Concrete cost by state
Ready-mix runs roughly $125–$210 per cubic yard in 2026, depending on where you build. Here is the map, plus an installed cost estimate.
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Ready-mix price ranges
| Region | Sample states | Per cubic yard | Installed, 4 in slab |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | TX, LA, MS, AL, GA | $120–$150 | $6–$10 / sq ft |
| Midwest | OH, IN, IL, MO, KS | $125–$160 | $7–$11 / sq ft |
| Mountain | CO, UT, AZ, NV | $135–$175 | $8–$12 / sq ft |
| Northeast | NY, NJ, PA, MA | $150–$190 | $9–$14 / sq ft |
| West Coast | CA, OR, WA | $160–$210 | $10–$15 / sq ft |
| Alaska / Hawaii | AK, HI | $180–$240 | $12–$18 / sq ft |
2026 planning ranges for small residential orders. A 3-yard minimum, short-load fees, and Saturday delivery all push the effective price up.
What drives the difference
- Haul distance: concrete must be placed within about 90 minutes of batching, so remote sites pay more.
- Cement cost: cement is the volatile input; regional plant capacity moves prices seasonally.
- Labor rates: finishing crews in coastal metros charge two to three times rural rates.
- Fees: short loads under 3–5 yards typically add $100–$250; Saturday and pump fees add more.
Ways to cut the bill
- Order the full yardage in one pour instead of two — short-load fees usually exceed the waste.
- Schedule midweek, mid-morning; premium delivery windows cost extra.
- Do your own demo and base prep; that is often 20–30% of an installed price.
- For pads under half a yard, bags can beat delivery once fees are counted.
A state is a proxy for a batch plant, not a price
Concrete is a heavy, perishable liquid. It has to be placed within roughly 90 minutes of batching, before hydration makes it unworkable, and it cannot be shipped economically much beyond 30 to 50 miles. So the delivered price at your address is mostly a function of how far the nearest plant is and how many plants are competing for the order.
That is why state averages mislead. Texas has plants every few miles in the metros and a floor near $120 a yard, but the same state has ranch country where the nearest plant is 90 minutes out and the price climbs toward the Northeast range. New Jersey is small and dense, yet its prices sit high because land, permits, and labour are expensive there — not because the haul is long.
A workable rule: two or more suppliers within 20 miles means a competitive order near the low end of the regional band. A single supplier within 40 miles means expecting 15 to 25 percent above it.
What the table can and cannot tell you
These ranges will not budget a specific pour. They will do three useful things: rank regions when you are deciding where a project is worth doing, sanity-check whether a bid is plausible, and tell you when a quote is far enough out of line to get a second one.
For an actual number, call three plants and ask the same question in the same words: “three yards, delivered, 4-inch slump, Saturday morning — what is the total, including every fee?” Ask for the fee schedule in writing, and ask separately for a will-call price if you can haul it yourself. The gap between will-call and delivered is the real cost of delivery in your area, and it is frequently larger than the quote admits.
Why the cheapest month is not the cheapest pour
Demand peaks from late spring through early autumn, when scheduling is hardest and suppliers have the least reason to sharpen a price. Late autumn and winter are softer, and a supplier who is short of work will quote closer to the plant price.
The saving is partly given back in curing. Concrete below about 40 °F hydrates slowly, and a slab that freezes before it reaches strength is damaged permanently. Winter work means heated water or accelerators, insulating blankets, and often a longer wait before you can build on it. For a large pour the trade is worth modelling; for a small one the precautions usually cost more than the discount.
What moves a regional price besides distance
- Cement. It is the volatile input. Plant capacity, energy costs, and imports move cement prices regionally, and ready-mix follows with a lag.
- Aggregate. Sand and stone are quarried locally, so regions with scarce aggregate — coastal metros, islands — pay a premium that has nothing to do with cement.
- Plant consolidation. When two plants in a market become one company, the short-load fee and the minimum order tend to harden before the per-yard price does.
- Labour. Finishing crews set the installed price far more than the material does, and coastal metro rates run two to three times rural ones.
Frequently asked questions
Why is concrete more expensive in some states?
Mostly haul distance from the batch plant, plus cement cost, labor rates, and local fees.
How much is a yard in California?
Commonly $160–$210 delivered, with the Bay Area and Los Angeles at the top of that range.
Are bags cheaper for small jobs?
Under about half a yard, yes — delivery minimums and fees usually outweigh the bag premium.
Why is concrete priced by region instead of by state?
Because concrete cannot travel. It has to be placed within about 90 minutes of batching, so the price at your address reflects the distance to the nearest plant and how many plants compete, not the state line.
How do I get a real price for my address?
Call three plants and ask the same question: three yards, delivered, 4-inch slump, Saturday, total including every fee. Ask for the fee schedule in writing and for a will-call price to see the real delivery cost.
Is concrete cheaper in winter?
Often, because demand falls and suppliers have spare capacity. The discount is partly offset by cold-weather measures: heated water, accelerators, blankets, and a longer wait before loading the slab.
Why can two neighbouring towns differ by 30%?
Distance to the plant, local aggregate availability, and how many suppliers serve the area. A town with one plant 40 miles out pays materially more than a town with three within 20.
Note: Ranges are planning estimates from regional supplier quotes, not offers. Confirm pricing with a local ready-mix supplier before budgeting.
Citing this page? FigureMill, “Concrete cost by state” (last reviewed October 30, 2026). Ready-mix and installed concrete price per cubic yard by state, with active plant counts shown as the reason the spread is wider than the cement price. https://figuremill.com/materials/concrete-cost-by-state
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