Cost of Concrete Per Yard
By Marko VisicBSc Physics, University of Ljubljana
Delivered quotes vary by region, order size and mix, so there is no single “price of concrete.” What can be pinned down is the national producers’ value, a plant-gate average that moves every month with a public price index.
The national ready-mix concrete value is about $132.96 per cubic yard: the 2022 Census producers’ average of $110.02 moved by the BLS ready-mix price index. A delivered quote adds hauling and, on small orders, a short-load fee ($150 to $175 at one producer, on orders of four cubic yards or less); this is a producers’ average, not a delivered quote.
$133/yd³
national ready-mix value per cubic yard, Oct 2026
How much is a yard of concrete?
As of Oct 2026, the national producers’ value is about $132.96 per cubic yard. It is built from the $110.02 2022 Census average, escalated by the ready-mix index, which now reads 402.369 against its 2022 average of 332.9537. The latest few months are preliminary: the BLS revises them for 3 months before posting final figures 4 months after first release, so the figure can shift slightly when revised.
+21%
Since 2022
On the 2022 Census average
Concrete price per yard by year
Each year’s value is the $110.02 Census figure moved by that year’s average ready-mix index. The index alone is up about 65% since January 2015, stated as an index change only, because there is no public dollar value per yard before the 2022 Census.
| Year | Index (avg) | Value per yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 332.9537 | $110.02 |
| 2023 | 369.6686 | $122.15 |
| 2024 | 390.8966 | $129.17 |
| 2025 | 394.2058 | $130.26 |
| 2026 (Jan–Oct) | 400.9333 | $132.48 |
| Latest (Oct 2026) | 402.369 | $132.96 |
Concrete cost per yard delivered
A delivered quote is the national value plus hauling and fees. Public-agency contracts show the spread: Des Moines’ 2026 price list put ready-mix at $168 to $169 per cubic yard for full loads of four yards and over, but $219 to $268 for loads under four yards: the small-load premium in the open. A ready-mix truck carries up to 10 cubic yards, and a small order picks up a short-load fee ($150 to $175 at one producer, on orders of four cubic yards or less) on top of the per-yard price.
How much is a 10-yard truck of concrete?
A full ready-mix truck carries up to 10 cubic yards, so a truckload of material at the national value is about $1,330. That is the product value only: the concrete itself, before hauling. A delivered quote adds the haul, but at a full load it skips the short-load fee that small orders pay.
Cost for common order sizes
Material cost at the national value, before delivery, with a 10% over-order column and the short-load fee shown separately where it applies.
| Order (yd³) | Material | Material +10% | Small-load fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $130 | $150 | $175 |
| 2 | $270 | $290 | $175 |
| 3 | $400 | $440 | $150 |
| 4 | $530 | $590 | $150 |
| 5 | $660 | $730 | — |
| 6 | $800 | $880 | — |
| 7 | $930 | $1,020 | — |
| 8 | $1,060 | $1,170 | — |
| 9 | $1,200 | $1,320 | — |
| 10 | $1,330 | $1,460 | — |
| 11 | $1,460 | $1,610 | — |
| 12 | $1,600 | $1,760 | — |
Ready-mix or bags?
A yard ordered on its own still pays one producer’s $175 small-load fee, so its 45 eighty-pound bags win on price below about $6.84 a bag. Past 4 cubic yards that producer charges no fee, the breakeven falls to about $2.95, and the truck saves the mixing. The bags-per-yard guide and the concrete-bags calculator work the breakeven for your pour.
How to compare quotes
Use the national value as the baseline, then read a quote’s extras against it: the short-load fee on small orders, the per-truck limit of 10 cubic yards, any unloading-time charge, and the mix itself: strength (psi), air entrainment for freeze climates, and admixtures all move the number. Add a 10% order margin so you are not caught short mid-pour.
Concrete price per yard FAQ
How much is a yard of concrete?
The national producers’ value is about $132.96 per cubic yard, a plant-gate average. A delivered yard adds hauling and, on small orders, a short-load fee ($150 to $175 at one producer, on orders of four cubic yards or less).
Why is the price per yard shown as a national value, not a quote?
Because the only figure that traces to public data is the producers’ average: the $110.02 2022 Census value moved by the BLS ready-mix index. Delivered quotes vary by region, order size and mix, so use the national value as the yardstick.
How much is a 10-yard truck of concrete?
At the national value, ten yards of material is about $1,330. A full truckload holds up to 10 cubic yards. A delivered quote adds hauling but, at a full load, no small-load fee.
Has concrete gotten more expensive?
Yes. The ready-mix index is up about 2.4% year over year and 21% above its 2022 average, which is how the per-yard value climbed from $110.02.
Reuse this chart
You may republish the chart and its monthly values with credit to ConstructionCalc and a link to this page. The embedded image is drawn from the same monthly series as this page, so a copy on your site updates with it.
Marko Visic, “Cost of Concrete Per Yard (Live National Value),” ConstructionCalc, data through Oct 2026, https://constructioncalc.org/prices/concrete-per-yard.
<img src="https://constructioncalc.org/prices/concrete-per-yard/chart.png" width="1200" height="675" style="max-width:100%;height:auto" alt="Line chart of the U.S. national ready-mix concrete value per cubic yard, by month since January 2022"> <p>Chart: <a href="https://constructioncalc.org/prices/concrete-per-yard">ConstructionCalc</a></p>
Sources & method
- U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 Economic Census, Selected Sectors: Industry by Products for the U.S. and States (table EC2200NAPCSINDPRD), NAICS 327320 × NAPCS 2040575000, United States, all establishments. 2022 (Economic Census; product tables released May 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, via FRED. FRED series PCU327320327320 (Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing, Index Jun 1981=100), monthly values 2022, published Sep 10, 2026. 2022 monthly values (final)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Handbook of Methods — Producer Price Indexes: Presentation. page as retrieved Nov 2026
- Duininck Concrete LLC. 2026 Customer Handbook — Small Loads & Call Backs; Split Loads; Unloading Time. file uploaded May 2026; no year printed in the document
- Terex Corporation (Terex Advance). Advance Charger Series FDC300 front discharge mixer — product description and Truck Stats. current product page
- City of Des Moines, Iowa (City Council). Roll Call resolution of Apr 20, 2026: Portland cement concrete annual supply, RFB J26-221 (Norwalk Ready-Mix Concrete, Inc.; Liberty ReadyMix), with bid tabulation. April 2026 (3-year contract)
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. CIP 8 – Discrepancies in Yield. 2016 (1979, 1991, 2000, 2016)
- The QUIKRETE Companies. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 Data Sheet, Yield. Revised October 2022
The value is $110.02 (2022 Census producers’ average) × the ready-mix index ÷ its 2022 average, from BLS series PCU327320327320 via FRED. The full monthly history is stored with the site’s data; the latest months are preliminary and revised for up to four months. Full method is on the methodology page.
- Concrete CalculatorCubic yards, bags and cost for any slab or footing.
- Concrete Slab Cost CalculatorInstalled slab cost by size, thickness and state.
- Bags of Concrete in a YardWhen bagged mix beats a ready-mix delivery.
Marko Visic
I'm Marko Visic, a physics graduate who builds data-driven calculators. I run ConstructionCalc through my company, Moving Data Systems d.o.o.
The calculators help you plan a DIY job or check a contractor's quote before you sign. Each one cites its sources and shows its method, and cost figures are computed from public primary data. If a number looks wrong, email info@constructioncalc.org and I'll trace it to its source or fix it.