Cubic yards, rebar, forming, and finishing labor. Choose a project type below for a complete step-by-step guide with formulas, waste factors, productivity benchmarks, and pro tips.
Concrete is priced per cubic yard of placed material plus forming, reinforcement, and finishing labor. Yield matters: 1 cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, and a 4-inch slab covers about 80 sq ft per yard. A 20×30 garage slab at 4 inches needs 600 ÷ 80 = 7.5 yards; round up to 8 plus a 5–10% safety margin and you're ordering 8.5–9. Short-loading mid-pour is the most expensive mistake in residential concrete — the truck has to come back, you pay a return fee plus minimum yardage, and the cold joint between pours becomes a structural and aesthetic concern. Forming labor varies more than the concrete itself: a simple square slab forms in a day; a shaped patio with curves, drops, or stamped edges can take three. Reinforcement is its own line — #3 rebar at 12-inch grid for a slab, #4 for footings, plus the chairs and tie wire that are easy to forget. Pump trucks add $1,500–$2,500 base cost when access is restricted (back yards, second-floor decks, anywhere a chute won't reach), and that has to be quoted up front because a same-day pump call costs much more. Finish work distinguishes concrete contractors: broom finish is fast and forgiving; trowel finish is harder and requires perfect timing on set; stamped or exposed aggregate is a different skill set entirely with its own labor rate. Always sawcut control joints — uncontrolled cracking on a slab is a callback waiting to happen.
A 4-inch slab covers ~80 sq ft per yard; 6-inch covers ~54 sq ft; 8-inch covers ~40. Thickness determines yardage independent of footprint.
Rebar grid spacing, bar size, mesh vs. rebar, and chair count drive material cost and labor. Confirm the engineer's spec before quoting.
If the truck can't chute it, you need a pump. $1,500–$2,500 minimum, more for boom pumps reaching over buildings. Walk the site before quoting.
Broom finish is the baseline. Trowel adds skill premium. Stamped, stained, or exposed aggregate are specialty finishes priced per sq ft, not bundled.
Always round up plus 5–10%. A short load costs more than overage you can use on a sidewalk patch.
Pump access is binary — either you need one or you don't. Quote it as a separate line so the customer can adjust scope if they want.
Sawcut joints prevent random cracking. Skipping them produces a callback you can't easily fix. Always include in the line items.