Calculators/ Concrete/Project Material Cost
Project Material Cost
Full materials list and cost for a whole project.
Most calculators price one material at a time, which is not how a project is budgeted. This returns the whole materials list with quantities and a running cost, using current US material prices that update monthly from federal index data.
How this is calculated
- Each project type has its own bill of materials. A concrete patio needs concrete, a gravel base and rebar; a deck needs boards, joists, posts, footing concrete and fasteners.
- Quantities come from the same formulas as our individual calculators, so a slab here matches the slab calculator exactly.
- Unit prices for the major materials come from our material price tracking, derived from the US Producer Price Index. Fasteners and specialty items use typical retail prices.
- The total is material only. Labour, delivery, permits, tool hire and disposal are not included, and together they often exceed the material cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is not included in this estimate?
Labour, delivery, permits, equipment hire, excavation and waste disposal. On a typical residential project, material is between a third and a half of the finished cost.
How current are the prices?
The major materials track the US Producer Price Index, which updates monthly. See our material prices page for the current figures and twelve-month trends.
Why does my local quote differ?
Regional cost differences are large: the West Coast and Northeast run 18 to 22 percent above the national average, the South about nine percent below. Use this to sanity-check a quote, not to replace one.