North Carolina · NRMCA 2026 · Updated June 2026
Concrete Prices in North Carolina — 2026 Cost Guide + Calculator
Ready-mix concrete material in North Carolina costs $110–$148 per cubic yard in 2026. You may see figures of $160–$195/yd³ online — those include labor and contractor markup. The actual material delivery price averages $124/yd³ statewide, with Charlotte and Raleigh at the high end and Eastern NC at the low end.
Important Clarification
Why NC Quotes Look Higher Than the Material Price
AI overviews and many websites cite $160–$195/yd³ as the NC concrete price — but this is the fully installed project cost converted to a per-yard figure. It bundles material, labor, site prep, forming, and contractor margin into one number. The actual ready-mix material delivery price in NC is $110–$148/yd³ depending on your location. Understanding this difference helps you evaluate every quote you receive.
Free Tool — NC Pricing
North Carolina Concrete Cost Calculator
Pre-loaded with NC 2026 regional pricing. Select your city or region for the most accurate local estimate.
Material: NRMCA 2026 NC data. Installed: RS Means NC labor rates. Western NC mountain sites add $2–$4/sq ft for rock excavation and access. Always get 3 local quotes.
Local Data
Concrete Prices in NC — City by City
NC prices vary 35% from Eastern Coastal Plain ($110/yd³) to the Western mountains ($148+/yd³) — driven by terrain, plant distance, and market demand.
| City / Region | Low | Average | High | Key factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern NC / Coastal Plain Wilmington, Greenville, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount | $105 | $110 | $128 | Near SC and VA suppliers; flat terrain; lower labor costs |
| Piedmont Triad Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point | $112 | $118 | $138 | Central location with multiple plant options; steady industrial demand |
| Durham / Chapel Hill | $115 | $122 | $140 | Research Triangle demand; university construction; growth market |
| Raleigh metro Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest | $118 | $126 | $148 | Fastest-growing NC metro; demand pressure raising prices year-over-year |
| Charlotte metro Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Rock Hill border | $122 | $130 | $155 | Largest NC market; Carolina Ready Mix dominates; traffic adds delivery cost |
| Asheville | $128 | $138 | $162 | Mountain access premiums; tourism-driven demand; limited plant options |
| Western NC mountains Boone, Blowing Rock, Brevard, Highlands | $140 | $148 | $228+ | Most expensive NC market; 4,000 PSI often required; steep site access; minimal competition |
Source: NRMCA 2026 · RS Means NC metro cost data. Material delivery only. The $228/yd³ high figure reflects actual quotes for 4,000 PSI mix in remote Western NC mountain sites (reported by NC contractors, 2026).
Project Reference
NC Concrete Cost by Project — 2026
Using NC statewide average of $124/yd³ for material. Installed costs use RS Means NC labor rates.
| Project | Dimensions | Thickness | Yd³ | Material (NC avg) | Installed (NC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small patio | 10×10 ft | 4" | 1.4 | $157–$188 | $500–$1,100 |
| 20×20 slab | 20×20 ft | 4" | 5.5 | $621–$742 | $2,000–$4,400 |
| 20×20 slab | 20×20 ft | 6" | 8.2 | $926–$1,107 | $3,000–$6,600 |
| Single driveway | 40×12 ft | 6" | 9.8 | $1,107–$1,323 | $3,840–$7,680 |
| 30×30 slab | 30×30 ft | 4" | 12.4 | $1,399–$1,673 | $4,500–$9,900 |
| 30×30 slab | 30×30 ft | 6" | 18.5 | $2,090–$2,498 | $6,750–$14,850 |
| 40×60 barn / shop | 40×60 ft | 6" | 49.3 | $5,567–$6,657 | $14,400–$28,800 |
| 2-car garage floor | 24×24 ft | 4" | 8.7 | $982–$1,174 | $3,456–$6,912 |
Charlotte and Raleigh projects add 5–10% to installed costs. Western NC mountain sites add $2–$4/sq ft for rock excavation and difficult access. Asheville projects typically run 10–15% above statewide average.
Market Analysis
Why Concrete Prices Vary Across North Carolina
Charlotte vs Eastern NC — 18% gap
Charlotte's construction boom and traffic-heavy I-485 loop add delivery time and demand pressure. Eastern NC benefits from proximity to South Carolina suppliers and flat terrain that makes excavation cheap. A 20×20 patio costs $300–$500 more in Charlotte than in Greenville or Fayetteville.
Raleigh growth premium
The Research Triangle is the fastest-growing metro in North Carolina. Triangle Ready Mix, Kerr's Concrete, and Carolina Ready Mix all serve the market — but demand from tech campus construction and residential growth has pushed prices up 12% since 2022.
Western mountains — the most expensive market
Asheville and the mountain counties require concrete to travel narrow, steep roads. Trucks can only carry reduced loads on mountain grades. Some remote sites require pumping. A project in Boone pays $148/yd³ average vs $110 in Wilmington — and the contractor's access premium adds $2–$4/sq ft on top.
NC freeze-thaw in the Piedmont and mountains
Western NC and the Piedmont get 20–40 freeze-thaw cycles per year — enough to crack an under-spec slab. ACI recommends air-entrained concrete (adds $3–$8/yd³) and 3,500 PSI minimum for exterior slabs in these regions. Coastal plain areas can use standard 3,000 PSI.
Essential Knowledge
The 90-Minute Rule — and Why It Matters for NC Mountain Projects
ASTM C94 requires ready-mix concrete to be discharged within 90 minutes of water contact. In the NC mountains, a plant in Morganton or Marion serving a site near Boone or Banner Elk may already be 60+ minutes away — leaving almost no working time after arrival.
This is why mountain NC contractors often use set retarders ($4–$10/yd³) to extend the working window, schedule pours for early morning when roads are clear, and sometimes use mobile drum mixers for very remote sites. These costs explain part of the $228+/yd³ quotes seen in the mountains.
Pro Tips — NC Market
How to Get the Best Concrete Price in North Carolina
Common Questions
Concrete Prices in North Carolina — FAQ
Ready-mix concrete material in North Carolina costs $110–$148 per cubic yard in 2026, with a statewide average of $124/yd³. Eastern NC (Wilmington, Fayetteville) averages $110/yd³; Western NC mountains average $148+/yd³. The $160–$195/yd³ figures cited by some sources include labor, site prep, and contractor margin — not the material delivery price alone.
A 20×20 ft slab at 4 inches thick in NC requires about 5.5 cubic yards. Material cost runs $621–$742. Installed cost runs $2,000–$4,400 depending on location — Eastern NC at the low end, Charlotte and Asheville at the high end. At 6 inches thick (garage floor or driveway), material cost rises to $926–$1,107 with installed at $3,000–$6,600.
A 40×60 ft slab at 6 inches thick in NC requires about 49 cubic yards. Material cost runs $5,567–$6,657. Installed cost including labor, rebar, subbase, and forming typically runs $14,400–$28,800 — Piedmont and Eastern NC at the low end, Charlotte and Western NC at the high end.
ASTM C94 requires ready-mix concrete to be discharged within 90 minutes of water contact. In Western NC mountains, plants may be 60+ minutes from remote sites — leaving minimal working time. Set retarders ($4–$10/yd³) extend the window. In Charlotte and Raleigh, traffic congestion during peak hours can delay trucks past the limit — most plants schedule pours before 7am or after 2pm in urban metros.
Raleigh averages $126/yd³ vs Charlotte at $130/yd³ — Raleigh is slightly cheaper. Charlotte's larger market has more competing suppliers but also higher demand and traffic delivery costs. Both are significantly more expensive than Eastern NC ($110/yd³) and slightly more expensive than the Piedmont Triad ($118/yd³). For the best pricing in central NC, the Greensboro-Winston-Salem market often offers the most competition.
NC city-level pricing from NRMCA 2026 and RS Means cost multipliers for Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Asheville markets. Western NC mountain premium ($148–$228/yd³) from contractor-reported data collected via industry forums (2025–2026). Freeze-thaw cycle data from NOAA climate normals for NC weather stations. Updated June 2026.