How to Order Ready-Mix Concrete: Amount, Strength and Delivery
Order ready-mix with your volume plus 4 to 10 percent, the strength you need and the delivery details, and place the order well before the pour, as NRMCA advises.
Advanced options: waste, prices
NRMCA advises ordering 4 to 10 percent over the estimate.
Concrete needed (with 10% extra)
1.96 yd³
1.50 m³ · 48 ft³ before extra
Slab: 12 ft × 12 ft × 4 in. Over about 1 yd³: order ready-mix.
Premix bags
- 80 lb88
- 60 lb118
- 50 lb141
- 40 lb176
- Ready-mix cost
- $313
- Weight
- 7,200 lb
Full breakdown
| Volume before extra | 1.78 yd³ · 1.36 m³ |
|---|---|
| With 10% extra | 1.96 yd³ |
| Weight (150 lb/ft³) | 7,200 lb · 3.60 tons |
| Pallets of 40 lb (80 bags each) | 3 |
| Pallets of 60 lb (56 bags each) | 3 |
| Pallets of 80 lb (42 bags each) | 3 |
| Truckloads at 12 yd³ | 1 |
| Truckloads at 8 yd³ | 1 |
Bag counts round up, as Quikrete's own calculator does. Cost uses your prices; delivery and short-load fees are extra.
Key takeaways
- Order volume + 4–10% (NRMCA).
- Specify strength; 3,500–5,000 psi is typical.
- Give address, placement method, delivery rate and time.
- Order well in advance; concrete is perishable.
How to Order Ready-Mix Concrete
- Calculate the volume from the plan dimensions and add 4 to 10 percent.
- Choose the strength (psi) your project and code require.
- Tell the producer the address, the placement method, the delivery rate and the time.
- Place the order well in advance, and have the crew ready when the truck arrives.
These steps follow NRMCA's "Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete" (CIP 31).
What to Tell the Ready-Mix Supplier
NRMCA lists the information a purchaser gives the producer.
- Quantity in cubic yards.
- Specified strength; 3,500 to 5,000 psi is typical for most applications.
- Size of coarse aggregate and any project specifications.
- Street address, nature of the placement, delivery rate and estimated time.
How Much Concrete to Order
Order 4 to 10 percent more than the estimate from plan dimensions, according to NRMCA; this calculator adds 10%. Re-check the amount needed before the last truck to avoid excessive orders or small clean-up loads.
What Is the Minimum Ready-Mix Order?
Minimum orders and short-load fees vary by producer, so ask your supplier; NRMCA advises avoiding small clean-up loads. For pours under about 1 yd³, bags are usually simpler (this calculator's own rule).
How Many Yards Fit in a Truck?
A truck mixer carries 8 to 12 cubic yards (5 to 9 m³), according to NRMCA; see the concrete truck loads.
Worked Example: Ordering for a Garage Slab
A 24×24 ft garage at 4 in is 7.11 yd³; with 10% extra, order 7.82 yd³ of 3,500 psi air-entrained concrete in a severe-weather region (IRC Table R402.2), one truck, delivered when forms and base are ready.
Can I Order Just 1 or 2 Yards of Concrete?
Yes, most producers deliver small loads, but minimums and short-load fees vary, so ask; for under about 1 yd³, bags are usually simpler (this calculator's own rule).
What Happens When the Truck Arrives
- Have the crew, tools and wheelbarrows or pump ready.
- Check the delivery ticket shows the mix you ordered (NRMCA CIP 31).
- Place and finish without delay.
- Start curing as soon as finishing ends (NRMCA CIP 11).
Mistakes When Ordering Concrete
- Ordering without measuring the forms.
- No waste allowance (order 4–10% extra).
- Wrong strength for the use.
- Not re-checking before the last load, which leads to short loads.
Ready-Mix vs Mixing on Site
Ready-mix arrives plant-mixed in a truck that keeps it uniformly mixed (NRMCA CIP 31), so it suits pours over about 1 yd³; for smaller jobs, premix bags or a rented mixer with Portland cement, sand and gravel are the alternatives. Compare costs on when ready-mix beats bags.
Ready-Mix Delivery Cost
Ready-mix costs $160–195 per cubic yard (Concrete Network), so an 8 yd³ load is about $1,280–1,560 before delivery and short-load fees; ask for the full delivered price when you order.
How to Order Ready-Mix Concrete FAQ
What is the least amount of concrete I can order?
It depends on the producer; ask about their minimum and short-load fee, or use bags under about 1 yd³.
Can you buy small amounts of ready-mixed concrete?
Yes, many suppliers deliver part loads, usually with an extra fee.
How is ready mix concrete delivered?
In a truck mixer of 8 to 12 cubic yards that keeps the concrete mixed on the way (NRMCA).
Next step
Get the exact volume from the concrete calculator yards, then call two producers with the details on this page.
Official sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-05. Numbers come from our tested engine; see how we calculate and our sources.