How much does ready mix concrete cost in the UK?
A Ready-mix concrete costs £90 to £165 in the UK, typically around £115 per m³ delivered. What moves the price most is the volume you need in cubic metres, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Ready-mixed concrete costs roughly £90 to £165 per cubic metre delivered, with a standard full load around £110 per m³. Ordering less than a full 6m³ load carries a part-load surcharge, and a concrete pump, if the truck cannot reach the pour, adds £350 to £650 on top.
Ready mix concrete cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your Ready-mix concrete in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Ready mix concrete cost breakdown
Typical Ready-mix concrete costs, by option:
| Mix and order size | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Standard mix, full load (C20 to C25) | £90 to £120 |
| Higher-strength or fibre mix (C30 to C40) | £110 to £145 |
| Part load or small batch (under a full 6m³ load) | £125 to £165 |
What's included in the price?
Typical Ready-mix concrete prices include:
- Concrete batched to the grade you specify (C20, C25, C35 and so on)
- Delivery to site by mixer truck within the supplier's local radius
- A standard unloading window, usually about 30 minutes per load
- The slump and any additives set for the job, such as a wetter mix or fibres
- Batching to BS 8500 standards with a delivery ticket for your records
What changes the price?
The things that move Ready-mix concrete prices most:
The volume you need in cubic metres, since larger loads cost less per m³
Whether you order a full load or a part load, as small orders carry a surcharge
The concrete grade and any additives, with higher-strength and fibre mixes costing more
Whether the mixer can reach the pour or you need a concrete pump
Your region, with London and the South East dearest
Access and waiting time, since time on site beyond the free window is charged
How the price is built up
The per m³ figure covers the raw materials, batching and delivery within a local radius, which is why a full 6m³ load is the cheapest way to buy. Below a full load you pay a part-load surcharge, and higher-strength or fibre-reinforced grades cost more per m³. On top of the concrete itself, the usual extras are a concrete pump where the truck cannot reach the pour, a mileage charge beyond the local area, and waiting-time charges once the free unloading window is used up. Ready-mixed concrete is a supplied material, not a fitting service, so the per m³ price is the mix and its delivery, with no labour included. The groundworker or builder who lays it, plus any pump or extra plant, is a separate cost on top.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Order a full load where you can, since splitting one delivery across nearby jobs beats paying a part-load surcharge twice.
- Measure carefully and add about 10 percent, because a second short delivery to top up a pour is far dearer per m³ than the first.
- Ask about volumetric or mix-on-site trucks for small pours, as paying only for what you use can beat a part-load penalty.
- Have the site, formwork and enough people ready before the truck arrives, so you do not run past the free unloading time into per-minute waiting charges.
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a Ready-mix concrete typically costs around £150 per m³ delivered, about 30% above the UK average of £115. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £110.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £90 | £120 | £170 |
| London | £120 | £150 | £210 |
| South East / South West | £100 | £130 | £190 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £85 | £110 | £150 |
Guide prices per m³ delivered, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Ready mix concrete cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £75 | £100 | £140 |
| Birmingham | £90 | £110 | £160 |
| Bristol | £100 | £130 | £180 |
| Cardiff | £85 | £110 | £160 |
| Edinburgh | £90 | £110 | £160 |
| Glasgow | £80 | £100 | £150 |
| Leeds | £85 | £110 | £150 |
| Liverpool | £85 | £110 | £150 |
| London | £120 | £150 | £210 |
| Manchester | £85 | £110 | £160 |
| Newcastle | £80 | £100 | £150 |
| Sheffield | £85 | £110 | £150 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for Ready-mix concrete, not quotes.
London and the South East sit at the top of the per m³ band, while the North, Wales and Scotland are typically cheaper. Delivery beyond a supplier's local radius adds a mileage charge wherever you are.
Common questions
How much does ready mix concrete cost in the UK?
Ready-mixed concrete costs about £90 to £165 per cubic metre delivered, with £110 to £115 a fair figure for a standard full load. A part load under a full 6m³ truck carries a surcharge, and higher-strength or fibre mixes cost more. A concrete pump, if the truck cannot reach the pour, adds £350 to £650 on top.
What is a part load and why does it cost more?
A part load is any order below a full mixer truck, which holds about 6m³. Suppliers add a surcharge of roughly £30 to £45 per m³ on a part load, because the truck still has to make the trip. For small pours a volumetric or mix-on-site truck, which batches exactly what you use, is often cheaper than paying a part-load penalty.
How much does a concrete pump cost to hire?
A line pump, the small type used for domestic jobs, costs about £350 to £650 for a half to full day, and it lets concrete reach a back garden or a spot the truck cannot get to. A larger boom pump runs £700 to £1,200 a day and is only needed for big or high pours. If the mixer can discharge straight into the formwork you pay nothing extra.
How much concrete do I need?
Work out the volume in cubic metres: length times width times depth, all in metres. A 5m by 3m slab at 100mm deep is 1.5m³, so order about 1.65m³ to allow roughly 10 percent for spillage and uneven ground. Most suppliers have a calculator, and it is cheaper to order slightly over than to run short mid-pour.
Is ready mix cheaper than mixing your own concrete?
For anything above about a cubic metre, ready mix usually wins. Bagged concrete or a hired mixer suits small jobs like fence posts, but the bags, aggregate and your time add up fast, and hand-mixing a large slab to a consistent strength is hard. Ready mix arrives batched to grade and saves the graft, which is why most driveways and foundations use it.
How long before I can use new concrete?
You can usually walk on a slab after 24 to 48 hours, but it keeps hardening for weeks. Concrete reaches most of its strength at about 7 days and is considered fully cured at 28 days. Keep vehicles off a new driveway for at least a week, longer in cold weather, and protect the surface if heavy rain or frost is due while it sets.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.