Concrete Pump Time & Cost Calculator
Estimate how long the pump will be on site — and what it will bill — by checking the pump's placing rate against how fast the ready-mix trucks can deliver.
Concrete Pump Time & Cost Calculator — ConcreteNear.com
| Pumping time | 1.67 hr |
| Concrete supply rate (per hour) | 24 yd³ |
| Effective placing rate (per hour) | 24 yd³ |
| Bottleneck | Ready-mix supply |
| Trucks needed to keep the pump busy | 7 |
Cost estimate U.S. average prices
| Boom pump time 4 hr × $225.00 | $900.00 |
| Per-yard pumping charge 40 yd³ × $4.00 | $160.00 |
| Estimated total | $1,060 |
- The trucks can only deliver about 24 yd³/hr. Ask the plant for 7 trucks to keep up with the pump.
| Inputs | |
| Concrete to pump | 40 yd³ |
| Pump type | Boom pump |
| Pump placing rate (per hour) | 50 yd³ |
| Ready-mix truck size | 10 yd³ |
| Trucks in rotation | 3 |
| Truck round trip (plant → site → plant) | 75 min |
| Setup + washout time | 1 hr |
| Travel time billed (portal to portal) | 1 hr |
| Pump minimum hours | 4 hr |
Planning estimate only — confirm with your supplier or contractor.
Prices used — edit any price to match your local quote
| Item | Unit price | Basis & source |
|---|---|---|
| Boom pump hourly rate per hr | starting estimate Starting estimate for a mid-size (about 32–42 m) boom. Bigger booms cost more. | |
| Pumping charge per yard per yd³ | starting estimate Starting estimate; many pumpers add a per-yard charge on top of hourly time. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter the yards to pump and the pump type.
- Enter a realistic placing rate — crews, not pumps, often set the pace.
- Enter truck size, trucks in rotation and their round trip.
- Read billable hours and the bottleneck.
Formulas
Supply rate (yd³/hr) = trucks × truck size × 60 ÷ round-trip minutesEffective rate = lower of pump rate and supply rateBillable hours = max(minimum, pour hours + setup/washout + travel), rounded up to ½ hr
Questions
How long does it take to pump 10 yards of concrete?
Placing often runs 20–60 yd³ per hour depending on the pump and crew, so 10 yards may take under an hour of pumping — but with setup, washout and minimums, expect to pay for 3–4 hours.
Boom pump or line pump?
Line pumps suit small residential pours and tight access; boom pumps place faster and reach over obstacles.
Why does truck spacing matter?
If trucks can't keep up, the pump waits — and you pay for every hour. The calculator tells you how many trucks keep the pump busy.
Sources & assumptions
Prices checked 2026-11-10. State pricing multiplies national figures by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (goods for materials, services for labor and services). RPPs compare general consumer price levels (U.S. = 100). They are not construction-specific; we use RPP Goods for materials and RPP Services: Other (excludes rents) for labor and services.
Starting estimates No public price series was found for: Boom pump hourly rate; Pumping charge per yard; Line (trailer) pump hourly rate. These defaults are editable placeholders — replace them with a local quote.
Results are planning estimates, not quotes or engineering advice. Codes, specifications and your supplier's numbers govern.
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