Concrete Truck Calculator: How Many Yards per Truck and How Many Trucks
A ready-mix concrete truck holds 8 to 12 cubic yards (5 to 9 m³), according to NRMCA, so a 20×20 ft slab at 4 in fits in one truck.
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
- A truck mixer holds 8–12 yd³ (NRMCA).
- A 20×20 slab at 4 in fits in one truck.
- 10 yards cost about $1,600–1,950 before fees.
- Order 4–10% extra (NRMCA).
How Many Yards Does a Concrete Truck Hold?
A truck mixer holds 8 to 12 cubic yards (5 to 9 m³) of concrete, according to NRMCA's "Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete" sheet. The truck keeps the concrete uniformly mixed on the way to the site.
How Many Concrete Trucks Do I Need?
You need your volume with extra divided by the truck size, rounded up. This calculator counts trucks at 12 and at 8 yd³, this calculator's own rule inside NRMCA's range; the calculator's full breakdown shows both.
Trucks for Common Slabs
| Slab | yd³ with 10% | Trucks at 12 yd³ | Trucks at 8 yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20×20 ft, 4 in | 5.43 | 1 | 1 |
| 24×24 ft, 4 in | 7.82 | 1 | 1 |
| 30×40 ft, 4 in | 16.30 | 2 | 3 |
| 40×60 ft, 4 in | 32.59 | 3 | 5 |
| 40×60 ft, 6 in | 48.89 | 5 | 7 |
Can a Truck Hold 11 Yards?
Yes, an 11 yd³ load is inside the 8 to 12 cubic yard range of truck mixers that NRMCA gives; the supplier's truck size and road weight limits decide the actual load.
How Much Is a Truck of Concrete?
A truck of concrete costs its yards × the ready-mix price: at $160 to $195 per yard (Concrete Network's national range), 10 yards cost $1,600 to $1,950 before delivery fees.
Truck or Bags?
A truck beats bags above about 1 cubic yard, this calculator's own rule; see when ready-mix beats bags.
How to Order a Truck of Concrete
Order with your volume plus 4 to 10 percent, the strength you need and the delivery details; the steps are in ordering concrete from a plant.
Worked Examples: Trucks for Three Pours
24×24 garage at 4 in. 7.82 yd³ with extra = 1 truck at 12 yd³.
30×40 barn slab at 4 in. 16.30 yd³ = 2 trucks at 12 yd³ or 3 at 8 yd³.
40×60 shop slab at 6 in. 48.89 yd³ = 5 trucks at 12 yd³.
How Much Does a Concrete Truck Weigh?
The concrete alone in a 10 yd³ load weighs about 40,500 lb at 150 lb/ft³ (this calculator's density), which is why trucks need firm access to the pour.
Short Loads and Partial Trucks
You can order less than a full truck, but small orders often carry short-load fees that vary by producer; NRMCA advises avoiding small clean-up loads by re-checking the quantity before the last truck.
Truck Capacity in Cubic Meters
A truck mixer carries 5 to 9 m³ of concrete (NRMCA CIP 31).
How Much Concrete Does a Truck Cover?
A 10 yd³ load covers 810 sq ft at 4 in, or 540 sq ft at 6 in; a full 12 yd³ truck covers 972 sq ft at 4 in.
How to Know How Many Trucks You Need
- Calculate the volume with 10% extra.
- Divide by your supplier's truck size (8 to 12 yd³, NRMCA).
- Round up; the last truck is often a partial load.
- Tell the producer the delivery rate so trucks arrive as the crew is ready.
Example: a 30×40 ft slab at 4 in (16.30 yd³) needs 2 trucks at 12 yd³.
Concrete Truck Calculator FAQ
How much is a 10 yard concrete truck?
Ten cubic yards of ready-mix cost about $1,600–1,950 at Concrete Network's national range, before delivery and other fees.
Is it cheaper to get a concrete truck or bags?
A truck is usually cheaper above about 1 yd³; one yard is 45 bags of 80 lb mix.
How many yards of concrete do I need for a 24×24×4 slab?
A 24×24 ft slab at 4 in needs 7.11 yd³, or 7.82 yd³ with extra, one truck.
Next step
Book the truck with how to order ready-mix concrete.
Official sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-05. Numbers come from our tested engine; see how we calculate and our sources.