How Many Yards of Concrete in a Truck?
A standard ready-mix truck holds 8 to 11 cubic yards, and most deliver 9 to 10 on a full load. Drum capacity is higher than that, but road weight limits, not drum size, set the practical maximum.
Ten yards of concrete weighs about 40,500 lb on its own, and the truck adds another 26,000–30,000 lb.
| Truck type | Typical load | Concrete weight | Covers at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini mixer / trailer | 1–4 yd³ | 4,050–16,200 lb | 81–324 sq ft |
| Standard rear-discharge | 8–10 yd³ | 32,400–40,500 lb | 648–810 sq ft |
| Front-discharge | 10–11 yd³ | 40,500–44,600 lb | 810–891 sq ft |
| Volumetric (mix on site) | up to 10 yd³ | varies | up to 810 sq ft |
Local bridge and axle weight laws often cap loads below drum capacity, especially in the Northeast.
Why trucks rarely run full
A cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,050 lb. Ten yards is 40,500 lb of payload, and an empty mixer weighs 26,000–30,000 lb — a combined 66,000–70,000 lb before you count fuel and the driver.
The federal limit on interstate highways is 80,000 lb gross, but state axle limits and local bridge postings are often stricter. Many plants routinely load 8–9 yards to stay legal on residential roads.
Planning a pour bigger than one truck
Above roughly 10 yards you need multiple loads, and the pour has to stay continuous. Things to sort out before the day:
- Stagger deliveries 30–45 minutes apart so each truck discharges into fresh concrete
- Confirm site access and turning space — a loaded mixer needs firm ground
- Have enough crew to place and finish at the rate the trucks arrive
- Agree what happens to leftover concrete on the last load
A 24 × 24 garage floor at 6 inches is 10.67 yards — just over one truck. Rounding the design to 5.5 inches or accepting a slightly thinner edge can keep you in a single load and save a whole delivery charge.
Small pours: minimums and short loads
Suppliers usually set a minimum of 1 yard and charge a short-load fee below 3–5 yards — $40–$60 per yard or $100–$180 flat. For very small jobs, a volumetric truck that mixes on site charges only for what you use, and trailer-mounted mixers are available to rent. Costs are broken down on how much a yard of concrete costs.
Estimating notes
- Trucks carry about 300 gallons of wash water separately — it must not go into your mix.
- Most suppliers allow 45–60 minutes of unloading before standby charges start.
- Work out how many loads you need with the concrete volume calculator.