How Much Does Concrete Cost?
The honest answer is "it depends what you're counting," and confusing the two main numbers is what leads to sticker shock. Material-only ready-mix runs roughly $125–$165 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, before fees. Installed, finished concrete — including labor, forms, finishing, and reinforcement — commonly runs $5–$10 or more per square foot. Same material, very different totals, because most of the installed cost is labor, not concrete.
What's actually on a ready-mix bill
The per-yard rate is only the start. Expect a delivery fee (often $60 or more), and for small orders — typically under about 4 cubic yards — a short-load fee on top. Fuel surcharges, Saturday or after-hours fees, and wait-time charges can all appear too. Those fees are precisely why bagged concrete wins on small jobs: there's no delivery minimum to amortize.
| Cost type | Typical 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Ready-mix, material only | $125–$165 / cubic yard |
| Delivery fee | ~$60+ |
| Short-load fee (under ~4 yd) | added on small orders |
| Bagged 80-lb mix | ~$6–$7 / bag (~$270 / yd) |
| Installed & finished | $5–$10+ / square foot |
Bags vs truck — the real crossover
Bagged 80-lb mix at about $6–$7 each works out to roughly $270 per cubic yard in material — far more per yard than truck concrete — but with no minimum, so it's cheaper in total on small jobs. The crossover sits around 1 cubic yard: below it, bags usually win; above about 2 yards, the truck wins on both money and labor. Run your size and local prices through the bags-vs-ready-mix calculator to see your break-even.
Don't forget the rest of the material list
Concrete itself is rarely the whole bill. A proper pour also needs a gravel base, usually reinforcement, and forming lumber, plus finishing tools. The cost estimator rolls concrete, gravel, rebar and mesh into one editable material total. One caveat: prices vary 30% or more by region and over time, so always confirm against a local quote before you budget.