Ready-Mix Concrete Prices in the UK
Indicative cost per m³ by mix grade, what affects your price, and how to get an accurate live quote in under 60 seconds.
The Short Answer
How much is ready-mix concrete per m³?
UK ready-mix concrete prices in 2026 typically range from £112-£201/m³ delivered, depending on the mix grade and your distance from the batching plant. Standard domestic mixes (GEN3, C25/30) sit at the lower end; high-strength structural mixes (C32/40 and above) sit higher. The fastest way to get an accurate price is the online order tool, pick your project, enter your postcode, see the live quote with VAT and delivery included.
Price Table
Typical UK ready-mix concrete prices by mix grade
Indicative ranges for 1m³+ deliveries across the Midlands. Final price depends on volume, distance from plant, and day of delivery. Get a live quote on the order page.
| Mix grade | Strength | Common uses | Typical £/m³ delivered |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEN1 | 7.5 N/mm² | Blinding, kerb backing, drainage haunching | £95-£115 |
| GEN3 / C20/25 | 20 N/mm² | Strip foundations, low-load slabs, fence posts (bulk) | £105-£125 |
| C25/30 | 25 N/mm² | Domestic foundations, oversite, garden walls, greenhouse bases | £115-£135 |
| C28/35 | 28 N/mm² | Shed bases, driveways, garage floors, garden room bases, log cabins | £125-£145 |
| C32/40 | 32 N/mm² | Heavy-duty driveways, hot tub bases, slabs taking vehicle weight | £135-£155 |
| C35/45 | 35 N/mm² | Industrial floors, structural pours, high-load applications | £145-£170 |
| P280-PUMP | Pumpable any grade | Hard-to-reach sites, basements, upper floors, rear gardens | £135-£165 + pump |
| Floor screed (4:1) | Smooth finish | Floor screed for tile / final flooring, UFH installs | £115-£135 |
Note: ranges are indicative for 1m³+ deliveries within 8 miles of our Coventry or Melton Mowbray plants. Beyond 8 miles, delivery is added per-mile and shown in your live quote. Pump hire (where required) is quoted separately, see pump hire.
What Affects the Price
Five factors that move the per-m³ price
Mix grade
Higher-strength mixes use more cement, which is the most expensive ingredient. A C32/40 hot-tub-base mix costs roughly 30% more per m³ than a GEN3 fence-post mix because of the cement content alone.
Volume ordered
Wagon-rotation costs are roughly fixed per delivery, driver, fuel, plant time. A 1m³ order pays the same wagon overhead as a 6m³ order, so the per-m³ price drops as volume rises. There's a clear price step at ~4m³ where the wagon is fully utilised.
Distance from the plant
Within 8 miles of our Coventry or Melton Mowbray plants, delivery is included in the per-m³ price. Beyond 8 miles, a per-mile delivery uplift is added, visible in your live quote before you pay.
Day and notice
Standard weekday slots are at standard pricing. Saturday slots, out-of-hours pours and short-notice bookings (subject to plant availability) carry a small premium, typically £15-£35 per m³ added.
Volumetric vs drum-mixer
On a volumetric wagon you pay for what's actually poured (verified at end of pour). On a drum-mixer wagon you pay for what was batched at the plant. For uncertain DIY volumes, volumetric is usually cheaper because it eliminates over-order waste.
Pump hire (if needed)
If the wagon can't reach the pour point, rear gardens, basements, upper floors, sites with poor access, a concrete pump is added. Pump hire is quoted separately and starts from around £380 for a half-day line pump.
Ready-Mix vs DIY
Is ready-mix concrete cheaper than mixing on site?
For anything over about 0.5m³, yes, usually significantly cheaper, faster and stronger. Here's the maths.
DIY bag mix (postcrete or GP cement)
- ~£5-£8 per 25kg bag of premix or postcrete
- ~25 bags per m³ at typical pour rate
- Effective cost: £125-£200/m³
- Plus: hours of mixing, inconsistent strength between batches, no batch certification
Ready-mix C25/30 delivered
- £115-£135 per m³ delivered (1m³+)
- Batched to BS EN 206 / BS 8500 spec
- Effective cost: £115-£135/m³
- Plus: BSI Kitemark batch ticket, consistent strength, ~30 minutes to pour vs all day mixing
For very small jobs (under 0.5m³, fixing a single post, patching a kerb), bag mix wins on convenience. For anything bigger, ready-mix is cheaper, stronger, and faster. The break-even is around 0.5-1m³.
Delivery
How does delivery cost work?
We deliver from two batching plants, Coventry and Melton Mowbray, covering the Midlands. Within 8 miles of either plant, delivery is included in the per-m³ price you see. Beyond 8 miles, a per-mile delivery rate is added and shown in your live quote on the order page before you pay.
See our coverage map for the towns we serve. For postcodes outside our standard radius, call us, we can often arrange supply via a partner plant.
Get a Live Quote
How to get an accurate ready-mix concrete price
Work out volume
Length × width × depth in metres, plus 10% wastage. Or use our free calculator, does the maths and rounds to deliverable volumes.
Pick the right mix
Use the concrete catalogue, pick by project (shed base, driveway, foundations) and we recommend the mix grade.
Enter your postcode
Live quote on the order page, VAT, delivery, all included. Book your slot in 60 seconds.
FAQ
Common questions about concrete prices
How much is ready-mix concrete per m³ in the UK?
UK ready-mix concrete prices typically range from around £112-£201/m³ delivered, depending on the mix grade, distance from the plant, day of week and load size. Standard domestic mixes (GEN3, C20/25) sit at the lower end; high-strength structural mixes (C32/40 and above) sit higher. Use our online order tool to get a live quote with delivery included.
What affects the price of ready-mix concrete?
Five things move the price most: (1) mix grade, higher strength costs more per m³; (2) volume, small loads under 4m³ cost more per m³ in real terms; (3) distance from the batching plant, beyond about 8 miles, delivery is added in; (4) time, Saturday delivery and short-notice pours can carry a premium; (5) whether you need a pump or volumetric wagon.
Is ready-mix concrete cheaper than mixing on site?
For anything over about 0.5m³, yes, usually significantly. A bag of postcrete or general-purpose concrete costs ~£5-£8 per 25kg bag (~£200/m³ equivalent) and you still have to mix it. Ready-mix at £112-£201/m³ delivered, batched to spec, with a known performance grade is both cheaper and stronger.
What is the minimum order for ready-mix concrete?
Our minimum is 1m³ on most domestic deliveries, with no small-load surcharge. Some higher-grade structural mixes have a higher minimum, confirm when you book. 1m³ is roughly enough for a small shed base, a few fence posts, or a domestic path.
Does the ready-mix concrete price include delivery?
Yes, within 8 miles of our Coventry or Melton Mowbray plants, delivery is included in the per-m³ price. Beyond 8 miles, delivery is added at a per-mile rate that's calculated when you enter your postcode in the order tool, no hidden surprises.
Why is volumetric concrete sometimes cheaper than drum-mixer concrete?
On a volumetric load you're billed for the volume actually poured, calculated at the wagon at end of pour. On a drum-mixer load you pay for what was batched at the plant. If you over-order on a drum mix, you pay for the surplus that goes back. On a volumetric load you don't. For uncertain volumes (DIY pours, awkward digs), volumetric is usually the cheaper choice.
How do I get an accurate ready-mix concrete quote?
Use our online order tool: pick your project, enter volume (or use the calculator), enter your postcode, and you'll see the live price with VAT and delivery included. No call-arounds, no haggling, no hidden fees. Call us if you need help picking the right mix.
Ready for an accurate price on your pour?
60 seconds online. VAT and delivery included. With volumetric wagons, only pay for what's poured.
