Enter the slab size and your supplier's price per yard to see the total, including short-load and delivery fees.
How the cost is worked out
Cubic yards = length × width × thickness (in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Order = yards + extra, rounded up to the supplier's step
Cost = order × price per yard + short-load fee + delivery + labor
Worked example
A 10 × 10 ft patio, 4 inches thick, is 1.235 cubic yards. With 10% extra that's 1.358, rounded up to 1.5 cubic yards. At $150 a yard the concrete costs $225. Because 1.5 yards is under the supplier's 5-yard minimum, a $60 short-load fee applies, for $285, or $2.85 per square foot before labor.
What does a yard of concrete cost?
Ready-mix prices depend heavily on where you live, the strength of the mix and fuel costs. US guides for 2025 and 2026 put standard ready-mix at roughly $130 to $180 per cubic yard, with higher prices in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and California. Small orders usually add a short-load fee (often $40 to $80 for orders under about 5 yards), and some suppliers charge separately for delivery or waiting time. Always get a local quote; the price field above is only a starting point.
Bags or ready-mix?
A cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb mix. For small jobs (a few post holes or a tiny pad), bags are simpler. Above about a cubic yard, ready-mix is usually cheaper once you count the bags, a mixer and the labor, and it gives a stronger, more even slab.
Limitations
- Not a contractor's bid: forms, gravel base, rebar or mesh, finishing, sealing and permits aren't included unless you add them as labor.
- Fees vary: some suppliers charge the short-load fee per missing yard rather than as a flat fee.
- Thickness: 4 inches suits patios and walkways; driveways are often 5 to 6 inches.
Sources
How we checked this
Before every update, this calculator is run in a real browser with these known answers, and it must match all of them:
- 10 × 10 × 4 in slab, $150/yd, 10% extra, $60 short load: $285.00 ✓
- Same: order rounds 1.358 cu yd up to 1.5 ✓
- Same: $2.85 per sq ft ✓
- 6 cu yd at $150, no extra: $900.00 with no short-load fee ✓
- Edge: thickness 0 asks for a thickness ✓
Last checked October 26, 2026. Spotted something wrong? The math is done in your browser with the formula shown on this page, so you can check any result by hand.
Questions people ask
How much is a yard of concrete?
Standard ready-mix generally costs about $130 to $180 per cubic yard in the US, plus any short-load or delivery fees. Prices vary a lot by region, so ask a local supplier.
How much does a 10 × 10 concrete slab cost?
At 4 inches thick it needs about 1.5 cubic yards with extra. At $150 a yard plus a $60 short-load fee, the concrete is about $285; professional installation adds labor.
What is a short-load fee?
A charge for ordering less than a full truck minimum, often around 5 cubic yards. It covers the truck and driver's time for a small delivery.
Is it cheaper to mix concrete yourself?
For under about a cubic yard, bags can be cheaper. For more than that, ready-mix usually wins once you count 45 bags per yard, a mixer and the work.
How much concrete do I need per square foot?
At 4 inches thick, one cubic yard covers 81 square feet. At 6 inches it covers 54 square feet.