# Concrete Cost Calculator

> Compare concrete costs for your project. See premix bag vs ready-mix delivery pricing, DIY vs professional costs, and cost per square metre by depth.

Canonical: https://renoquant.com/concrete-cost-calculator
Prices updated: 2026-03

## How Much Does Concrete Cost?

Concrete pricing varies dramatically depending on whether you buy premix bags, order ready-mix delivery, or mix from raw materials. This guide breaks down every cost so you can budget accurately and choose the most economical option for your project size.

### Concrete Material Costs at a Glance

| Supply Method | Cost per m3 | Best For | Notes |
|--------------|------------|----------|-------|
| Premix bags (25 kg) | EUR 420-580 | Very small jobs (under 0.3 m3) | Convenient but expensive per m3 |
| Ready-mix delivery | EUR 100-140 | Medium to large jobs (0.5 m3+) | Factory-batched, consistent quality |
| Self-mix (cement + sand + gravel) | EUR 60-80 | Budget-conscious DIYers with a mixer | Requires correct ratios and mixing skill |
| Mini-mix truck (small delivery) | EUR 160-220 | Jobs between 0.25-1 m3 | Higher per-m3 cost but lower minimum |

### Premix Bag Cost Breakdown

| Quantity | Concrete Volume | Bag Cost (at EUR 6/bag) | Total Cost |
|----------|----------------|------------------------|------------|
| 10 bags | 0.12 m3 | EUR 60 | EUR 60 |
| 25 bags | 0.30 m3 | EUR 150 | EUR 150 |
| 50 bags | 0.60 m3 | EUR 300 | EUR 300 |
| 84 bags | 1.00 m3 | EUR 504 | EUR 504 |
| 168 bags | 2.00 m3 | EUR 1,008 | EUR 1,008 |

Compare this to ready-mix at EUR 120/m3: 1 m3 of ready-mix costs EUR 120 while 84 premix bags cost EUR 504. The savings become massive at larger volumes.

### Cost per Square Metre by Slab Depth

This table shows material cost only (no labour) using ready-mix concrete at EUR 120/m3, including 10% waste.

| Slab Depth | Volume per m2 | Cost per m2 (Ready-Mix) | Cost per m2 (Premix) |
|-----------|--------------|------------------------|---------------------|
| 5 cm | 0.055 m3 | EUR 6.60 | EUR 27.50 |
| 8 cm | 0.088 m3 | EUR 10.56 | EUR 44.00 |
| 10 cm | 0.110 m3 | EUR 13.20 | EUR 55.00 |
| 12 cm | 0.132 m3 | EUR 15.84 | EUR 66.00 |
| 15 cm | 0.165 m3 | EUR 19.80 | EUR 82.50 |
| 20 cm | 0.220 m3 | EUR 26.40 | EUR 110.00 |

### DIY vs Professional: Total Project Cost

| Project | Size | DIY (Ready-Mix) | DIY (Premix) | Professional |
|---------|------|----------------|-------------|-------------|
| Garden path (5cm) | 5m x 1m | EUR 120-170 | EUR 185-260 | EUR 300-450 |
| Patio (10cm) | 4m x 3m | EUR 200-280 | EUR 555-770 | EUR 600-960 |
| Shed base (10cm) | 3m x 2.5m | EUR 160-220 | EUR 350-485 | EUR 450-700 |
| Garage floor (15cm) | 6m x 3m | EUR 400-540 | EUR 1,250-1,735 | EUR 1,100-1,800 |
| Driveway (15cm) | 10m x 3m | EUR 650-880 | EUR 2,080-2,890 | EUR 1,800-3,000 |

DIY costs include concrete, sub-base, formwork, reinforcement, and tool hire. Professional costs include everything plus labour and finishing.

### Full Cost Breakdown: 12 m2 Patio (4m x 3m x 10cm)

Here is a detailed budget for a typical patio project, comparing the three main approaches.

| Cost Item | DIY (Premix) | DIY (Ready-Mix) | Professional |
|-----------|-------------|----------------|-------------|
| Concrete | EUR 555-770 (93 bags) | EUR 160-185 (1.4 m3) | Included |
| Sub-base gravel (1.2 tonnes) | EUR 30-50 | EUR 30-50 | Included |
| Formwork timber | EUR 20-35 | EUR 20-35 | Included |
| Reinforcement mesh (5 sheets) | EUR 40-75 | EUR 40-75 | Included |
| DPM membrane | EUR 15-25 | EUR 15-25 | Included |
| Tool hire (mixer, compactor) | EUR 50-80 | EUR 30-50 | Included |
| Skip hire (excavated soil) | EUR 150-250 | EUR 150-250 | EUR 150-250 |
| Labour | Your time (1-2 days) | Your time (1 day) | Included |
| **Total** | **EUR 860-1,285** | **EUR 445-670** | **EUR 600-960** |

The DIY ready-mix route is the cheapest option. Premix bags are the most expensive for a project this size because of the high per-m3 material cost and tool hire for mixing.

### When Premix Bags Make Sense

Despite the higher per-m3 cost, premix bags are the right choice in certain situations:

- **Very small pours** — Under 0.3 m3 (25 bags or fewer), where the minimum delivery charge for ready-mix would exceed the bag cost.
- **Remote or difficult access** — Sites where a concrete truck cannot reach (narrow lanes, rear gardens with no side access).
- **Staged pours** — Fence posts, pier footings, and repair patches where you pour small amounts over multiple days.
- **No time pressure** — Bags can be stored and used as needed. Ready-mix must be placed within 90 minutes.

### When to Order Ready-Mix

- **Over 0.5 m3** — The cost savings over premix bags are substantial.
- **Over 1.0 m3** — Almost always the right choice. Mixing 84+ bags is backbreaking work.
- **Time-sensitive pours** — Slabs must be poured in one session to avoid cold joints. A truck delivers in minutes what would take hours to mix by hand.
- **Structural work** — Factory-batched concrete meets guaranteed strength grades (C20, C25, C30). Bag-mixed concrete is harder to verify.

### Hidden Costs Checklist

Many people budget for concrete but forget these additional expenses:

| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|------|------------|-------|
| Sub-base gravel / hardcore | EUR 20-40 per tonne | Need 10-20 cm layer, compacted |
| Formwork timber | EUR 15-30 | Reusable if removed carefully |
| Reinforcement mesh (A142) | EUR 8-15 per sheet (2.4m x 1.2m) | 1 sheet per 2.88 m2 |
| DPM membrane | EUR 15-25 per 4m x 5m roll | Needed under garage floors, indoor slabs |
| Concrete mixer hire | EUR 25-50 per day | Only if using premix or self-mix |
| Plate compactor hire | EUR 30-50 per day | Essential for sub-base compaction |
| Skip hire (spoil removal) | EUR 150-250 | For excavated soil and debris |
| Expansion joint filler | EUR 5-10 per 2.4m strip | Needed for slabs wider than 3m |
| Curing compound | EUR 15-25 per 5L | Alternative to covering with polythene |

### 6 Ways to Save Money on Concrete

1. **Use ready-mix for any pour over 0.5 m3** — The cost difference is dramatic. 1 m3 of ready-mix costs EUR 120 versus EUR 504 in premix bags.
2. **Get three quotes** — Ready-mix prices vary by supplier and day. Mid-week deliveries are sometimes cheaper.
3. **Prepare the site yourself** — Excavation, sub-base compaction, and formwork are labour-intensive but do not require specialist skills. Do them yourself and hire a contractor for the pour and finish only.
4. **Reuse formwork** — Timber formwork can be removed after 24-48 hours and reused on future projects.
5. **Order accurately** — Use this calculator to avoid over-ordering (wasted money) or under-ordering (costly short loads or emergency bag runs).
6. **Time deliveries wisely** — Saturday deliveries often carry a surcharge. Schedule for a weekday if possible.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does premix concrete cost compared to ready-mix?

Premix bags (25 kg) cost EUR 5-7 each, which works out to EUR 420-580 per m3. Ready-mix delivery costs EUR 100-140 per m3. Premix is only cheaper for very small jobs under 0.3 m3 (about 25 bags) where you avoid the minimum delivery charge.

### When should I order ready-mix instead of buying bags?

Order ready-mix for any pour over 0.5 m3 (about 42 bags). At this volume, ready-mix is cheaper, faster, and produces a more consistent result. Most suppliers have a minimum order of 1 m3. Some offer mini-mix trucks from 0.25 m3 at a premium.

### How much does it cost to hire someone to pour concrete?

Professional concrete laying costs EUR 40-80 per m2 depending on slab depth, access, site preparation, and your region. This includes formwork, sub-base, reinforcement, concrete, finishing, and labour. Expect EUR 600-1200 for a typical 10 m2 patio.

### What hidden costs should I budget for with concrete?

Budget for sub-base gravel (EUR 20-40 per tonne), formwork timber (EUR 15-30), reinforcement mesh (EUR 8-15 per sheet), DPM membrane (EUR 15-25 per roll), tool hire like plate compactor and mixer (EUR 40-80 per day), and skip hire for excavated soil (EUR 150-250).

### Is it cheaper to mix concrete myself or buy premix bags?

Mixing from raw materials (cement, sand, gravel) costs about EUR 60-80 per m3 in materials, compared to EUR 420-580 per m3 for premix bags. However, you need a mixer, it takes longer, and getting the ratio wrong affects strength. For most DIY projects, premix bags are simpler and more reliable.

### How much does concrete cost per square metre?

Concrete material costs EUR 10-16 per m2 for a 10 cm slab using ready-mix, or EUR 42-58 per m2 using premix bags. Professional installation with all preparation costs EUR 40-80 per m2. Thicker slabs cost proportionally more.

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Interactive version with calculator: https://renoquant.com/concrete-cost-calculator. Figures are estimates; final quotes vary by site conditions, materials, and region.