How Much Does Concrete Delivery Cost?

Last Updated on May 10, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Having ready-mixed concrete efficiently delivered directly to construction sites represents one of the most substantial material transportation expenses involved in many residential and commercial building projects.

But what exactly should homebuilders, contractors, and do-it-yourselfers budget for when estimating the all-in costs associated with having wet concrete hauled to your job location?

This guide examines the typical baseline cost per cubic yard of having concrete delivered across common project sizes, explores the primary variables that influence pricing such as distance and minimum order requirements, compares the economics of ready-mix delivery versus on-site concrete mixing, provides tips to reduce costs through strategic ordering, and outlines best practices for vetting suppliers to find the optimum value. Let’s review the critical role that concrete delivery plays in construction first.

How Much Does Concrete Delivery Cost?

On average, having ready-mix concrete delivered typically costs $85 to $155+ per cubic yard depending on your location and specific order details. The concrete material itself ranges from $60 to $135 per cubic yard locally, but mandatory delivery fees from central batch plants add an additional $25 to $45 per yard on top to account for transportation time, fuel, and driver labor.

Concrete Material Itself: Typically ranges $60 – $135 per cubic yard depending on the exact specifications of the mix ordered. Basic general-use mixes are the most affordable.

With Delivery Fees: On average with transportation fees over 5-15 miles, the total cost per cubic yard delivered runs $85 – $155 including both the concrete and round-trip delivery from the batch plant. Even longer distances, minimum order requirements, specialized quick-drying blends, or on-site pumping services can increase prices further.

Fixr provides a detailed breakdown of the cost of concrete delivery in the US. According to the article, a short load concrete delivery costs $15 to $17 per cubic yard, with a full load delivery costing $150 to $170 for 10 yards of concrete. The article highlights that the cost of concrete delivery varies based on the size of the project, with smaller projects requiring less concrete and larger projects requiring more.

For example, a homeowner could pay between $500 and $1,000 to have concrete delivered for a deck and a pool, while a larger project like pouring a foundation might require 10 cubic yards of concrete at a cost of $1,310.

The HomeGuide website offers a comprehensive guide to concrete prices in the US. The article states that the average cost of concrete is $119 to $147 per cubic yard, which includes delivery up to 20 miles.

The article also highlights that the cost of concrete delivery can vary based on factors such as the distance from the mixing plant, the type of concrete needed, and the day of the week the delivery is made. For example, a full 10-yard truckload with delivery costs $1,169 to $1,444, which is enough to pour a 20×24 driveway.

LawnStarter provides a pricing guide for concrete in the US. According to the article, having ready-mix concrete delivered to your home typically costs an average of $117 per cubic yard or between $104 to $144 per cubic yard.

The article also highlights that the cost of concrete delivery can vary based on factors such as the distance from the mixing plant and the type of concrete needed. For example, a homeowner might pay $9.75 per mile over a set radius for delivery, and an additional fee for weekend delivery.

The ConcreteNetwork website offers a comprehensive guide to concrete prices in the US. According to the article, the nationwide concrete cost ranges between $140 and $170 or more per cubic yard. The article also highlights that the average ready mix price was $156.96 per cubic yard in the second quarter of 2023, and that prices vary based on location and project specifics.

Overview of Concrete Delivery

Having Mixed concrete expertly delivered to jobsites proves essential for:

• Pouring home, commercial, and industrial foundations – Deep footings and walls require many yards of concrete poured for load-bearing structural integrity.
• Constructing slabs – Garage, basement, and equipment pad slabs utilize concrete poured several inches thick to create durable flat surfaces.
• Building long-lasting driveways – Only hardened concrete reliably withstands decades of heavy vehicle driving and elemental exposure.
• Creating outdoor pathways and landscaping – Poured walkways and accents allow simple foot traffic circulation.
• Repairing deteriorating concrete – Cracked slabs, damaged steps, and more require fresh patching material.

While extremely strong and durable, concrete’s weight and mixing requirements necessitate professional transportation for most applications vs. limited onsite mixing.

Factors Impacting Pricing for Concrete Delivery

Several primary considerations determine the total fees quoted by suppliers for delivering concrete to your project site:

• Base cost of the concrete mix itself per cubic yard – Material production represents the largest cost portion, averaging between $60-$135 per yard depending on finish specifications.
• Mileage and distance from the concrete batch plant to jobsite – Further transit mileage adds fuel, time, and driver expenses.
• Minimum order volume requirements – Many suppliers necessitate meeting order minimums to efficiently dispatch mixer trucks for smaller residential deliveries.
• Any additional services like concrete pumping or finish leveling – On-site pumping for foundation pours saves significant labor but adds rental costs.
• General regional pricing rates influenced by local market conditions – Less supplier competition means potentially higher prices.
• Needed order flexibility for specialty mixes or rapid early morning delivery – Custom orders or quality mixes increase costs.

You might also like our articles about the cost of crushed concrete, concrete driveways, and the price of trenches per foot.

Distance and Volume Influence Costs

Typical per yard delivery fees:

• Within 5 miles of batch plant: $25 – $35 per cubic yard
• Within 10-15 miles of plant: $35 – $45 per cubic yard
• Over 20+ miles from plant: $45 – $65 per cubic yard

Minimum order volumes required:

• 4-6 cubic yards: $300 – $600 minimum
• 10+ cubic yards: $900 – $1,500 minimum

Ordering at least 10+ cubic yards to a site under 10 miles from the supplier provides lowest per-yard pricing. But even smaller 3-4 yard orders keep costs relatively reasonable if pouring nearby the plant. Always compare area supplier minimums.

Ready-Mix Delivery vs. Onsite Mixing

Cost per cubic yard for Ready-Mix Concrete Delivery:

• Cost per cubic yard: Typically $85 – $155 delivered locally
• Convenience Factor: All material handling and mixing performed offsite
• Finish Quality: Extremely consistent pro mixing expertise

Typical Cost Implications of Onsite Concrete Mixing:

• Cost per cubic yard: Approximately $50 – $90 without delivery fees
• Convenience Factor: Equipment rental, mix hassles, site cleanup
• Finish Quality: Much harder to guarantee consistency

Having ready-mixed concrete delivered removes substantial hassles of preparing, mixing, and cleaning up concrete onsite. The delivery fees provide access to ideal pro-grade blending not achievable with limited small-scale mixers.

For quality and convenience, delivery premiums often prove very worthwhile long-term on projects exceeding 2-3 yards.

Required Concrete Volumes for Projects

When ordering concrete for delivery, calculate estimated needed amounts as follows:

• Foundations – Estimate 1 cubic yard of concrete per linear foot of footer width, such as 16 or 24 inches commonly.
• Slabs – Multiply length x width x required thickness in inches, then divide total by 324 to convert to cubic yards needed.
• Patios or landscaping – Take length x width x depth in inches, then divide by 324 for cubic yards.
• Circular columns – Calculate volume as pi x (radius in feet squared) x column height in feet.

Always overorder roughly 5-10% extra concrete to allow some margin for unavoidable overages, spillage, or other factors. Dialing in accurate estimates proves essential to minimize unnecessary wasted material expenses and helps optimize budget control.

Save on Concrete Delivery Costs

Savvy customers can save on concrete delivery costs by:

• Taking full advantage of larger minimum load order deals whenever needing 4+ yards of concrete for foundational, driveway, or slab pour projects. Supplier discounts for higher volumes are common.
• Placing orders early in the work week if possible – some concrete companies incentivize Monday through Wednesday deliveries to fill excess capacity so their fleet stays productive.
• Offering flexible timing on exact delivery window needed – general contractors may receive better rates from suppliers on mid-day pouring jobs that allow making multiple back-to-back trips efficiently.
• Fostering loyalty with a single trusted local concrete company – price perks rewards customers providing recurring business and predictable weekly volumes when possible.
• Agreeing to longer 30-60 day payment terms – improves cashflow flexibility for smaller contracting firms or homebuilders lacking deep pockets.

Taking the time to compare multiple quotes, buying in larger bulk batches, and requesting reasonable rate concessions from suppliers all help maximize long-term concrete delivery value on major projects.

Reputable Concrete Delivery Suppliers

It’s advisable to proactively shortlist suppliers displaying attributes like:

• Very competitively priced rates for delivering bulk order volumes – Comparison shop various regional haulers.
• Positive customer service reputation and extensive construction industry experience.
• Flexible ordering, delivery, and billing options able to accommodate specialized project needs gracefully.
• Rapid turnaround times from initial order call to receipt of loads. Avoid firms with low capacity.
• Well-maintained fleet of trucks and mixing equipment. Inspect condition if possible beforehand.
• Strong safety record with no major reported violations or accidents jeopardizing the public.
• Many years or even decades profitably serving contractors in your specific local area – consistency matters.

Putting in the diligence to make the optimal supplier choice reduces headaches and maximizes the chance of achieving the ideal pricing, service, and finish results for your unique concrete delivery needs at your job location.

Final Words

While ready-mixed concrete mixes represent one of the most substantial material transportation expenses involved in both residential and commercial building projects, understanding the primary cost factors in play such as minimum order quantities needed to dispatch trucks, additional distance from central batch plants, specialty finishes, and overall market conditions allows contractors and homeowners to much more accurately estimate pour costs during planning phases.

This allows proactively sourcing the most competitive concrete delivery rates available in your area through careful quote comparisons, identifying opportunities to buy in bulk for discounts, and implementing savvy ordering strategies to keep delivery fees and expenditures controlled.

With proper insight and preparation, concrete delivery pricing can be effectively managed rather than becoming an unexpected budgetary burden down the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to mix your own concrete or have it delivered?

For very small concrete jobs requiring less than 2-3 yards in total, mixing and preparing the concrete yourself onsite can potentially save money compared to having such a limited amount delivered once factoring in minimum order fees and transportation costs.

However, beyond 3 yards, having an experienced ready-mix concrete supplier deliver and pour tends to be the more cost-effective option for most homeowners factoring in equipment rental, site logistics, finish quality consistency, and overall labor.

How much is 1 cubic metre of concrete?

One cubic meter of concrete contains approximately 1.31 cubic yards. With a 4 inch pour thickness, one cubic yard covers around 160 square feet on average. So 1 cubic meter equates to covering roughly 210 square feet (1.31 cubic yards x 160 square feet per yard) for a 4 inch slab thickness, allowing some margin for normal overages or waste.

How much will a 20kg bag of concrete cover?

A 20kg bag of concrete equals about 44 lbs. With a 4 inch slab thickness, 44 lbs of concrete will cover approximately 1-2 square feet on average. Then for each additional inch of thickness beyond 4 inches, estimate gaining another 0.5-1 square feet of coverage per bag when mixed, allowing for reasonable wastage.

For planning, estimate needing between 4-8 bags of quickcrete per 10 square feet of area being poured at a standard thickness of 4 inches.