Volumetric Concrete
Ready-mix batched on the wagon at point of pour, you only pay for what's actually used. The cure for over-ordering.
The Short Answer
What is volumetric concrete?
Volumetric concrete is ready-mix concrete batched on the wagon at point of pour, rather than at the plant. Cement, aggregate and water travel separately and combine on site to your spec. You're billed for actual volume poured, verified by on-board metering, so over-ordering doesn't cost you anything. For DIY pours, awkward digs and any job where exact volume is uncertain, volumetric is almost always the cheaper choice.
Volumetric vs Drum-Mixer
Two delivery formats, when to use each
Volumetric (batched on wagon)
- Billed for what's poured, measured at end of pour
- Mix can be adjusted mid-job (slump, grade, accelerator)
- Fresh-batched at point of pour, no journey clock
- Topping up mid-pour costs nothing extra
- Best for: DIY pours, irregular volumes, mixed-grade jobs
Drum-mixer (batched at plant)
- Billed for what's batched, full wagon load
- Mix locked at plant, no on-site adjustment
- Faster discharge, concrete is already mixed
- Slightly cheaper per m³ for known-volume pours
- Best for: trade pours with pre-measured volumes
When Volumetric Wins
Volumetric is the right call when…
You're not 100% sure on volume
DIY shed base, irregular dig, awkward shape, order 1.5m³ but only pour 1.1m³, and you're billed for 1.1m³. The over-order safety margin costs nothing.
You need flexibility mid-pour
Hit hard ground that needs deeper concrete? Topping up takes seconds, no extra wagon to call out, no surcharge.
The mix grade might change
Engineer wants C25/30 in the trench but C28/35 for the slab? Volumetric switches between mixes without leaving site.
The pour might delay
Drum-mix wagons have a finite working time, typically ~90 minutes from batching. Volumetric is fresh-batched at point of pour, so site delays don't waste concrete.
Long pours over a working day
Need 4m³ poured in stages over the day? Volumetric wagon stays on site, batching as needed. No re-orders, no second-load costs.
Awkward access
Volumetric wagons are typically smaller and lighter than 8-wheeler drum mixers, fit through tighter access without compromise on volume.
Pricing
Volumetric concrete prices
Volumetric concrete prices in the UK typically range from around £112-£201/m³ delivered, similar to drum-mixed pricing on the per-m³ rate. The cost saving comes from not paying for over-ordered surplus. On a typical 1m³ DIY shed base where you'd order 1.2m³ from a drum, you might pour 0.95m³ on volumetric, £25-£50 saving per pour.
See our ready-mix concrete pricing guide for typical ranges by mix grade. For a live quote with VAT and delivery included, use the online order tool.
FAQ
Common questions about volumetric concrete
What is volumetric concrete?
Volumetric concrete is ready-mix concrete batched on the wagon at the point of delivery, rather than at the plant. The wagon carries cement, aggregate and water in separate compartments and combines them on site to your spec. The biggest advantage is you only pay for what's actually poured, verified by the on-board metering, so over-ordering doesn't cost you anything.
Volumetric vs drum-mixer concrete, what's the difference?
On a drum-mixer wagon, the concrete is batched at the plant and mixed on the journey to site, you pay for what was loaded. On a volumetric wagon, the concrete is batched on the wagon at point of pour, you pay for what's actually used. For uncertain DIY volumes, volumetric is almost always the cheaper choice. For pre-measured trade pours where you know the volume, drum-mixer is usually slightly faster on price.
Is volumetric concrete the same quality as drum-mixed?
Yes, the cement, aggregate and water are batched to identical mix proportions, just at a different stage of the journey. Both meet BS EN 206 and BS 8500 specifications when properly batched. We BSI Kitemark certify both. The strength, durability and finish are the same.
How much does volumetric concrete cost?
Volumetric concrete prices in the UK typically range from around £112-£201/m³ delivered, similar to drum-mixed pricing on the per-m³ rate. The cost saving comes from not paying for over-ordered surplus, on a 1m³ DIY shed base where you'd likely order 1.2m³ from a drum, you might pour 0.95m³ on volumetric and be billed £25-£50 less. See our pricing guide for typical ranges.
When should I choose volumetric over drum-mixer?
Volumetric is the right choice when (1) you're not 100% sure on volume, DIY pours, awkward digs, irregular shapes; (2) you want the option to top up mid-pour without waiting for a second wagon; (3) you want a fresh-batched mix with no journey time; (4) you need to change mix grade mid-job (volumetric can switch). Drum-mixer is usually faster and slightly cheaper for known-volume trade pours.
Ready to order volumetric concrete?
1m³ minimum, BSI Kitemark certified, only pay for what's poured.