Calculators
Concrete calculators
Concrete jobs punish guesswork. Order too little and the pour stops at a cold joint that weakens the slab, order too much and you pay for material that goes straight back on the truck. These calculators convert your measurements into cubic metres, 20kg bags and realistic Australian costs before you pick up the phone.
Start with the concrete calculator for any slab, footing, post hole or stair pour. If it is a driveway you are planning, the driveway cost calculator prices the whole job by finish so you can sanity check contractor quotes.
Concrete prices in Australia
What concrete costs in July 2026
Premixed concrete delivered by truck typically costs $270 to $330 per cubic metre for a standard 25MPa mix. Stronger mixes for driveways and structural work run $10 to $30 more per cubic metre, and decorative mixes with oxide or special aggregate go higher again.
Most suppliers apply a minimum load or small load fee for orders under about 3 cubic metres, often $100 to $200. If your job is small, ask whether a mini mix truck or a mobile batching service works out cheaper, or check whether bags make sense with the concrete calculator.
Bagged concrete costs $9 to $13 for a 20kg bag, which yields about 0.009 cubic metres mixed. That is roughly $1,000 to $1,400 per cubic metre equivalent, which is why bags only win on very small jobs where a delivery fee would dominate.
What drives the price up
Access is the big one. If the truck cannot get within a few metres of the pour you will need a concrete pump, typically $500 to $900 for a residential job. Difficult sites, long hose runs and after hours pours add more.
Laid and finished concrete, where a contractor supplies everything, runs $65 to $90 per square metre for a plain 100mm slab and considerably more for decorative finishes. Site preparation, excavation, formwork complexity and reinforcement all move the final number.
Getting quotes that compare fairly
Ask every contractor to itemise excavation, base preparation, mesh, concrete grade, thickness, finish and curing. A cheap headline price often assumes a thinner slab or lighter mesh. Use the calculators here to know your quantities first, then the quotes have nowhere to hide.
Typical Australian prices, updated July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic metre of concrete cost delivered?
Typically $270 to $330 for a standard 25MPa mix as at July 2026, before any small load fees or pumping. Regional areas and special mixes cost more.
Is it cheaper to mix concrete yourself?
Only for very small jobs, roughly a third of a cubic metre or less. Bagged concrete works out at three to four times the per cubic metre price of premix, but avoids delivery minimums.
What concrete strength do I need?
20MPa suits paths and garden slabs, 25MPa is the standard for house slabs and patios, and 32MPa or more for driveways with heavy vehicles. Your supplier will match the mix to the use.
How much does a concrete slab cost per square metre?
Supplied and laid, a plain 100mm slab typically costs $65 to $90 per square metre. Coloured, exposed aggregate and stamped finishes range from $75 up to $160 per square metre.
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