Concrete Truck Calculator – Yards, Delivery Cost & Weight Guide
How many yards in a concrete truck? Standard truck = 8–10 CY. Free calculator for delivery cost, concrete weight per yard, and 3000 psi mix guide. Includes UK lorry load data
Concrete Truck Calculator: Yards, Delivery Cost, Weight & Mix Guide
Find how many cubic yards fit in a concrete truck, calculate delivery cost with short-load fees, work out concrete weight per yard and per square foot, and confirm your 3000 psi mix specification — plus UK lorry load pricing.
A standard ready-mix concrete truck holds 8–10 cubic yards, each cubic yard weighs approximately 4,050 lbs, and delivery typically costs $130–$175 per cubic yard depending on region and order size. This page answers how many yards of concrete in a truckload and gives you three calculator modes: Truck & Delivery (yards, trucks needed, total cost), Concrete Weight (by volume or by slab dimensions), and Mix & Strength (3,000 psi and other residential mixes).
One of the least-known but most important cost factors is the short-load surcharge — a fee charged when you order less than a full truck, which can make small orders surprisingly expensive per yard. UK readers will also find dedicated coverage of the lorry load of concrete, the UK term for a ready-mix delivery, typically 6–8 cubic metres. Select a calculator mode below or use the reference tables and diagrams further down the page.
Trucks Needed
A standard ready-mix transit mixer holds 8–10 cubic yards of concrete. Mini trucks for short loads typically carry 1–4 cubic yards. Always confirm capacity with your local supplier.
How many yards of concrete does a truck hold?
A standard ready-mix concrete truck holds 8–10 cubic yards of concrete. Most trucks are loaded to 8–9 cubic yards for a typical delivery to allow safe legal weight compliance on public roads. The maximum load is 10 cubic yards — going over that exceeds typical legal weight limits for a standard mixer truck.
| Truck Type | Capacity Range | Typical Load | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard transit mixer | 8–10 CY | 8–9 CY | Driveways, slabs, large pours |
| Mini / short-load truck | 1–4 CY | 2–3 CY | Small patios, posts, repairs |
| Volumetric mixer | 1–15 CY | Any amount | On-site mixing — mix-as-you-go |
| UK transit lorry | 6–8 m³ | 7 m³ | All residential UK pours |
In terms of weight, 8 CY × 4,050 lbs = 32,400 lbs of concrete, and 10 CY × 4,050 lbs = 40,500 lbs. Add the truck's own empty weight (roughly 26,000 lbs) and a full concrete truck carrying 10 CY weighs over 66,000 lbs total — which is exactly why unreinforced driveways and soft ground can be damaged simply by the truck driving over them.
Lorry load of concrete (UK): in the UK, "lorry load of concrete" typically refers to a full transit mixer load of 6–8 cubic metres. A full 8 m³ lorry carries approximately 19,200 kg of concrete — see the dedicated UK section further down this page.
How much does a truckload of concrete cost — delivery cost guide
A full truckload of concrete (10 cubic yards) typically costs $1,300–$1,750 delivered in the US, based on a national average of $130–$175 per cubic yard. For smaller orders, short-load surcharges add $50–$150 to the base price.
| Order Size | Price @ $150/CY | Short-load Fee | Est. Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 CY | $150 | $200–$300 | $350–$450 | Extremely expensive per CY — use bagged |
| 2 CY | $300 | $100–$150 | $400–$450 | High short-load surcharge |
| 3 CY | $450 | $75–$100 | $525–$550 | Still has surcharge |
| 5 CY | $750 | $25–$50 | $775–$800 | Light surcharge |
| 7 CY | $1,050 | $0–$25 | $1,050–$1,075 | Near full load |
| 8 CY | $1,200 | $0 | $1,200 | Standard delivery |
| 9 CY | $1,350 | $0 | $1,350 | Common load |
| 10 CY | $1,500 | $0 | $1,500 | Full truck — best value per CY |
| Region | Price per CY | Full Truck (10 CY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National average | $130–$175 | $1,300–$1,750 | Baseline |
| South (TX, FL, LA) | $120–$155 | $1,200–$1,550 | Below average |
| Midwest (OH, IN, MN) | $125–$160 | $1,250–$1,600 | Near average |
| Northeast (NY, MA, CT) | $155–$200 | $1,550–$2,000 | Above average |
| West Coast (CA, OR, WA) | $150–$195 | $1,500–$1,950 | Above average |
| UK (per m³, GBP) | £120–£180/m³ | £960–£1,440 (8m³) | All prices in GBP |
The short-load fee (also called a minimum load or short-haul fee) is the surcharge applied when you order less than a full truckload. Most ready-mix plants consider a "full load" to be 8–10 cubic yards — anything less incurs a surcharge. For orders under 3 cubic yards, many homeowners find bagged concrete (80 lb bags) is actually more cost-effective than a ready-mix delivery once the short-load fee is included. The minimum concrete delivery varies by plant — most have a 1 cubic yard minimum, but some require 3–4 cubic yards to schedule a delivery at all.
How much is 2 yards of concrete delivered? At national average pricing ($150/CY), 2 cubic yards costs approximately $300 in materials plus a short-load fee of $100–$150, bringing the total to $400–$450 for a 2-yard delivery.
Concrete weight increases linearly from 150 lbs per cubic foot to 40,500 lbs for a full 10-yard truck. Weight per square foot depends on slab thickness — use the Weight Calculator tab above. Normal weight concrete = 150 lbs/ft³ = 4,050 lbs per cubic yard = 2.025 tons per cubic yard.
How much does concrete weigh per cubic yard and per cubic foot?
1 cubic foot of concrete = 150 lbs (unit weight of normal concrete). 1 cubic yard of concrete = 4,050 lbs = 2.025 tons. 1 wet cubic yard (freshly mixed) is approximately the same weight as cured concrete — water weight becomes chemically bonded rather than lost. 10 cubic yards = 40,500 lbs = 20.25 tons.
| Volume | Weight (lbs) | Weight (tons) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic foot | 150 lbs | 0.075 tons | 68 kg |
| 1 cubic yard (27 ft³) | 4,050 lbs | 2.025 tons | 1,837 kg |
| 2 cubic yards | 8,100 lbs | 4.05 tons | 3,674 kg |
| 3 cubic yards | 12,150 lbs | 6.08 tons | 5,511 kg |
| 5 cubic yards | 20,250 lbs | 10.13 tons | 9,185 kg |
| 7 cubic yards | 28,350 lbs | 14.18 tons | 12,859 kg |
| 8 cubic yards | 32,400 lbs | 16.20 tons | 14,696 kg |
| 10 cubic yards | 40,500 lbs | 20.25 tons | 18,370 kg |
| 1 cubic metre | 5,298 lbs | 2.649 tons | 2,403 kg |
| Slab Thickness | Weight/sq ft | Per 100 sq ft | Per 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3" | 37.5 lbs/sq ft | 3,750 lbs | 37,500 lbs |
| 4" | 50.0 lbs/sq ft | 5,000 lbs | 50,000 lbs |
| 6" | 75.0 lbs/sq ft | 7,500 lbs | 75,000 lbs |
| 8" | 100 lbs/sq ft | 10,000 lbs | 100,000 lbs |
Normal weight concrete has a unit weight of 150 lbs per cubic foot — the standard assumption used in structural calculations and defined in ACI 318 (Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete). Wet concrete (freshly mixed) weighs approximately the same as cured concrete, since the water becomes chemically bonded into the cement matrix rather than evaporating. Lightweight concrete (expanded shale, clay, or slate aggregates) weighs 85–115 pcf, while heavyweight concrete (barite or iron aggregate, used for radiation shielding) weighs 185–250 pcf.
Standard 3,000 psi concrete mix per cubic yard: approximately 46% coarse aggregate, 31% fine aggregate, 15% cement, and 8% water by weight. Admixtures (air entrainment, plasticizers) are added in small amounts.
3000 psi concrete mix — specifications, uses, and ordering guide
3,000 psi (pounds per square inch) concrete is the most common strength used in residential construction. It reaches its rated compressive strength after 28 days of curing. Order it from a ready-mix plant as "3,000 psi concrete" — no further specification is needed for standard residential work.
Common uses for 3,000 psi concrete
Residential driveways (most common use), patios and flatwork, foundations and footings, retaining walls, and sidewalks and curbs all typically specify 3,000 psi concrete unless local code or climate requires higher strength.
| Strength | W/C Ratio | Common Uses | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,500 psi | 0.67 | Non-structural footings, some flatwork | Lowest |
| 3,000 psi | 0.58 | Driveways, foundations, all residential (most common) | Standard |
| 3,500 psi | 0.50 | Garage slabs, cold climate driveways | +3–5% |
| 4,000 psi | 0.44 | Commercial slabs, heavy traffic | +5–8% |
| 5,000 psi | 0.38 | High-strength structural, precast | +10–15% |
When ordering from a ready-mix plant, specify: (1) compressive strength (3,000 psi), (2) aggregate size (typically 3/4" for most residential work), (3) slump (3–5 inches for standard placement, 5–7 inches for pump placement), and (4) air content (4–7% for freeze-thaw regions, 0–2% for warm climates). Your plant will confirm the mix design that meets your specification.
Bagged concrete equivalent: no bagged product is labelled exactly "3,000 psi." The closest readily available bagged products are Quikrete Concrete Mix #1101 (rated 4,000 psi at 28 days) and Quikrete 5000 (#1007, 5,000 psi). For true 3,000 psi, order ready-mix — bagged products are typically stronger, which is fine for residential use.
Lorry load of concrete — UK ready-mix guide
In the UK, a lorry load of concrete refers to a full transit mixer delivery, typically 6–8 cubic metres (m³). A full lorry (8 m³) of standard C20/25 concrete costs approximately £960–£1,440 delivered, based on £120–£180 per m³.
| Load Size | m³ | Approx. Cost (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini load | 1–3 m³ | £120–£540 | Short-load surcharge applies |
| Half load | 3–5 m³ | £360–£900 | Moderate surcharge |
| Full lorry | 6–8 m³ | £720–£1,440 | Best value per m³ |
| Volumetric | Any | Quote required | Mix on site |
Common UK concrete grades: C20/25 (equivalent to ~2,900–3,600 psi) is standard residential; C25/30 (~3,600–4,350 psi) suits garage floors and driveways; C30/37 (~4,350–5,370 psi) is used for structural foundations.
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The Complete Concrete Truck & Delivery Reference
This is the most complete free concrete truck calculator available — covering cubic yards per truck, short-load fees and delivery cost by region, concrete weight per cubic foot and per cubic yard, weight per square foot by slab thickness, UK lorry load data, and a complete 3000 psi concrete mix guide.
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