Work out ready mix concrete order instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Ready mix is ordered on gross volume: the measured requirement plus a wastage allowance of five to ten percent for pump priming, spillage, over-dig and the concrete left in the drum. Dividing by truck capacity gives the number of loads, which matters because part loads usually attract a surcharge.
Order volume
V order = net volume x (1 + wastage)
Loads and cost
Loads = ceil(V order / truck capacity); cost = V order x unit price
V order = net volume x (1 + wastage). Ready mix is ordered on gross volume: the measured requirement plus a wastage allowance of five to ten percent for pump priming, spillage, over-dig and the concrete left in the drum.
Running short mid-pour creates a cold joint, which is far more expensive to remedy than a small surplus. Ordering slightly over is standard practice.
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Net concrete volume, Wastage allowance, Truck mixer capacity, Price per cubic metre. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.