Concrete Cubic Yard Calculator & Truck Planner
Get cubic yards (the unit ready-mix suppliers quote in) plus the exact number of truck loads your project needs — so you can book deliveries with confidence.
Concrete Yard Calculator
Enter project dimensions below — results update instantly. Switch units freely.
Estimates assume typical industry density and waste factors. Always verify with your supplier and local building code before purchasing material.
The ‘Yard’ Confusion: Cubic Yards, Not Square Yards
When a concrete supplier asks ‘how many yards?’ they mean cubic yards — a volume unit. Homeowners often hear this as ‘square yards’ (an area unit) and the conversation goes sideways fast.
A cubic yard of concrete is:
- 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft)
- Weighs about 4,050 pounds (150 lb/ft³ × 27)
- Covers 81 square feet at 4 inches thick
- Costs $150-180 at 2026 prices
Concrete trucks (‘mixers’) hold 9-11 cubic yards maximum. A standard 10-yd truck covers 810 ft² at 4 inches — roughly a 20 × 40 ft slab. Anything larger means two or more truck deliveries.
Truck Scheduling and Pour Timing
Multi-truck pour rules:
- Space trucks 45-60 minutes apart — gives crew time to spread and screed previous load, but before cold joint forms (concrete initial set is ~2 hours)
- Confirm dispatch 48 hours ahead — plants book morning slots quickly; afternoon slots are flexible
- Include a 15-minute buffer between trucks — traffic, wash-out, chute cleaning
- Have a backup plan — if truck 2 is delayed, know your max wait time before you need to call for an accelerator additive or switch strategies
For pours over 8 cubic yards, a concrete pump (boom pump) is often worth the $800-1,200 rental — it places concrete anywhere on the site without the truck driving to each form. Saves 2-4 hours of wheelbarrow work on a basement slab.
| Cubic Yards | Cubic Feet | Square Feet Coverage | Cost @ $165/yd³ | Truck Loads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | 27 ft³ | 81 ft² | $165 | 0.1 |
| 3 yd³ | 81 ft³ | 243 ft² | $495 | 0.3 |
| 5 yd³ | 135 ft³ | 405 ft² | $825 | 0.5 |
| 8 yd³ | 216 ft³ | 648 ft² | $1,320 | 0.8 |
| 10 yd³ | 270 ft³ | 810 ft² | $1,650 | 1.0 |
| 15 yd³ | 405 ft³ | 1,215 ft² | $2,475 | 1.5 |
| 25 yd³ | 675 ft³ | 2,025 ft² | $4,125 | 2.5 |
| 50 yd³ | 1,350 ft³ | 4,050 ft² | $8,250 | 5.0 |
Coverage assumes 4 in thickness. Thicker slabs cover proportionally less: 1 yd³ at 6 in covers 54 ft².
| Truck Type | Capacity | Use Case | Typical Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-mixer (3-axle) | 4-6 yd³ | Small residential, tight access | Can navigate 9-ft driveway |
| Standard ready-mix | 9-11 yd³ | Most pours | Needs 12-ft driveway |
| Front-discharge | 10-12 yd³ | Commercial, no chute reach | Drives into form area |
| Tanker / low-boy | 12-14 yd³ | Highway projects | Highway access only |
Confirm access with dispatcher 48 hr ahead. Low driveways, tight turns, or weight restrictions may require mini-mixer even for 8+ yd³ pours.
Real-World Example Calculations
Single-Truck Pour: 24 × 24 ft Slab @ 5 in
Detached garage floor, standard 10-yd ready-mix truck.
- Length × Width
- 24 × 24 ft
- Thickness
- 5 in
- Truck Capacity
- 10 yd³
Takeaway: Perfect single-truck pour. Book morning slot for best dispatch reliability.
Two-Truck Pour: 40 × 40 ft Basement Slab @ 4 in
New construction basement with rebar grid and vapor barrier.
- Length × Width
- 40 × 40 ft
- Thickness
- 4 in
- Truck Capacity
- 10 yd³
Takeaway: Schedule trucks 45-60 minutes apart. Consider a concrete pump ($900 rental) to place concrete across the 40-ft span without running wheelbarrows.
Three-Truck Commercial: 60 × 80 ft Slab @ 6 in
Light industrial floor with rebar grid and 4,500 psi mix.
- Length × Width
- 60 × 80 ft
- Thickness
- 6 in
- Truck Capacity
- 10 yd³
Takeaway: 9 trucks at 30-min intervals = 4.5-hour pour. Book concrete pump (boom), screed machine, and finishing crew for full day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards in a yard of concrete?
A ‘yard of concrete’ is industry shorthand for one cubic yard — equal to 27 cubic feet or ~4,050 pounds of cured concrete. It covers 81 square feet at 4 inches thick.
How many cubic yards does a concrete truck hold?
Standard ready-mix trucks hold 9-11 cubic yards maximum. Smaller mini-mixers hold 4-6 yd³ for tight-access sites. Commercial front-discharge trucks can hold 10-12 yd³. Loads under 4 yd³ incur a ‘short-load’ minimum fee.
How do I calculate cubic yards of concrete?
Multiply length × width × depth, all in feet, then divide by 27. Convert depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12. Example: 10 × 20 × (4÷12) ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards. Add 10% waste: order 2.72 yd³.
How much does a cubic yard of concrete cost?
In 2026: $150-180 per cubic yard for standard 4,000 psi ready-mix. Short-load fees apply under 4 yd³. Specialty mixes add $20-60 per yd³. Delivery fees apply for sites >20 miles from the plant.
How long does a concrete truck stay on site?
Standard unload allowance is 5-7 minutes per cubic yard (about 60 minutes for a 10-yd truck). Overtime unloading runs $1-3 per minute. Busy plants expect faster unloading; ask about minimum times when booking.
What happens if I order too much concrete?
Excess concrete returns to the plant. Most suppliers credit partial truckloads at 50% of material cost if returned within 30 minutes of placement. Anything beyond that, you pay for the mix and the plant discards it. Always over-order by 5-10% — returning is cheaper than a short-truck emergency.
Can two concrete trucks pour at the same time?
Yes — some large pours use 2-3 trucks simultaneously via a concrete pump. The pump takes feeds from multiple trucks through its hopper and places concrete through a boom hose. This is how stadium floors and basement slabs over 20 yd³ get poured in one continuous operation.