Concrete Calculator
Calculate concrete volume, materials, and costs for slabs, driveways, patios, and foundations.
For Homeowners: Get a quick cost range with just a few measurements. Perfect for budgeting and comparing contractor quotes.
Assumptions & Sources
Assumptions
- Concrete pricing: Based on 2025 ready-mix delivery prices ($125-150/yard).
- Waste factor: 5-10% depending on project complexity.
- Labor rates: National average $5-8/sq ft for flatwork.
- Bag concrete: Quikrete/Sakrete 80lb bags at ~$6 each.
Last updated: February 2026
How to Estimate Concrete Costs
Estimating concrete costs accurately requires more than multiplying square footage by a price-per-yard figure. As a construction project manager, the first thing I tell junior estimators is to think in cubic yards, not square feet. A 4-inch slab uses roughly 1.23 cubic yards per 100 square feet, but bump that to 6 inches for a garage floor and you are at 1.85 cubic yards per 100 square feet. That thickness difference alone can shift your material budget by 50%.
Ready-mix concrete typically runs $125-$165 per cubic yard delivered in 2025, depending on mix design and delivery distance. Standard 3,000 PSI mix sits at the lower end, while 5,000 PSI or fiber-reinforced mixes can push past $175/yard. Short-load charges apply when you order less than a full truck (typically 8-10 yards), and those fees range from $50 to $150 per yard under the minimum. If your project needs 3 yards, you will pay a premium that can double your per-yard cost.
Labor is the biggest variable in concrete work. Flatwork (patios, driveways, sidewalks) runs $5-$8 per square foot for placement and finishing in most markets. Stamped or decorative concrete pushes that to $12-$18 per square foot because of the additional finishing time and specialized tools. Foundation walls and footings carry higher labor costs due to formwork complexity, typically $8-$12 per square foot of contact area.
The most common estimating mistake is underordering concrete. Unlike lumber, you cannot return unused concrete, but you absolutely cannot come up short mid-pour. Always order 10% more than your calculated volume. Subgrade conditions matter too: if your base is not properly compacted and graded, you will end up with uneven thickness and potentially more concrete than planned. A good rule of thumb is that every 1/2 inch of subgrade irregularity across a 1,000 square foot slab adds roughly 1.5 extra cubic yards.
Pump trucks add $150-$300 per hour to your costs but are mandatory when the truck cannot back up to the pour location. Line pumps handle most residential jobs, while boom pumps (at $200-$500/hour) are needed for second-story pours or long-reach situations. Factor in at least 2-3 hours of pump time for a typical driveway pour.
Typical Concrete Cost Breakdown
Understanding where your money goes helps you identify areas where you can save or where cutting corners will cost more long-term.
| Cost Category | % of Total | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Materials | 30-40% | $125-$175/cu yd | Ready-mix delivered; varies by PSI and additives |
| Labor (Place & Finish) | 35-45% | $5-$8/sq ft | Includes forming, pouring, finishing, curing |
| Site Preparation | 10-15% | $1-$3/sq ft | Grading, compaction, gravel base, vapor barrier |
| Reinforcement | 5-10% | $0.35-$1.50/sq ft | Wire mesh, rebar, or fiber; depends on load requirements |
| Equipment | 3-8% | $150-$500 flat | Pump truck, power trowels, vibrators |
| Overhead & Profit | 10-20% | Varies | Contractor markup, insurance, permits |
Regional Pricing Factors for Concrete
Concrete prices vary significantly across the United States, driven primarily by proximity to cement plants and aggregate quarries. In the Midwest and Southeast, where raw materials are abundant, ready-mix prices often stay below $130 per cubic yard. Coastal cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle regularly see prices above $160 per yard due to higher transportation costs, stricter environmental regulations, and elevated labor rates.
Climate affects costs beyond just the concrete itself. In northern states, frost protection requirements mean deeper footings (typically 42-48 inches below grade versus 12-18 inches in southern states), which doubles or triples your foundation concrete volume. Cold-weather pours require heated enclosures and accelerators that add $2-$4 per square foot. Hot-weather pours in Arizona or Texas need retarders and extra finishing labor due to rapid set times.
Use our calculator with your ZIP code to get region-adjusted pricing, or browse concrete costs in your state:
Pro Tips from a Construction PM
Order 10% Extra - Every Time
Running short on a concrete pour is a disaster. The truck leaves, your crew is standing around, and the cold joint you will create when the next truck arrives is a structural weakness. Order 10% more than calculated and have a plan for the excess (a small pad, post footings, or a wheelbarrow path).
Test Your Subgrade Before Pour Day
Walk the subgrade with a probe rod. If it sinks more than an inch in spots, you have soft areas that need additional compaction or gravel. Discovering this mid-pour when the concrete is arriving at 8 yards per truck every 15 minutes is not the time to find problems.
Schedule Concrete for the Right Conditions
The ideal pour temperature is 50-75°F. Below 40°F, concrete takes significantly longer to cure and risks freeze damage. Above 90°F, it sets too fast for proper finishing. Spring and fall are the sweet spot in most regions, and those are also peak demand periods - book your trucks at least 2 weeks out.
Get the PSI Right for the Application
3,000 PSI handles most flatwork (patios, walkways). Driveways need 4,000 PSI minimum because of vehicle weight and turning stress. Garage floors should be 4,000-4,500 PSI. Structural foundations typically require 4,000-5,000 PSI. Over-specifying PSI wastes money; under-specifying causes premature failure.
Control Joints Save You from Random Cracks
Concrete will crack - that is physics, not a defect. Control joints at 8-10 foot intervals (and no more than 2-3x the slab thickness in feet) give the concrete a predetermined weak point to crack along. A sawed joint at 1/4 the slab depth within 6-18 hours of pour is the gold standard.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Construction Cost Estimation FAQs
A 20x20 foot patio at 4 inches thick requires approximately 4.94 cubic yards of concrete (20 × 20 × 0.333 ÷ 27). With a 10% waste factor, order 5.5 cubic yards. At current 2025 prices of $125-$165 per cubic yard for ready-mix, the concrete material alone will cost $690-$910. Total installed cost including labor, site prep, and finishing typically runs $2,400-$4,800 depending on your region and finish type.
For projects under 1 cubic yard (roughly a 10x10 slab at 4 inches), bagged concrete is competitive at about $6 per 80-pound bag ($162 per cubic yard equivalent). Above 1 cubic yard, ready-mix is almost always cheaper at $125-$165 per yard, plus it delivers consistent quality. Mixing 5+ yards by hand is backbreaking work that takes a full day with a portable mixer versus 30 minutes with a ready-mix truck. The break-even point is typically around 0.75 to 1 cubic yard.
Concrete reaches about 70% of its design strength in 7 days and full strength at 28 days. You can walk on it after 24-48 hours. Light vehicle traffic (passenger cars) should wait at least 7 days, and heavy vehicles (trucks, RVs) should wait the full 28 days. In cold weather (below 50°F), extend all cure times by 50-100%. Applying sealer before the 28-day mark can trap moisture and weaken the surface.
A residential driveway should be a minimum of 4 inches thick for passenger vehicles, but 5-6 inches is recommended for durability and to handle occasional heavier loads like delivery trucks or moving vans. If heavy trucks (garbage trucks, concrete trucks) will regularly use the driveway, go with 6-8 inches. The edges of the driveway should be thickened to 8-12 inches to prevent edge cracking. Going from 4 to 6 inches increases concrete volume by 50% but dramatically improves the lifespan from 15-20 years to 25-30+ years.
Permit requirements vary by municipality. Most cities do NOT require a permit for a basic patio slab under a certain size (often 200 square feet) that is poured at grade level. Driveways typically require a permit because they connect to public right-of-way and must meet setback requirements. Any concrete work that involves footings, foundations, or structures always needs a permit and inspection. Always check with your local building department before starting - working without a required permit can result in fines and forced removal.
Concrete Calculator by State
Get concrete cost estimates with state-specific regional pricing: