How to Estimate Concrete Cost in 2026: Cubic Yards, PSI, and What Contractors Charge
Concrete costs $125β$165 per cubic yard in 2026. Here is how to calculate how much you need, which PSI to use, and when bags beat ready-mix.
Read articleConcrete Cost Estimator
Estimate concrete material cost, cubic yards, and bag count for slabs, driveways, footings, and walls using 2026 ready-mix prices.
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How it works
Enter your project
Select your project type and enter dimensions β length, width, and thickness in inches.
Pick your mix and method
Choose ready-mix or bagged concrete, the PSI strength, and whether to include a labor estimate.
Read your estimate
Get cubic yards, a material cost range, bag count, a short-load fee warning, and a total installed estimate.
How Concrete Volume and Cost Is Calculated
Concrete volume starts with simple geometry: multiply length Γ width Γ (thickness in inches Γ· 12) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Ready-mix is always sold by the cubic yard, while smaller jobs are measured by the bag. Always add 10% waste β under-ordering forces a second pour and risks a cold joint, the most common pour failure. Ready-mix is cheaper per yard once you need more than about one cubic yard. Below one yard, bagged concrete is usually more economical once short-load delivery fees are factored in. One 80 lb bag yields roughly 0.60 cubic feet, so you need about 45 bags to fill a single cubic yard. Mix strength drives both performance and price. 3,000 PSI is the standard for residential flatwork. Use 4,000 PSI for driveways exposed to freeze-thaw cycles or heavy vehicles, and 5,000 PSI for structural or industrial applications. Higher PSI means more cement, which typically adds $10β$20 per cubic yard.
Volume (cu ft) = Length Γ Width Γ (Depth Γ· 12)
Volume (cu yd) = Volume (cu ft) Γ· 27
With Waste = Volume Γ 1.10
Ready-Mix Cost = Volume Γ Price Per Yard
Bags Needed = Volume (cu yd) Γ 45 (80 lb bags)Example
A 20 ft Γ 20 ft patio at 4 inches thick: 20 Γ 20 Γ (4 Γ· 12) = 133.3 cu ft, or 133.3 Γ· 27 = 4.94 cu yd. With 10% waste that is 4.94 Γ 1.10 = 5.43 cu yd. At $138/yd ready-mix costs about 5.43 Γ $138 = $749, while bags cost 5.43 Γ 45 = 245 bags Γ $6.50 = $1,593. Ready-mix saves roughly $844 on this project.
Worked examples
| Scenario | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Project A β 20 Γ 20 ft patio, 4 in, 3,000 PSI (ready-mix) | 20 Γ 20 Γ (4 Γ· 12) Γ· 27 Γ 1.10 β 5.5 cu yd | β 5.5 cu yd Β· $715 β $798 material |
| Project B β Two-car garage slab 24 Γ 24 ft, 4 in, 4,000 PSI | 24 Γ 24 Γ (4 Γ· 12) Γ· 27 Γ 1.10 β 7.9 cu yd | β 7.9 cu yd Β· $1,146 β $1,264 material |
| Project C β 10 round footings, 12 in dia, 4 ft deep, 4,000 PSI | Ο Γ 0.5Β² Γ 4 Γ 10 Γ· 27 Γ 1.10 β 1.3 cu yd | β 1.3 cu yd Β· $289 β $308 (incl. short-load fee) |
| Project D β Retaining wall 30 ft Γ 4 ft Γ 8 in, 4,000 PSI | 30 Γ 4 Γ (8 Γ· 12) Γ· 27 Γ 1.10 β 3.3 cu yd | β 3.3 cu yd Β· $479 β $528 material |
| Project E β Sidewalk 3 ft Γ 20 ft Γ 4 in, 3,000 PSI (bags) | 3 Γ 20 Γ (4 Γ· 12) Γ· 27 Γ 1.10 Γ 45 β 37 bags | 37 Γ 80 lb bags Β· $216 β $265 bagged |
Conversion reference
| PSI Strength | Use Case | Low | Mid | High | Per Bag (80 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,500 PSI | Walkways, light duty | $120 | $125 | $130 | ~$5.50 |
| 3,000 PSI | Standard residential | $130 | $138 | $145 | ~$6.00 |
| 4,000 PSI | Driveways, garages | $145 | $153 | $160 | ~$6.50 |
| 5,000 PSI | Structural, industrial | $160 | $170 | $180 | ~$7.50 |
Quick facts
- A standard 20 Γ 20 ft (400 sq ft) concrete slab costs roughly $2,600β$5,200 installed in 2026, including materials and labor.
- It takes about 45 standard 80 lb bags of concrete to fill one cubic yard β each bag yields roughly 0.60 cubic feet.
- Ready-mix orders under 3 cubic yards usually trigger a short-load fee of $50β$150 to offset the half-empty truck.
- Adding a 10% waste allowance is standard practice; under-ordering forces a second pour and risks a weak cold joint.
- Higher-strength mixes cost more: moving from 3,000 to 5,000 PSI typically adds $30β$40 per cubic yard.
- Treat every figure here as an estimate only β get at least three written contractor quotes before ordering, since local pricing, delivery distance, and site conditions all shift the final cost.
From the blog
View all βFrequently asked questions
Multiply length Γ width Γ thickness, with thickness converted from inches to feet (inches Γ· 12), to get cubic feet. Then divide by 27, because there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. For a 20 Γ 20 ft slab at 4 inches: 20 Γ 20 Γ 0.33 = 133 cu ft Γ· 27 β 4.9 cubic yards. Add 10% for waste before ordering.
In 2026 ready-mix concrete runs about $120β$180 per cubic yard delivered, depending on PSI strength and region. Standard 3,000 PSI residential mix averages around $138 per yard, while 5,000 PSI structural mix is closer to $170. Small orders also carry a short-load fee.
An 80 lb bag yields about 0.60 cubic feet, so you need roughly 45 bags to make one cubic yard. Calculate your volume in cubic yards, add 10% for waste, then multiply by 45. For example, 1 cubic yard with waste needs about 50 bags.
Use 4,000 PSI concrete for most driveways, especially in climates with freeze-thaw cycles or where heavy vehicles park. 3,000 PSI is acceptable for mild climates and light use, but 4,000 PSI resists cracking and surface scaling far better for only a small cost increase.
A short-load fee is a surcharge ready-mix suppliers add when you order less than a full truckload β usually under 3 cubic yards. It typically runs $50β$150 and covers the cost of sending a truck that leaves mostly empty. It can dramatically raise the effective per-yard price on small jobs.
A typical 20 Γ 20 ft (400 sq ft) slab costs about $2,600β$5,200 installed in 2026, or roughly $6β$13 per square foot including materials, labor, forming, and finishing. Thickness, reinforcement, site prep, and finish type all move the price within that range.
The break-even point is around one cubic yard. Below that, bagged concrete is usually cheaper and avoids short-load fees β though it is far more labor-intensive. Above one yard, ready-mix is both cheaper per yard and dramatically less work. For anything over about 50 bags, order ready-mix.
The 10% waste allowance covers spillage, uneven subgrade, over-excavation, formwork deflection, and material left in the truck or mixer. Ordering exactly your calculated volume almost guarantees a shortfall β and running out mid-pour creates a cold joint, which is a permanent weak seam in the slab.