Concrete Prices in Australia — Ready-Mix Rates by City and Grade (2026)
National pricing guide with grade breakdowns, delivery costs, and historical trends. Updated quarterly.
Ready-mix concrete in Australia costs $320–490 per cubic metre in 2026, depending on grade, city, and delivery distance. Prices have risen ~5% annually since 2021, driven by energy, diesel, and labour cost increases. Enter your postcode for exact local pricing.
National ready-mix prices by grade
Typical delivered price ranges across Australian capital cities. Actual prices depend on your suburb and distance from the batching plant.
N20
20 MPa · AS 1379
$320–340/m³
Paths, garden edges, non-structural
N25
25 MPa · AS 1379
$340–370/m³
Driveways, residential slabs, paths
Most commonN32
32 MPa · AS 1379 / BCA
$370–400/m³
House slabs, footings, structural
N40
40 MPa · AS 1379 / BCA
$400–440/m³
High-load structural, suspended slabs
N50
50 MPa · AS 1379 / BCA
$440–490/m³
Commercial / industrial structural
Concrete prices by city
Sydney
LiveN20
$320–340/m³
N25
$340–370/m³
N32
$370–400/m³
N40
$400–440/m³
N50
$440–490/m³
Standard delivery within 20 km: $80–120. Weekend surcharge: +$50–80. Short-load fee (under 4 m³): +$50–200.
Full Sydney pricing, delivery zones, and bookingMelbourne
Coming soonWe're expanding to Melbourne. Pricing data will be added as suppliers come onboard.
Brisbane
Coming soonWe're expanding to Brisbane. Pricing data will be added as suppliers come onboard.
What drives concrete prices in Australia
Five key factors determine what you pay for ready-mix concrete. Understanding these helps you time your order and budget accurately.
Portland cement input cost
Cement is the most expensive ingredient and tracks global commodity prices. Australian cement prices have risen with energy costs since 2022 — cement kilns are energy-intensive, and domestic gas prices have increased 40%+ since 2021.
Diesel and transport
Delivery is a significant cost component. Concrete has a ~90-minute working window before it begins to set, so longer runs add fuel, driver time, toll costs, and risk of rejected loads. Diesel indexing clauses are common in supplier contracts.
Aggregate supply and quarry proximity
Sand and gravel make up 60–75% of concrete by volume. Quarry proximity and state-level supply vary significantly — Sydney sources from western quarries, Melbourne from northern basalt deposits. Transport distance from quarry to batching plant directly affects cost.
Labour and enterprise agreements
Enterprise bargaining agreements differ by state. NSW and VIC have higher labour costs than QLD, affecting per-m³ pricing. Saturday and after-hours rates attract penalty rates under most EBAs, explaining weekend surcharges.
Seasonal demand cycles
Spring (September–November) and early autumn (March–April) are peak pouring seasons in NSW and VIC. Demand surges can tighten availability and raise spot prices by 5–10%. Winter (June–August) is typically quieter and may offer better availability.
Historical concrete price trends
Sydney N25 benchmark (delivered, ex-GST). Concrete prices have increased ~5% per year since 2021 across Australian capital cities.
N25 price per m³ (delivered, ex-GST)
Source: market survey of Sydney-region batching plants, March 2026. We track prices quarterly — bookmark this page for updates.
Ready-mix vs bagged concrete — when to use each
The break-even point depends on volume. Here's a quick guide to help you decide.
Under 0.3 m³
Bagged concrete
A 20 kg bag costs ~$8–12 from hardware stores. Mixing 10–15 bags is manageable for one person. No delivery fee or minimum order.
10 bags × $10 = $100 for ~0.2 m³
0.3–0.8 m³
Borderline — compare total cost
Either option works. Ready-mix eliminates mixing labour but attracts a short-load fee. Compare total cost including your labour time (allow 1 hour per 0.3 m³ of hand-mixing).
Ready-mix: ~$500–700 total. Bags: 40–80 bags × $10 = $400–800 + hours of work
0.8 m³ and above
Ready-mix concrete
Ready-mix is significantly cheaper per m³ and delivers factory-mixed, consistent quality. A 2 m³ N25 ready-mix order costs ~$780–840 delivered. The same volume in bags: 216 bags × ~$10 = $2,160 in materials alone, plus hours of mixing.
2 m³ ready-mix: ~$810. Bags: ~$2,160 + labour
Additional project costs to budget for
Material and delivery are the main costs, but some projects need pumping, and surcharges can add up on smaller or weekend orders.
Concrete pumping
$170–400/hr
Line pumps ($170–250/hr) for slabs and driveways with clear access. Boom pumps ($250–400/hr) for rear-yard and upper-storey pours. Most residential jobs run 3–4 hours.
Waiting time
$2–5/min
Most plants allow 20–30 minutes for unloading. After that, waiting charges of $2–5 per minute apply. Have your site ready and crew in place before the truck arrives.
Short-load fees
$50–200
Orders under 4 m³ attract a short-load fee because the truck runs at partial capacity. The fee scales with how far below the minimum your order is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does concrete cost per m³ in Australia?
Is concrete cheaper outside Sydney?
Why have concrete prices gone up so much?
What is the cheapest concrete grade for a driveway?
Does the concrete price include delivery?
How often do concrete prices change in Australia?
Is ready-mix or bagged concrete cheaper?
What affects the delivery cost of concrete?
Check exact pricing in your area
These are national indicative ranges. Enter your postcode and delivery date to see available plants and exact pricing.