Concrete Cost Calculator
A {length}×{width} ft slab poured {thickness} in thick needs about {cubicYards} cubic yards — roughly {total} installed at ${pricePerYard}/yard for material and ${laborPerSqFt}/sq ft for labor, plus {delivery} delivery.
Estimated cost for common slab sizes
| Slab size | Cubic yards | Material | Labor | Delivery | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 ft, 4 in | 1.36 | $204 | $300 | $150 | $654 |
| 12×12 ft, 4 in | 1.96 | $293 | $432 | $150 | $875 |
| 20×20 ft, 4 in | 5.43 | $815 | $1,200 | $150 | $2,165 |
| 24×24 ft, 4 in (garage) | 7.82 | $1,173 | $1,728 | $150 | $3,051 |
| 5×50 ft (sidewalk), 4 in | 3.40 | $509 | $750 | $150 | $1,409 |
| 20×40 ft (driveway), 4 in | 10.86 | $1,630 | $2,400 | $150 | $4,180 |
| 24×60 ft (driveway), 5 in | 24.44 | $3,667 | $4,320 | $150 | $8,137 |
Assumes $150 per cubic yard material, $3 per sq ft labor, a flat $150 delivery fee, and 10% waste. Your local rates will differ — update the calculator inputs with quotes from your area.
How the math works
Material cost scales with volume — cubic yards times your local price per yard. Labor is typically quoted per square foot of surface poured and finished, independent of thickness, since a finisher's time mostly depends on surface area, not depth. Delivery is usually a flat fee up to a minimum order size.
material cost = cubic yards × price per yard
labor cost = (length × width) × price per sq ft
total = material + labor + delivery
This gives a materials-and-labor estimate, not a full bid. Forms, rebar or mesh, excavation, and a gravel base are common add-ons that a contractor's quote would include separately.
What actually drives regional price differences
| Driver | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Haul distance from the plant | Ready-mix has a short working life; plants serve a limited radius, and remote sites pay for the drive |
| Aggregate availability | Regions without local quarries import aggregate, and that cost is baked into every yard |
| Local demand | A construction boom tightens plant capacity — this is why metro pricing can exceed rural pricing for identical material |
| Mix specification | Strength, air entrainment, fiber, and cold-weather accelerators are all priced separately |
| Labor market | Where the quote includes placement |
| Seasonality | Cold-weather work adds cost for heating, accelerators, and protection |
| Plant competition | Number of suppliers within delivery radius |
People compare a per-yard number, then get a bill that doesn't match — usually because the gap is made of line items that were never per-yard charges to begin with: short-load fees below a minimum quantity (common on small residential pours), delivery or trip charges, standby time if the truck sits waiting past its allotted unloading window, after-hours or winter surcharges, admixtures (accelerator, retarder, fiber, color) priced separately on top of the base mix, a pump or conveyor if one's needed — a separate contractor with its own minimum — and fuel or environmental surcharges that move with the market. None of these are hidden fees exactly; they're just not part of the per-yard figure this calculator gives you.
Reading a contractor's itemized quote against this number
The material line — yards times unit price — is the one this calculator is built to check; compare the quoted yardage against your own calculation. Beyond that, look for whether a waste allowance is stated (a modest one is normal; a large undisclosed one is worth asking about), delivery and short-load charges, site prep and excavation (often the largest single number on a small job), base material and compaction, forms, reinforcement and its placement, the placement and finishing labor itself (usually the biggest labor line and where finish quality lives), joint cutting, and curing or cold/hot-weather protection.
A contractor's price is not the material price plus a simple markup — on a typical small residential job, material is usually a minority of the total cost. If you take this calculator's per-yard figure, multiply by your yardage, and expect that number to approximate a full quote, you'll likely conclude every contractor is overcharging, which isn't a fair comparison. The right use of this figure is to check the material line inside an itemized quote — not to estimate the whole job.
Before you buy
- Get at least two or three local quotes — labor rates for concrete finishing vary more by region and contractor than material prices do.
- Ask whether a quote includes the gravel base, forms, and any rebar or mesh, or whether those are separate line items on top of the number here.
- Small orders under a supplier's truck minimum (often 3 to 5 cubic yards) may carry a short-load surcharge on top of the normal delivery fee — ask before you order.
- Decorative finishes — stamped, colored, or exposed-aggregate concrete — typically add $2 to $8 per square foot on top of a basic broom finish.
- Use the slab calculator first if you just need the concrete volume without a cost estimate.
Common questions
How much does concrete cost per cubic yard?
Ready-mix typically runs $110 to $170 per cubic yard for the material alone, depending on region and mix strength. Installed cost, including labor and finishing, runs considerably higher — often $6 to $12 per square foot for a basic 4-inch slab.
What does a concrete delivery fee usually cover?
The truck, driver and short-load fees if your order is under the supplier's minimum, typically 3 to 5 cubic yards. Delivery fees commonly run $75 to $200 and are often flat regardless of order size within a normal range.
Is it cheaper to pour concrete yourself or hire a contractor?
DIY saves the labor line item — often half or more of the installed cost — but you still pay for material, delivery, forms, and any equipment rental. For anything larger than a small pad, a contractor's speed and finish quality usually justify the labor cost.
Why do labor costs vary so much by region?
Labor rates track local cost of living and demand for skilled finishers. Coastal and high-cost-of-living metro areas often run $4 to $6 per square foot for labor, while rural areas can be closer to $2 to $3.
Does this calculator include rebar, forms or excavation?
No. It covers concrete material, a labor-per-square-foot allowance, and delivery. Forms, rebar or mesh, excavation, and any gravel base are separate costs to add on top.