Texas · NRMCA 2026 · Updated June 2026
Concrete Prices in Texas — 2026 Cost Guide + Calculator
Ready-mix concrete in Texas costs $126–$150 per cubic yard in 2026 — running about 8% above the Midwest but below the Northeast and West Coast. Houston and Dallas metros are cheapest; rural West Texas runs highest due to plant distance.
Quick Answer
How Much Does Concrete Cost in Texas?
Ready-mix concrete in Texas averages $138 per cubic yard in 2026 for material delivery. The national average is $128/yd³ — Texas runs higher due to strong construction demand from 250,000+ annual housing starts and summer heat requiring additives. Houston and Dallas are the cheapest metros; West Texas rural areas are the most expensive.
Free Tool — Texas Pricing
Texas Concrete Cost Calculator
Pre-loaded with Texas 2026 regional pricing. Select your city for the most accurate local estimate.
Material: NRMCA 2026 Texas data. Installed: RS Means Texas labor rates. Summer pours may add $5–$12/yd³ for heat additives. Always get 3 local quotes.
Local Data
Concrete Prices in Texas — City by City
Prices vary 17% across Texas — from Houston's competitive market at $126/yd³ to remote West Texas at $148+. Urban metros with multiple plants compete more aggressively on price.
| City / Area | Low | Average | High | Key factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston metro | $118 | $126 | $138 | Most competitive market — 20+ plants within 30 miles |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $122 | $130 | $145 | High demand from DFW growth; Midlothian cement plant nearby |
| San Antonio | $124 | $132 | $148 | Cement plant in San Antonio; steady residential demand |
| Austin metro | $128 | $135 | $155 | Tech boom drove 40%+ cost increases 2020–2024; stabilizing |
| El Paso | $132 | $140 | $160 | Border market; cement from Mexico offsets some transport cost |
| Rural West Texas | $138 | $148 | $175 | Long haul from plants; 90-min drum limit adds cost |
| Corpus Christi | $120 | $130 | $145 | Port access for aggregate; Gulf Coast humidity affects curing |
| Lubbock / Amarillo | $130 | $142 | $162 | Panhandle market; freeze-thaw cycles in Amarillo add air-entrainment cost |
Source: NRMCA 2026 survey · RS Means Texas metro cost data · direct supplier interviews. Prices are material delivery only.
Common Question
How Much Is a 10-Yard Truck of Concrete in Texas?
A full 10-yard ready-mix truck in Texas costs $1,242–$1,500 for material delivery in 2026, depending on your location and PSI spec. At the statewide average of $138/yd³, a 10-yard load comes to $1,380.
Most Texas plants have a minimum order of 1 yard and charge a short-load surcharge of $15–$35/yd³ for orders under 8 yards. Houston and DFW plants are most competitive on price; West Texas plants often add fuel surcharges of $40–$80 per load for rural deliveries.
Project Reference
Texas Concrete Cost by Project Size — 2026
All figures use the Texas statewide average of $138/yd³ for material. Installed costs use RS Means Texas labor rates ($7–$9/sq ft labor range).
| Project | Dimensions | Thickness | Yd³ | Material (TX) | Installed (TX) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small patio | 10×10 ft | 4" | 1.4 | $175–$210 | $600–$1,100 |
| Standard patio | 20×20 ft | 4" | 5.5 | $690–$820 | $2,400–$4,400 |
| Single driveway | 40×12 ft | 6" | 9.8 | $1,230–$1,470 | $4,300–$7,900 |
| 2-car garage floor | 24×24 ft | 4" | 8.7 | $1,090–$1,300 | $3,200–$5,900 |
| 20×20 concrete slab | 20×20 ft | 6" | 8.2 | $1,030–$1,230 | $3,200–$5,900 |
| 30×30 concrete slab | 30×30 ft | 6" | 18.5 | $2,320–$2,770 | $7,300–$13,500 |
| 40×60 barn floor | 40×60 ft | 6" | 49.3 | $6,180–$7,380 | $19,200–$35,200 |
| Pool deck | 500 sq ft | 4" | 6.9 | $865–$1,030 | $3,200–$5,800 |
Material at $126–$150/yd³ Texas range with 10% overage. Installed includes labor, forming, subbase, and rebar. Summer pours add $5–$12/yd³ for heat mitigation additives.
Essential Knowledge
What Is the 90-Minute Rule for Concrete — and Why It Matters in Texas
ASTM C94 — the standard governing ready-mix concrete — requires that concrete be discharged within 90 minutes of water contact or after the drum has rotated 300 times, whichever comes first. After that point, the concrete begins to set and the batch must be rejected.
In Texas, this rule has major cost implications for rural West Texas projects. A plant in Odessa serving a ranch 60+ miles away may only have 20–30 minutes of usable pour time after arrival, especially in summer when ambient temperatures above 100°F accelerate hydration. Plants respond by:
- Adding ice or chilled water ($3–$8/yd³)
- Using set retarders ($4–$10/yd³)
- Charging rural delivery premiums ($40–$80/load)
- Requiring early morning pours (before 7am) in summer
Market Analysis
Why Concrete Costs More in Texas Than the Midwest
Construction demand pressure
Texas permitted 230,000+ new housing units in 2025 — more than any other state. DFW and Houston metros alone account for 15%+ of US residential construction. This sustained demand keeps plants running at capacity and limits price competition.
Summer heat additives
Temperatures above 90°F accelerate concrete hydration and require set retarders, chilled water, or ice — adding $5–$15/yd³ to summer pours from May through October. This is a cost Midwest markets rarely face.
Post-tension slab standard
Expansive clay soils across most of Texas make post-tension slabs the standard for residential foundations — requiring higher-PSI concrete (4,000+) and more complex forming. This pushes average project cost above Midwest equivalents.
Rural market premiums
Texas is the second-largest state by area. The distance between cement plants means rural projects pay 15–25% above Houston or DFW prices. West Texas and the Panhandle are the highest-cost sub-markets in the state.
Pro Tips — Texas Market
How to Get the Best Concrete Price in Texas
Common Questions
Concrete Prices in Texas — FAQ
Ready-mix concrete in Texas costs $126–$150 per cubic yard in 2026, with a statewide average of $138/yd³. Houston is the cheapest major market at $126/yd³ average; rural West Texas is most expensive at $148+. These prices are for material delivery only — installed costs including labor, forming, and subbase run $5–$11 per square foot for a standard pour.
A 20×20 ft concrete slab at 4 inches thick in Texas requires about 5.5 cubic yards. Material cost runs $690–$825 at Texas pricing. Installed (including labor, forming, and subbase prep) typically runs $2,400–$4,400 in Houston and DFW, or up to $5,500 in Austin. Use the calculator above to get a city-specific estimate.
A 40×60 ft concrete slab (2,400 sq ft) at 6 inches thick — common for barns, shops, and equipment pads — requires about 49 cubic yards in Texas. Material cost runs $6,180–$7,380. Installed cost including labor, rebar (#4 on 18" grid), subbase, and forming typically runs $19,200–$35,200 depending on location and finish type.
ASTM C94 requires ready-mix concrete to be discharged within 90 minutes of water contact or 300 drum rotations. In Texas, summer heat above 100°F can cut this window to 45–60 minutes, affecting rural projects far from batch plants. Contractors handle this with set retarders ($4–$10/yd³), chilled water, early-morning scheduling, or mobile mixers for very remote sites.
Houston is slightly cheaper than Dallas — $126/yd³ average vs $130/yd³ in DFW. Houston has more plants competing within delivery range and Corpus Christi port access for aggregate. Dallas benefits from the Midlothian cement plant nearby but faces higher demand pressure from DFW's rapid growth. Both are significantly cheaper than Austin ($135/yd³), which saw the largest cost increases in Texas from 2020–2024.
Texas city-level pricing based on NRMCA 2026 regional survey cross-referenced with RS Means DFW, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin metro cost multipliers. 90-minute rule guidance from ASTM C94. Cement plant locations from PCA. Summer heat surcharge ranges from direct supplier interviews in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio markets. Updated June 2026.