Base concrete price
$125-165/yd3
Mixing, batching, and standard ready-mix material. Excludes pump, waiting, surcharges, and tax.
Ready-mix delivery estimator · 2026
Ready Mix Concrete Price Calculator 2026: Full Delivery Cost
Calculate ready-mix concrete delivery price with state pricing, PSI premium, short load fees, pump truck, waiting time, surcharges, tax, and supplier comparison.
Ready-mix concrete prices 2026 quick reference
| Item | Unit | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete (3,000 PSI) | per yd3 | $125-145 |
| Concrete (3,500 PSI) | per yd3 | $133-153 |
| Concrete (4,000 PSI) | per yd3 | $143-163 |
| Concrete (4,500 PSI) | per yd3 | $155-175 |
| Short load fee | < 5 yd3 | $50-150 |
| Pump truck | per day | $350-600 |
| Pumping fee | per yd3 | $3-8 |
| Waiting time | per minute | $1-3 |
| Fuel surcharge | per load | $15-50 |
| Full truck load | 10 yd3 | $1,250-1,650 |
National average 2026. Varies about 30% by state. Prices exclude tax, pump truck, waiting charges, and delivery surcharges.
Short load fee warning
Most ready-mix suppliers charge a short load fee when you order less than their minimum, usually 5-8 yd3. Typical fee: $50-150 per load. This can add 10-30% to small orders, so the calculator automatically compares the fee against upgrading to the minimum.
What a truck load really costs
Concrete bodyyd3 x state price + PSI
Delivery frictionshort load, pump, waiting
Surchargesfuel, environmental, weekend
Taxstate/local sales tax
Step 1: Concrete order
Order quantity: 4.00 yd3. Below 5.00 yd3 minimum, short load fee applies.
Step 2: Location and supplier
Step 3: Delivery options
Step 4: Surcharges and tax
Step 5: Supplier comparison
Results
3.50 yd3 needed · 4.00 yd3 order
Grand total
$1,214$304/yd3 all-in
Short load
Applies$75 fee
Tax
$797.0% sales tax
Panel A: Concrete cost
Order quantity4.00 yd3 x $135/yd3
$540Short load feeBelow 5.00 yd3 supplier minimum
$75Panel B: Pump truck
Line pump daily rateDaily pump truck allowance
$425Pumping volume fee4.00 yd3 x $5/yd3
$20Subtotal pumpDaily rate plus per-yard fee
$445Panel C: Waiting time
Free time4.00 yd3 x 5.0 min/yd3 = 20.0 min
$0Waiting charge25.0 chargeable minutes x $2/min
$50Panel D: Surcharges
Fuel surchargePer-load estimate
$25Environmental feeNot selected
$0Saturday / holidayWeekday delivery
$0Subtotal surchargesFuel, environmental, and schedule fees
$25Panel E: Tax
Subtotal before taxConcrete, short load, pump, waiting, and surcharges
$1,135Sales tax7.0% applied to subtotal
$79Panel F: Total cost summary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Concrete | $540 |
| Short load fee | $75 |
| Pump truck | $445 |
| Waiting time | $50 |
| Surcharges | $25 |
| Sales tax | $79 |
| Grand total | $1,214 |
Panel G: Ordering tip
Keeping 4.00 yd3 is cheaper than upgrading to 5.00 yd3, but upgrading gives extra margin if yield or grade varies.
Upgrade volume
1.00 yd3To meet minimum
Upgrade cost
$144Extra concrete after tax
Net saving
-$64Positive means upgrade wins
Supplier comparison
| Supplier | $/yd3 | Concrete | Total | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Ready Mix Co. | $132 | $528 | $1,202 | $13 |
| Regional Concrete | $138 | $552 | $1,227 | -$13 |
| National Supplier | $145 | $580 | $1,257 | -$43 |
Ready-Mix Concrete Prices by State 2026 (3,000 PSI, Delivered)
| Region | States | Price range | Avg/yd3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost | MS, AR, OK, KS | $118-128 | $123 |
| Below avg | TX, FL, GA, AL, TN, SC | $128-138 | $133 |
| Average | OH, IN, MO, KY, NC, VA | $135-148 | $141 |
| Above avg | IL, MI, MN, WI, CO, UT | $142-155 | $148 |
| High cost | CA, OR, WA, NJ, CT, MD | $155-172 | $163 |
| Premium | NY metro, AK, HI | $172-210 | $185 |
Prices exclude pump truck, short load fee, and tax. Add $8/yd3 for 3,500 PSI, $18/yd3 for 4,000 PSI, and $30/yd3 for 4,500 PSI.
Ready-Mix Concrete: Complete Fee Structure Guide 2026
PSI premium
+$0 to +$30/yd3
3,000 PSI +$0, 3,500 PSI +$8, 4,000 PSI +$18, 4,500 PSI +$30.
Short load fee
$50-150/load
Applies below supplier minimum, usually 5-8 yd3, because mixer trucks are inefficient for partial loads.
Pump truck
$350-1,200/day
Line pump for most residential work; boom pump for longer reach, tight sites, or multistory pours.
Waiting charge
$1-3/min
Charged after free unloading time, commonly 5-7 minutes per cubic yard.
Fuel surcharge
$15-50/load
Varies with diesel prices and may not be disclosed until quote review.
Environmental fee
$10-25/load
Washout and disposal fee for drum washout water.
Saturday / holiday
$50-150/load
Weekend and holiday delivery surcharge.
Sales tax
0-10%+
Varies by state and local jurisdiction; applied to concrete and most fees.
Ready-Mix Concrete Price FAQ
How much does ready-mix concrete cost per yard in 2026?+
Ready-mix concrete costs $125-165 per cubic yard nationally in 2026 for standard 3,000 PSI mix delivered, with a national average around $145/yd3. Higher PSI adds $8/yd3 for 3,500 PSI, $18/yd3 for 4,000 PSI, and $30/yd3 for 4,500 PSI. Your actual invoice can also include short load fees, pump truck, waiting charges, fuel surcharge, and tax.
What is a short load fee for concrete?+
A short load fee is a $50-150 surcharge charged when you order less than the supplier minimum, commonly 5-8 cubic yards. It can add 10-40% to small orders. This calculator automatically detects short loads and compares the fee against upgrading to the supplier minimum.
How much concrete does a ready-mix truck hold?+
A standard ready-mix truck usually holds 8-10 cubic yards. Some suppliers operate mini-mix trucks for 1-4 yd3 residential orders, but many standard trucks charge short load fees below 5 yd3.
What is the minimum order for ready-mix concrete?+
Many suppliers will deliver 1 yd3 or more, but they add a short load fee under 5-8 yd3. Some suppliers have a true minimum of 3-4 yd3. For orders under 1 yd3, pre-mixed bags are often cheaper.
How does concrete waiting time charge work?+
Suppliers typically include 5-7 minutes of unloading time per cubic yard. After that, waiting charges commonly run $1-3 per minute. Keep forms, tools, crew, and truck access ready before the truck arrives.
Do I need a pump truck for my concrete delivery?+
Use a pump truck when the mixer chute cannot reach the pour area, usually beyond 10-18 feet from the truck. Backyard pours, tight lots, long hose runs, and multistory work often need a line or boom pump.
How do I get the best price on ready-mix concrete?+
Get at least 3 quotes, order enough to avoid a short load fee when it makes financial sense, schedule on weekdays, have the crew ready to avoid waiting charges, and ask about seasonal or cash/check discounts.
Related concrete tools
Concrete CalculatorFind cubic yards before pricing delivery.Concrete Cost CalculatorEstimate total concrete project cost with labor.Concrete Driveway Cost CalculatorDriveway-specific demolition, gravel base, and finish pricing.Concrete Slab Cost CalculatorSlab, patio, garage, RV pad, and foundation slab pricing.Concrete Foundation Cost CalculatorFoundation type, frost line, excavation, and waterproofing costs.