Garden path
2 m³ · 25 MPaConcrete$658–701
Delivery fees$161–175
$833–862
excl GST · $417–431/m³ effective
CONCRETE PRICES · UPDATED AUGUST 2026
Concrete prices in Australia: cost per m³
Compare ready-mix concrete prices per cubic metre by grade and location, with typical costs, delivery fees and surcharges explained.
| Strength | Used for | Price per m³ |
|---|---|---|
| Paths, garden edges | $305–340/m³ | |
| Driveways, slabs | $330–370/m³ | |
| House slabs, footings | $360–400/m³ | |
| Structural, suspended | $390–440/m³ | |
| Commercial, industrial | $430–485/m³ |
Indicative delivered price range across published city guides, incl. GST. Exact delivery and surcharges vary.
Estimate your pour
No sign-upEstimated delivered cost · incl GST
$1,663 – $1,735
About $333–$347/m³ delivered
Enter your address to get live price and availability for your pour
Get your priceWhere your money actually goes
How does load size and surcharge impact my concrete delivery cost
Concrete $658–701Cartage / delivery fees $161Fuel levy $0–14Potential surcharges Not included in quoted total
Waiting timeAfter the supplier's included unloading window$4–5 / minDetails
Current production configurations have 20–60 included minutes, depending on supplier. After that, waiting time is charged at $4–5/min ex GST.
Avoid it: Have formwork finished, crew on site and truck access cleared before the booked arrival window.
Returned concreteConcrete ordered but not discharged on site$350 / m³Details
Returned concrete is typically charged at $350/m³ ex GST
Avoid it: Measure carefully, allow only the appropriate job contingency and make sure the full pour area is ready.
Distance overrunWhen the selected plant is beyond its included radius$3.50–12 / km/m³Details
Current configurations include 11–20 km, depending on supplier, then calculate excess distance by kilometres and delivered volume.
Avoid it: Use the live postcode quote. It resolves the available plant and its configured distance allowance before booking.
$417–431/m³effective rate delivered, excl GST
The current full-size peak 25 MPa material range is $329–350/m³. At 2 m³, configured delivery charges move the effective rate by +23–27%.
Sydney 25 MPa, weekday peak pricing, within 15 km.
What real pours cost in Sydney
Single driveway
5 m³ · 25 MPaConcrete$1,645–1,752
Delivery fees$0–35
$1,680–1,752
excl GST · $336–350/m³ effectiveDouble garage slab
8 m³ · 25 MPaConcrete$2,632–2,804
Delivery fees$0–56
$2,688–2,804
excl GST · $336–350/m³ effectiveHouse slab
18 m³ · 25 MPaConcrete$5,921–6,308
Delivery fees$0–126
$6,047–6,308
excl GST · $336–350/m³ effectiveAll 25 MPa, weekday peak pricing, within 15 km.
Ranges are a guide. Your address is the answer.
Live pricing currently available for Greater Sydney.
Which grade does your job need?
Paths, garden edges, non-structural20 MPa · AS 137920 MPa$320–340/m³Most commonDriveways, residential slabs25 MPa · AS 137925 MPa$340–370/m³House slabs, footings, structural32 MPa · AS 1379 / BCA32 MPa$370–400/m³High-load structural, suspended slabs40 MPa · AS 1379 / BCA40 MPa$400–440/m³Commercial and industrial structural50 MPa · AS 1379 / BCA50 MPa · specialist availability only
What moves the price
Cement input cost
The most expensive ingredient, tracking energy and manufacturing inputs. Kilns are gas-intensive.
Diesel and distance
Concrete has a limited working window. Longer runs add fuel, driver time and rejection risk.
Quarry proximity
Sand and gravel make up most of the mix by volume. Quarry-to-plant distance flows through to the base rate.
Labour and EBAs
Supplier labour and enterprise agreements feed the base rate. Current live configurations expose no separate weekend amount.
Seasonal demand
Busy pouring periods tighten plant and truck availability. A live date search shows the supply actually bookable for your job.
Load size
The one most people miss. Below 4 m³, current full-size suppliers apply minimum cartage for the unused truck capacity.
How to compare two concrete quotes properly
Two suppliers can quote the same pour hundreds of dollars apart and both be telling the truth. Seven questions make any two quotes comparable.
1
Is that delivered, or ex-plant?
The most common mismatch. A material-only rate looks cheaper and is not the final delivered total.
"Does that include cartage to my address?"
2
What's the minimum-cartage charge at my volume?
Under 4 m³, current full-size configurations charge for each missing cubic metre up to the threshold.
"What is the total for exactly the metres I need?"
3
Which plant and distance allowance apply?
Distance runs from the available plant, not the centre of your suburb. Current included radii vary by supplier.
"Which plant is servicing me, and how many kilometres are included?"
4
Is a fuel or transport charge applied on top?
One current full-size configuration carries a per-m³ fuel levy while another does not.
"Is the rate inclusive of the current configured fuel or distance charge?"
5
How long do I get before waiting time starts?
Current included unloading windows range from 20 to 60 minutes, then the meter runs at $4–5 per minute ex GST.
"What is the included unloading allowance and the rate after it?"
6
What happens to concrete I don't use?
Returned concrete is typically charged at $350/m³ ex GST.
"What do you charge for returned concrete per m³?"
7
Is that ex-GST or inc-GST?
Trade pricing defaults to ex-GST. Homeowners should compare the GST-inclusive delivered total.
"Can you give me the inc-GST delivered total?"
Six years of 25 MPa
Sydney directional benchmark for 25 MPa delivered price midpoint, incl. GST.
$2782021
$2932022
$3082023
$3232024
$3382025
$3552026
What this means for your job: historical averages help with early budgeting, but your selected plant, date, volume and access determine the price you can actually book.
Get your priceReady-mix or bagged?
Under 0.4 m³
Bagged concrete is often practical when one or two people can mix safely and the pour is not time-critical. Check the current bag yield and store price for the selected product.
0.4–0.8 m³
Genuinely borderline. Ready-mix removes hours of mixing but carries a large minimum-cartage effect at this volume. Price your labour and access honestly.
0.8 m³ and up
Usually ready-mix: factory-batched consistency, one delivery and a widening labour advantage. A current 2 m³ full-size 25 MPa example is $833–862 ex GST.
Ready-mix prices by city
Sydney
Verified20 MPa $320–34025 MPa $340–37032 MPa $370–40040 MPa $400–44050 MPa Specialist quote
MixHub is live in Sydney. Material-only 25 MPa concrete is typically $300–350/m³ for full-size loads and $383–460/m³ for mini-truck loads, ex GST.
Melbourne
Editorial guide only20 MPa $310–33525 MPa $335–36532 MPa $365–39540 MPa $395–43550 MPa $435–485
Existing market heuristic only. MixHub has no live Melbourne supplier configuration, so these are not bookable rates.
Brisbane
Editorial guide only20 MPa $305–33025 MPa $330–36032 MPa $360–39040 MPa $390–43050 MPa $430–480
Existing market heuristic only. MixHub has no live Brisbane supplier configuration, so these are not bookable rates.
Adelaide
Pricing not verifiedThe supplied template contained placeholder Adelaide rates. They are intentionally withheld until a local rate card is verified.
Perth
Pricing not verifiedThe supplied template contained placeholder Perth rates. They are intentionally withheld until a local rate card is verified.
Questions
How much does concrete cost per m³ in Australia in 2026?
| 20 MPa | $320–340/m³ |
| 25 MPa | $340–370/m³ |
| 32 MPa | $370–400/m³ |
| 40 MPa | $400–440/m³ |
| 50 MPa | Specialist availability |
Sydney editorial material bands run from $320–490/m³ ex GST across 20–50 MPa. In current MixHub production data, full-size 25 MPa material is about $300–350/m³ and mini-truck 25 MPa material is $383–460/m³. Delivery conditions determine the final total.
Does the price include delivery?
A per-m³ material band does not include every delivery charge. The live quote applies the selected supplier's configured minimum cartage, distance and fuel rules before booking.
Why is my small load so expensive per m³?
Current full-size suppliers apply minimum cartage below 4 m³. A 2 m³ 25 MPa example is about $833–862 ex GST delivered within 15 km, or $417–431/m³ effective.
What is waiting time and how much is it?
Current production configurations include 20–60 minutes, depending on supplier. Waiting after that is $4–5 per minute ex GST. Have the formwork, crew and access ready before the booked window.
What happens if I order too much concrete?
Concrete not discharged on site returns to the plant. Every live configuration checked currently charges $350/m³ ex GST for returned concrete.
What's the cheapest grade for a driveway?
25 MPa is commonly used for residential driveways, but the correct strength comes from the project specification, engineer or approving authority. Do not choose a lower strength on price alone.
Why have concrete prices gone up so much?
Cement energy, diesel, quarry transport and labour all feed the rate. The historical chart is directional market context rather than a forecast of a particular supplier's next price change.
How often do prices change?
Supplier rate cards and fuel-linked amounts can change independently. MixHub calculates live search pricing from the active supplier configuration; this page records the date of its editorial snapshot.
Ready-mix or bagged?
Bagged concrete is often practical under about 0.4 m³, ready-mix usually wins above 0.8 m³, and the middle band needs a total-cost comparison including labour and small-load charges.
Do I need to be on site for the delivery?
A responsible person needs to direct the truck, confirm the discharge location and manage the pour. Delays can trigger waiting time after the supplier's included unloading window.
Get your live delivered price
Enter your address. See delivered prices from available plants near you.