of $6 per 80 lb bag, against ready-mix at $150 per yard plus the example fees above.
| Yardage | 80 lb bags needed | Example bag cost | Ready-mix delivered (example) | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 yd³ | 23 | $138 | $315 | Bags |
| 1 yd³ | 45 | $270 | $390 | Bags |
| 2 yd³ | 90 | $540 | $540 | About even |
| 3 yd³ | 135 | $810 | $600 | Ready-mix |
Money is only half the story. One cubic yard means hauling, opening and mixing 45 bags: a full day of heavy labour for two people, and the first batches start setting while you mix the last ones. Above one yard, the truck gives a more even result in a fraction of the time. Run your own numbers with the concrete bag calculator.
Worked examples: 5 common DIY projects
All examples use $150 per cubic yard, $150 example delivery, the $90 example short-load fee under 3 yards, and a 10% waste allowance.
- 10×10 ft patio at 4 in. 1.36 yd³, about $444 delivered. Bags are cheaper if you have the labour.
- Shed base 8×10 ft at 4 in. 1.09 yd³, about $404 delivered. Bags usually win at this size.
- Sidewalk 4×50 ft at 4 in. 2.72 yd³, about $648 delivered. The classic borderline case: price both options.
- 2-car driveway 20×20 ft at 6 in. 8.15 yd³, about $1,373 delivered. Ready-mix wins easily, and it fills one truck (trucks carry 8 to 10 yards).
- Garage floor 20×24 ft at 6 in. 9.78 yd³, about $1,617 delivered. One full truckload, ready-mix all the way.
Supplier quote comparison checklist
Use the same checklist for every supplier:
- Per-yard price and strength (PSI or C rating)
- Minimum load and short-load fee
- Delivery charge and free mileage
- Fuel surcharge, if charged separately
- Pump cost if the truck cannot reach the pour
- Free unloading window and per-minute charge after
- Weekend surcharge and admixture costs
Get at least two quotes.
Conclusion
Budget $120 to $180 per cubic yard in the US or £125 to £160 per cubic metre in the UK as a starting point, then adjust for strength, delivery and extras. Small orders cost far more per yard once fees are added, so measure carefully, add waste, and compare bags against ready-mix at around the one-yard mark. Estimate in four steps: measure the area and depth, work out the volume, add 5 to 10% waste, then multiply by your local per-yard price and add delivery.
FAQs
How much does one cubic yard of concrete cost in 2026?
About $120 to $180 per cubic yard in 2026, before delivery. That is an example range, not a quote: the final price depends on mix strength, order size, distance and extras.
Why did my small order cost $270 per yard when guides say $150?
The guide price is material only. Your invoice added delivery and usually a short-load fee under the supplier minimum. On a 2-yard order, $300 of material plus $150 delivery plus $90 short-load is $540, or $270 per yard.
How many bags of concrete make a yard?
45 bags of 80 lb concrete make one cubic yard (each bag yields 0.60 ft³). With 60 lb bags you need 60, and with 40 lb bags you need 90. Add 5 to 10% extra for waste.
What is the 90-minute rule for concrete?
Place and finish the concrete within about 90 minutes of the batch plant adding water. After that it starts to set and loses workability, which is why suppliers charge waiting-time fees for delayed pours.
How much does a full truckload of concrete cost?
About 8 to 10 cubic yards. At an example $150 per yard, an 8-yard load costs about $1,200 in material plus delivery, so roughly $1,350 delivered. Trucks do not run half price for half loads, which is why small orders attract short-load fees.
Why is a contractor’s per-square-foot price higher than the per-yard price?
The per-yard price is material only. A contractor’s per-square-foot price bundles sub-base, formwork, reinforcement, labour, equipment, finishing, curing and margin. Material is often less than half the finished price.
Conclusion
Budget $120 to $180 per cubic yard in the US or £125 to £160 per cubic metre in the UK as a starting point, then adjust for strength, delivery and extras. Small orders cost far more per yard once fees are added, so measure carefully, add waste, and compare bags against ready-mix at around the one-yard mark.