Free contractor tool
Concrete Price Per Yard Calculator
Compare two supplier quotes on the same cubic-yard order. A lower advertised material rate can cost more after fees. Enter both quotes to see each delivered total, effective cost per yard and the price difference for your order.
No signup · Uses your own inputs · No automatic cloud storage
Compare the same order
Illustrative USD quotes. Enter current quotes from your suppliers.
Supplier A
Supplier B
Supplier price comparison
Supplier A
Supplier B
Supplier B costs $70.00 less for this order.
Compare matching mix specifications, quantity and delivery terms. This is a price comparison, not a supplier quality rating.
How to use this calculator
- Enter one shared cubic-yard order quantity. Compare the same specified mix, delivery address and schedule for both suppliers.
- Enter Supplier A's material rate and total quoted fees, then enter Supplier B's matching terms. Do not compare a material-only rate with an all-inclusive rate.
- Enter each quote's effective tax percentage. Charges included in an advertised delivered rate should not be added again as separate fees.
- Compare final order totals and effective cost per yard. Check availability, delivery conditions and specifications before choosing a supplier.
Example: the lower material rate is not the lower order cost
Both quotes cover 8 yd³ of the same mix with no short-load, pump or tax charges in this illustrative comparison.
| Calculation or charge | Result |
|---|---|
| Supplier A material: 8 × $155 | $1,240.00 |
| Supplier A delivery | $250.00 |
| Supplier A total / effective rate | $1,490.00 / $186.25 per yd³ |
| Supplier B material: 8 × $165 | $1,320.00 |
| Supplier B delivery | $100.00 |
| Supplier B total / effective rate | $1,420.00 / $177.50 per yd³ |
| Supplier B order saving | $70.00 |
Supplier B's material rate is $10 per yard higher but its delivery charge is $150 lower. At 8 yards it is cheaper overall. At 15 yards these particular fee/rate assumptions break even; any quantity-dependent fee changes must be entered separately.
Quoted material rate versus effective delivered rate
A quoted rate is the charge for each cubic yard of material. Effective delivered rate is the total entered order cost divided by cubic yards ordered. It spreads fixed fees across this order so you can compare matching quotes in one unit.
The formula is effective price per yard = (quantity × material rate + delivery + short-load + pumping + other fees + entered tax) ÷ quantity. This normalized rate applies to the tested order size. It is not a market average or a supplier's standing price for every order.
Order size can reverse the comparison
A supplier with a low material rate and a high delivery fee may become cheaper as quantity increases. Another supplier may be better for a small job because its fixed fees are lower. Change the shared quantity to test the order you actually intend to book.
The entered fees remain fixed when quantity changes. If another truck, a different short-load band or more pumping time is required, revise each quote accordingly. The tool does not infer supplier charging rules from one set of numbers, so a mathematical break-even is valid only while those fee assumptions still hold.
Compare equivalent specifications before choosing
Two prices are comparable only when both suppliers are quoting the required mix and service. Confirm specifications, additives, delivery location, timing, waiting-time terms and included charges. A lower total for a different mix or narrower delivery service is not an equivalent saving.
For tax that applies to only part of a quote, enter the effective rate: total quoted tax ÷ pre-tax subtotal × 100. This comparison ranks entered monetary cost; it does not rate supplier reliability, quality or availability. Once you choose, use the ready-mix cost page for the detailed single-order breakdown.
Continue your concrete workflow
Review material, fee and tax totals for the quote you choose.
Calculate your sections, allowance and order increment before comparing suppliers.
Add your labor, forms, reinforcement and equipment beyond the supplier quote.
Use your agreed customer charges when billing; supplier cost is an internal expense.
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Use current purchase costs to check your selling rates
Save your chosen ready-mix rate in Concrete Cost Pro and reuse it in templates and the current estimate. Rate Health shows whether your standard project rates still reach the target margin. Supplier fees need to be included in the appropriate job-cost fields; Pro does not fetch or compare live supplier quotes.
Explore Pro Rate Health$79 lifetime launch price · Regularly $99 · No monthly subscription
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Concrete Price Per Yard Calculator questions
Is this a live concrete price lookup?
No. Enter current supplier quotes. The initial example values show how fees affect a comparison and do not represent prices in your area.
Can the higher per-yard material quote be cheaper?
Yes. Lower delivery or other fees can outweigh a higher material rate. Compare both entered order totals and effective delivered rates for your quantity.
Does the lowest result tell me which supplier to use?
It identifies the lower entered monetary cost. Confirm equivalent specifications, availability and delivery terms yourself before ordering.
How is this different from the ready-mix cost calculator?
This tool compares two matching supplier quotes using one shared quantity. The ready-mix tool provides a detailed cost breakdown for a single concrete supply order.