The price of building materials seems to be skyrocketing these last couple of years. So figuring up prices isn’t easy. However, when figuring prices you can still go by the charts of how things are changing.

The best way to find your exact price is to contact the person or company you’re going to be buying from and compare it to other options. As for concrete, we have a guide right here to help you get started.

How Much Is A Yard Of Concrete?

A yard of concrete doesn’t cost the same across the board. There are many things to take into consideration. The average cost for a yard of concrete is around $90 per cubic yard. This isn’t a linear yard.

Because when pouring concrete, it’s important to figure up how much bulk you need because the thickness is just as important as the area that the concrete covers. That’s why it is measured in cubic yards.

You can try to measure it in another way but this is difficult to do. Unlike wood, brick, tile, and other types of building materials, concrete doesn’t have a set thickness. You create the thickness, so cubic measurements are necessary.

Yard Of Concrete Cost Factors

The cost of the concrete depends on a lot of different things. For example, the intricacy of the concrete is a huge factor. Simply poured concrete is much cheaper than stamped and stained concrete will be.

But that’s just one factor to consider. There are still other primary factors that make a huge difference in the cost of the concrete. Here are the main ones to look out for so that you don’t overspend on concrete costs.

Volume

If you’re not so good at math, don’t worry, figuring the volume of concrete you need isn’t difficult. Just multiple (in feet) the length by the width by the depth of the area that needs to be filled. Then divide it by 27. Yes,always 27.

It’s always good to add around 10 percent to the total in order for you to ensure that you have enough. Don’t forget to measure the area twice so that you can make sure that you got the measurements right.

Recipe

All concrete has cement in it, but the exact ratio of cement to water and other ingredients varies. Different projects need different types of concrete. It takes an expert to find out the right mix for the job.

However, you can get pre-mixed bags of concrete that doesn’t have water. The bags will tell you what the concrete is for. Or, you can buy in bulk and the company can help you find out the right mix.

Delivery

If you do buy in bulk, expect to pay somewhere between $50 and $200 for the truck to deliver the load to you, even if you live nearby. We’ll talk more about other types of labor later but right now it’s just delivery.

The price of delivery may or not include the unloading cost. So make sure you always ask the company if it does include this and what else it includes. They may have other contractors for different jobs.

Location

Your region will matter a lot, as will your exact location. If you live in the country, then you may pay differently than someone that lives in the city. So call your local retailer or concrete company to find out the exact costs.

On that same note, you may be able to find cheaper prices online since they can deliver anywhere. But the delivery fee may not be worth it so always make sure that you count the shipping and delivery costs as part of the total costs.

Grading And Bases

This is something a lot of people tend to forget about. But there are other steps to putting in concrete other than pouring it. You need to prepare the ground by grading it and adding a base. Then you need to reinforce the concrete.

So these three steps are important additions to cost. While they may not cost as much as the concrete nor the labor of concrete pouring, you should still add them to the list if you’re working with a budget.

Concrete Price Per Yard Labor Costs

The labor cost of concrete can be quite a hefty portion of the total cost. A good rule of thumb is to double the cost of the concrete itself and you have your total cost including labor. This isn’t a set amount, but a decent estimate.

But if you want a more accurate number then take the cubic yards you are working with and multiply that by around 50. This will give a decent estimate but it’s not always accurate. There is only one accurate way to do it.

Call the contractor in question and ask them for numbers. You will need to keep a pen and paper nearby to write down anything that you need to make notes of, such as other labor costs you didn’t foresee.

How Much Is Concrete Per Yard Compared To Other Materials?

Concrete isn’t the cheapest material you can buy nor is it the most expensive. Since we are talking about pouring concrete, let’s use a 10×10 area that is 4-inches thick to compare the prices. So how much for concrete?

If you use the formula above, you can figure that a 10×10 slab of concrete that is four inches thick will cost around $120, or just under. For an accurate estimate, contact your contractor. But for this comparison, we’ll use this price.

Wood

A wood deck is an alternative to a concrete patio or whatever else you’re building with that concrete slab. Again, wood has a huge range due to the different types of wood and the rising and falling prices.

You will pay anywhere from $10 to $100 per square foot, depending on what you buy and where you buy it from. So expect to pay quite a bit for a deck of this size, definitely more than what you’d pay for concrete.

Gravel

This also varies because of the sheer amount of gravel options. You can get tiny pea gravel or large lava rocks. This is also sold by the cubic yard on most occasions so it’s easier to compare it to concrete.

Most of the time you’ll pay between $30 and $60 per cubic yard. Compare this to the $90 per cubic yard of concrete and you’ll see you’ll probably pay a little, or possibly a lot, less for gravel than concrete.

Pavers

The thing about pavers is that you won’t be paying for thickness but rather surface area. The cost is also much broader in range than concrete. It can cost anywhere from $1 per square foot to up to $20.

It depends on the type of pavers that you choose. With this figure though you can estimate to pay somewhere between $100 and $1500 for this area of 100sqft or a 10×10 patio. So it can be cheaper than concrete or more expensive.

Brick

This is another surprisingly affordable option. Since bricks have a set thickness, you are paying for square footage here. On average, you will pay somewhere between $15 to $30 per square foot for brick.

The total cost will be around $1500 and $3000 for a 10×10 area. This seems quite pricey indeed. But this is the total cost including labor costs. There are many steps to installing brick and requires a professional mason.

Tile

Tile is an interesting choice for outdoors and it has the largest range of all. Because you are paying for having the tile laid but you are also paying for the tile, and the price of tile varies by a lot, more than anything else.

Some time can cost less than$1 per square foot while others can cost $20 per square foot. Some people use only accent tiles which is extremely expensive while others only use clearance tiles or broken tiles.

Sand

Sand isn’t always an option but it can be if you want a beachy patio. It’s important to leave a border so that the sand will stay in place. Luckily, sand doesn’t need as much prep work as others and only needs tamped down.

You will generally pay anywhere from $10 to $20 per cubic yard which is insanely cheap. However, this is if you buy in bulk, which may get you extra sand that you don’t need. So be careful where you order from.

Choosing Concrete

The price of concrete is enough to make you want to choose it but knowing if it is right for you is another story. Not everyone likes concrete and if you want something fancy, like stamped concrete, it is no longer cheap.

So there are a few things to consider. First of all, do you like the look? Staining is an affordable option that can make your concrete look phenomenal! But it’s still not for everyone. Some people don’t like the look.

Either way, it’s okay. Just remember the few simple things to keep in mind: cost, aesthetics, and compatibility. Sand isn’t great for certain climates while tile isn’t good for others. So these three questions will get you your answer.