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Concrete cost calculator: price the pour before you bid
Concrete jobs tie up money longer than most trades: you pay for the crew, forms, pump and concrete up front, then wait on a 90-day holdback. Enter the job and see your break-even, your target price and your price per cubic yard.
Seven costs every concrete bid has to cover
Example: a house foundation, 45 cubic yards, you supply the concrete
4 workers × 6 days × 9 hours = 216 crew hours at $35/hour. Overhead of $10,000 a month over 4 jobs. Target margin 15%.
| Crew labour with CPP, EI, vacation pay and WCB | $8,793 |
| Labour contingency (10%) | $879 |
| Materials | $11,500 |
| Equipment, fuel and disposal | $2,400 |
| Share of overhead | $2,500 |
| Cost of waiting to be paid | $179 |
| Break-even price | $27,452 |
| Price for a 15% margin | $32,296 |
| Target price per cubic yard | $717.69 |
These are example numbers to show how the math works, not market prices. Your wages, rates and overhead will be different, so put in your own. WCB uses the 2026 Alberta industry rate for Concrete Construction (42104).
Concrete pricing questions
How do I price concrete work per cubic yard?
Add up labour with payroll costs and WCB, concrete and rebar, pump and forming costs and your overhead share, add your margin, then divide by the cubic yards poured.
Why does concrete holdback take longer?
In Alberta the lien period for concrete work is 90 days instead of 60, so the holdback is commonly held longer. Pick Concrete in the app and it sets this for you.
Can I add a pump or a sub as its own cost?
Yes. Add rentals line by line and put any trades you hire under subcontractors.
Is it free?
The job check is free. Proposals, invoices and your logo come with Pro, and new accounts get a 14-day Pro trial with no card needed.
Other trades
Check your next concrete job before you bid it.
It takes about two minutes. Then turn it into a proposal with your logo and GST number.
Open the concrete calculator →