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Concrete & Masonry

Concrete Yard Calculator

This concrete yard calculator tells you exactly how many yards of ready-mix to order; read our concrete installation guide before booking a truck. Use this when you are ordering ready-mix by the yard. It converts your dimensions to cubic yards, adds waste, rounds up to the increment your plant sells, and estimates truckloads and cost — including the short-load fee many suppliers charge on small orders.

Results from this concrete yard calculator are planning estimates; confirm quantities and prices with your supplier or contractor before you order.

Enter your project

ft
in
m
ft
in
m
in
cm
%

Extra for cuts, breakage and spillage.

yd³

Many mixer trucks carry about 8–10 yd³. Ask your plant.

$/yd³

Default $137 is a typical national average for 4,000 psi ready-mix. Replace with your quote.

yd³
$

Results

Your results will appear here

Enter your measurements and press Calculate. Defaults show a typical example.

How to use the concrete yard calculator

  1. Enter the pour dimensions and waste allowance.
  2. Pick the increment your ready-mix plant sells in.
  3. Enter truck capacity and price per yard from your supplier.
  4. If your plant has a minimum load, enter it with the fee to see the true cost of a small order.

Formula

Yards needed = L × W × (T ÷ 12) × (1 + waste) ÷ 27. Order = needed, rounded up to the supplier increment. Trucks = order ÷ truck capacity, rounded up.

Worked example

A 24 × 20 ft driveway section at 5 in with 5% waste needs 7.78 yd³; with ½-yard increments you order 8 yd³ — one truck. At $137/yd³ that is $1,096 before delivery extras.

Tips for using the concrete yard calculator

  • Ask the plant for its minimum order and short-load fee; ordering a little more can cost less than paying a small-load charge.
  • Confirm truck access, chute reach and whether you need a pump before the delivery date.
  • Have extra forms or a small pad ready so leftover concrete has somewhere useful to go.
Fresh concrete in a dug footing next to bundled steel rebar at a building site

Concrete Yard Calculator FAQs

How much does a yard of concrete cost?

Industry estimates put an average of $137 per cubic yard for 4,000 psi ready-mix and a typical range of $125–$165. Prices vary by region, mix and season — always get a local quote.

What is a short-load fee?

A charge many plants add when an order is below their minimum (often several yards), because the truck trip costs the same. Combining pours or ordering bags can avoid it.

How many square feet does a yard of concrete cover?

At 4 in thick, one cubic yard covers 81 sq ft; at 5 in about 64.8 sq ft; at 6 in, 54 sq ft.

Estimate before you call a contractor

Run the numbers with our free calculators so you can compare bids with confidence.

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