Concrete Delivery Calculator: How Many Truck Loads & Short-Load Fees
This concrete delivery calculator tells you how many mixer truck loads your pour requires and warns when a small order triggers short-load fees. Enter your total cubic yards to plan deliveries around the standard 10-yard full truck.
Estimated concrete
Estimates only. Add ~5–10% for waste. Bag yields: 40 lb ≈ 0.30, 60 lb ≈ 0.45, 80 lb ≈ 0.60 cu ft. Concrete ≈ 150 lb per cu ft.
How to Use the Concrete Delivery Calculator
- 1
Enter your dimensions
Type the length, width and thickness of your slab, footing or pad and choose your units, feet, inches or meters.
- 2
Get instant volume
See the result in cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters, plus weight, the moment you type, no page reloads.
- 3
Buy the right amount
We convert volume into the exact number of 40, 60 and 80 lb bags, truck loads and cost so you order without waste or shortfalls.
The formula
Truck loads = total cubic yards ÷ 10 (a full mixer drum holds 10 yd³), rounded up
- ·total cubic yards = project volume including waste (yd³)
- ·10 = maximum drum capacity per truck (yd³)
- ·loads = number of trucks, rounded up
- ·short load = any partial truck below full capacity
- ·full load = a truck carrying its complete drum
Round the load count up because you cannot order a fraction of a truck. Any delivery below a full drum usually triggers a short-load fee.
Worked examples
Example 1: 24 x 24 ft slab, 5 in thick
- Cubic feet = 24 × 24 × (5 ÷ 12) = 240 ft³
- Yards = 240 ÷ 27 = 8.89, +10% waste = 9.78 yd³
- Loads = 9.78 ÷ 10 = 0.98, round up to 1 truck
- Under a full drum, so a short-load fee applies
Result: 1 truck (short load)
Example 2: Large commercial pour needing 45 yd³
- Loads = 45 ÷ 10 = 4.5
- Round up to 5 trucks
- Four full 10-yd³ loads = 40 yd³
- Fifth truck carries the remaining 5 yd³
Result: 5 trucks (4 full + 1 partial)
Concrete calculators by project type
Concrete bag yield & coverage
How much mixed concrete a standard bag yields, and how far a cubic yard goes at common slab depths.
| Bag size | Yield (cu ft) | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.30 | 90 |
| 60 lb | 0.45 | 60 |
| 80 lb | 0.60 | 45 |
- 40 lb
- 60 lb
- 80 lb
Related guides
Concrete Delivery FAQs
How many yards of concrete does a truck hold?
A standard fully loaded concrete mixer truck holds about 10 cubic yards. Trucks are often loaded to 8 or 9 yards to stay within road weight limits.
What is a short-load fee for concrete?
A short-load fee is an extra charge plants add when you order less than a full truck, often below 4 to 5 cubic yards. The fee covers the cost of sending a partly filled truck.
How many truck loads do I need for my pour?
Divide your total cubic yards by about 10 to estimate full loads, then round up for the final partial truck. Large slabs may need multiple back-to-back trucks to keep the pour continuous.
How long can a concrete truck wait on site?
Most plants allow a set number of free minutes to unload, then charge demurrage or wait time by the minute. Have your crew and forms fully ready before the truck arrives.
Can I get concrete delivered for a small job?
Yes, but small orders usually carry a short-load fee, and some areas offer trailer-mounted or metered mini-mix delivery instead. Compare the short-load charge against buying bags for very small pours.
How much does concrete delivery cost?
Delivery is often bundled into the per-yard price of about $125 to $165, with separate fees for short loads or long hauls. Ask your plant for the delivery radius and any surcharge before ordering.
How does the calculator count the number of truck loads?
It divides your total cubic yards by 10, the maximum drum capacity, and rounds up to a whole number of trucks. For example, 26 yards needs three trucks because 26 ÷ 10 rounds up from 2.6. The final truck carries whatever volume is left over.
What is the maximum a standard mixer drum holds?
A standard transit mixer drum is rated at about 10 cubic yards, which is why the tool divides by 10. Because of highway weight limits, many trucks actually leave the plant with 8 to 9 yards of a normal-weight mix. Ask your supplier what they load per truck if you are near a load boundary.
Why can't a truck always be filled to a full 10 yards?
Concrete is heavy at roughly 4,050 pounds per yard, so a fully loaded 10-yard drum can exceed legal axle weight limits on public roads. Plants often cap loads at 8 to 9 yards to stay legal, especially in states with strict weight enforcement. The drum capacity and the legal payload are two different numbers.
What is standby or demurrage time?
Most suppliers include a set unloading window, often 5 to 7 minutes per yard, and charge a standby fee for time beyond that. Delays from unprepared forms or slow crews can add $2 to $5 per minute. Have your site fully ready before the truck arrives to avoid these charges.
Should I order slightly more concrete than the raw calculation?
Yes, the calculator already adds 10% for waste, spillage, and subgrade variation. Running short mid-pour forces an emergency short load and can create a cold joint where the two batches meet. It is far cheaper to order a little extra than to stop a pour.
Can two trucks pour into the same slab?
Yes, large slabs are routinely poured continuously from multiple trucks staged back to back. The key is timing so each truck arrives before the previous batch starts to set, keeping the concrete monolithic. Coordinate arrival intervals with your supplier when ordering multiple loads.
What happens if I order too little concrete?
If a truck empties before the pour is finished, the concrete already placed begins to cure while you wait for more, creating a cold joint that is weaker and prone to cracking. A second short-notice delivery also costs a full trip charge plus a short-load fee. This is exactly why the 10% waste buffer exists.