Ready‑Mix Concrete Prices

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The definitive UK comparison — real costs, quality differences, project thresholds, and a free side-by-side guide. Find out exactly when ready-mix saves money and when mixing your own wins.

Ready-Mix Wins When…

Volume over ~0.8–1m³ | Structural / BS 8500 spec required | Time-critical pours | No mixer access

DIY Mix Wins When…

Small jobs under 0.5m³ | Post holes, repairs, fence bases | Remote access | Flexible timing

UK Ready-Mix Concrete Prices 2026 — All Grades

Prices below are thenational average exc. delivery and VATfor February 2026. London and South East add 15–25%. Short-load surcharges apply to orders under 4–6m³ from most standard mixer truck suppliers. Volumetric mini-mix trucks can supply from 0.5m³ without surcharge.

  • Grade / Spec: GEN 1 / C10; Typical Use: Blinding, non-structural fill; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £95–£115; London Ready-Mix /m³: £110–£140; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £55–£70; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; 0.5m³ mini-mix; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — GEN 1
  • Grade / Spec: GEN 3 / C20; Typical Use: Strip foundations, domestic floors; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £100–£125; London Ready-Mix /m³: £118–£148; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £60–£78; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; 0.5m³ mini-mix; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — GEN 3
  • Grade / Spec: RC25 / C25; Typical Use: Driveways, lightly reinforced slabs; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £105–£135; London Ready-Mix /m³: £124–£162; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £65–£82; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; 0.5m³ mini-mix; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — RC25
  • Grade / Spec: RC30 / C30; Typical Use: Reinforced slabs, beams, general structural; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £110–£142; London Ready-Mix /m³: £130–£170; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £70–£90; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; 0.5m³ mini-mix; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — RC30
  • Grade / Spec: RC35 / C35; Typical Use: Commercial floors, heavy domestic; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £118–£145; London Ready-Mix /m³: £138–£174; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £78–£98; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — RC35
  • Grade / Spec: RC40 / C40; Typical Use: Industrial, heavy-duty structural; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £125–£150; London Ready-Mix /m³: £146–£180; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £85–£110; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — RC40
  • Grade / Spec: FND2; Typical Use: Foundations — moderate sulfate; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £115–£140; London Ready-Mix /m³: £136–£168; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): Not available bagged; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — FND2
  • Grade / Spec: FND3; Typical Use: Foundations — high sulfate; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £120–£150; London Ready-Mix /m³: £142–£180; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): Not available bagged; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — FND3
  • Grade / Spec: PAV1 / PAV2; Typical Use: External paving — frost resistant; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £115–£145; London Ready-Mix /m³: £136–£174; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £72–£95; Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; 0.5m³ mini-mix; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — PAV1/2
  • Grade / Spec: Waterproof (WC20); Typical Use: Below DPC, water-retaining; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £155–£189; London Ready-Mix /m³: £180–£215; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): Additive kits ~£120+/m³; Short-Load Min: 4m³ min some suppliers; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — specialist mix
  • Grade / Spec: Floor Screed; Typical Use: Bonded / unbonded floor screed; Ready-Mix /m³ (UK avg): £110–£145; London Ready-Mix /m³: £130–£175; DIY Bags /m³ (materials): £55–£80 (traditional); Short-Load Min: 6m³ standard; 1m³ anhydrite; BS 8500 Available?: Yes — designated screed

Short-Load Surcharges — The Hidden Cost of Ready-Mix

Standard ready-mix trucks carry 6–8m³. Ordering less than a full load typically triggers ashort-load surcharge of £80–£200from most fixed-plant suppliers. For volumes under 3m³, avolumetric mini-mix truck(Tarmac Minimix, RMS, local volumetric suppliers) is usually cheaper — they mix on-site and you pay only for what is poured, with no short-load charge. Always confirm the delivery and surcharge structure before ordering.

Delivery Charges — What to Expect in 2026

  • Standard delivery (within 5–10km of batching plant):£80–£150per load
  • Extended delivery (10–20km):£120–£200per load — some suppliers charge per km beyond the free zone
  • Congestion / ULEZ / permit zones (London, Bristol, Birmingham):£30–£80surcharge
  • Line pump hire:£275–£380/day(exc. VAT) — required when truck cannot reach the pour
  • Boom pump hire:£550–£950/dayfor large-volume or high-reach pours
  • Waiting time beyond 30 min:£2–£4/minhave site ready before truck arrives
  • Returned concrete (unused in drum): charged at full price — order accurately and add 5–10% waste, not more
  • Volumetric mini-mix trucks: no waiting-time penalty — they mix on demand; ideal for small and unpredictable volumes

Which Option Wins? — Real UK Project Scenarios

The right choice depends entirely on project volume, specification requirements, access, and your own time value. Here are the most common UK scenarios with a clear recommendation for each.

For fence posts, gate posts, and small timber bases, DIY bagged mix is the clear winner. Volume is far too small for any ready-mix delivery to be economical — even a mini-mix truck would cost £150–£250 just in delivery for a job requiring £15–£40 of bagged material.

  • 6 fence posts: ~0.06m³ — 3–4 bags of postcrete (£5–£7/bag)
  • No mixer required — pour dry mix around post and add water in situ
  • Total material cost: £15–£30 vs £150+ minimum ready-mix delivery

Repairing a cracked path, patching a broken step, or filling a small void — these jobs need small batches mixed to the right consistency for the task. Bagged repair mortars and concrete are ideal. Some specialist repair products (SikaRepair, Rapid-Set, Mapei Planitop) offer better bond strength than site-mixed concrete for repairs.

  • Use a rapid-set repair mortar for quicker curing (walkable in 1–3 hours)
  • Bond agent (PVA or SBR) required for good adhesion to existing concrete
  • Cost: £8–£25 in materials vs £150+ minimum ready-mix delivery

A standard shed base at 150mm deep comes in at around 0.45–0.5m³ — right on the borderline. DIY mix is viable but requires 3–4 hours of mixing with a hired mixer (or much longer by hand). A volumetric mini-mix delivery at this volume costs approximately £80–£120 for the concrete plus £60–£100 delivery — a premium of roughly £50–£80 over DIY, but saving 3–4 hours of hard labour.

  • DIY cost (materials + mixer hire): £55–£95
  • Mini-mix cost (concrete + delivery): £140–£220
  • Labour saving with ready-mix: 3–5 hours mixing effort

At 3m³, hand or machine DIY mixing becomes genuinely unmanageable — it would take a full day of continuous mixing to match what a single ready-mix truck can deliver and pour in 30–45 minutes. Quality also suffers with DIY on this scale: cold joints form between batches, and consistency is poor. Ready-mix with a direct chute pour is the only sensible option.

  • Ready-mix cost (C30, Midlands): £330–£430 + delivery £100–£150
  • DIY mix material cost: £210–£270 — but 8+ hours labour plus mixer hire
  • Cold joint risk with DIY — seriously compromises structural integrity
  • Specify PAV1 or RC30 for a driveway to ensure frost resistance

A residential extension strip foundation is a structural element that must meet Building Regulations and BS 8500 mix specification. DIY mixing is not viable for this application: volumes are too large for consistent hand/machine mixing, cold joints are unacceptable in structural concrete, and the specific grade (GEN3, RC25/30, FND2/3) cannot be reliably achieved or certified from site-mixed bags.

  • Specification required: BS 8500 designated mix with delivery ticket
  • Building Control will ask for concrete grade documentation
  • Ready-mix cost (C25/30, 5m³, Midlands): £525–£710 + delivery
  • Pump hire if trench access is restricted: +£275–£380

For sites where a mixer truck simply cannot reach — remote rural barns, hillside plots, gardens with no vehicle access, or tight urban yards with steps — DIY bagged mix carried in and mixed on-site may be the only option regardless of cost. Alternatively, a pump can be used to deliver ready-mix over distance, but pump hire adds £300–£650 to the cost.

  • Bags can be hand-carried; mixer can be wheeled through narrow access
  • Consider a petrol-engine mixer for sites with no power supply
  • For larger volumes, a volumetric truck with extended boom pump may be viable
  • Factor in the significant labour required for manual material handling

Quality Comparison — Ready-Mix vs DIY Mix

The quality gap between certified ready-mix and site-mixed DIY concrete is significant — and matters far more on structural applications than on non-structural ones. Here is what the difference means in practice.

Ready-Mix Quality Assurance

Ready-mix concrete from a BSI-certified plant comes with adelivery ticketshowing grade, cement content, w/c ratio, aggregate size, slump class, and batch reference. Under BS EN 206 and BS 8500, this is the documented proof of specification compliance required by Building Control. Each batch is weigh-batched to ±2% accuracy and cube-tested regularly at the plant.

DIY Mix Quality Reality

Site-mixed concrete from bagged materials is inherently variable. Water content varies between batches, mix ratios are measured by volume (bucket) rather than by weight, and aggregate grading is less tightly controlled. For non-structural domestic use this is perfectly acceptable — butDIY-mixed concrete cannot be certifiedto a BS EN 206 grade and should never be used for structural elements where a specific grade is required by design or Building Regulations.

When Specification Compliance is Mandatory

  • Strip, raft, pad, or trench-fill foundations for any Building Regulations application
  • Reinforced concrete beams, columns, or slabs in a structural design
  • Any concrete element designed by a structural engineer (engineer will specify a grade)
  • Foundations in sulfate-bearing ground (FND2/3/4 — only available from ready-mix plants)
  • Water-retaining structures (pools, tanks, below-DPC walls)
  • Commercial and industrial concrete floors to a NBS specification
  • Non-structural applications (garden paths, DIY shed bases, fence posts, pointing) — DIY mix is perfectly appropriate
  • Do not use DIY-mixed concrete and claim it meets a specific BS 8500 grade — this is a compliance risk under Building Regulations Part A

DIY Concrete Mix Ratios — UK Standard

The most common DIY mix ratios by volume (cement : sharp sand : 20mm aggregate) for UK domestic use:

  • Mix Name: General purpose; Cement : Sand : Aggregate: 1 : 2 : 3 (by volume); Approx. Grade: ~C15–C20; Target Use: Garden paths, non-structural bases, blinding; Bags of Cement per m³: ~6–7 bags (25kg); Water / Cement Ratio: 0.55–0.65
  • Mix Name: Standard foundations; Cement : Sand : Aggregate: 1 : 1.5 : 2.5; Approx. Grade: ~C20–C25; Target Use: Small footings, stepping stones (non-structural); Bags of Cement per m³: ~7–8 bags (25kg); Water / Cement Ratio: 0.50–0.55
  • Mix Name: Paving / driveways; Cement : Sand : Aggregate: 1 : 1.5 : 2 or 1 : 2 : 2; Approx. Grade: ~C25–C30; Target Use: Paths, small slabs, kerbing; Bags of Cement per m³: ~8–9 bags (25kg); Water / Cement Ratio: 0.45–0.50
  • Mix Name: Post-mix / Postcrete; Cement : Sand : Aggregate: Pre-blended bag; Approx. Grade: ~C15; Target Use: Fence posts, gate posts, sign posts; Bags of Cement per m³: N/A — pre-mixed; Water / Cement Ratio: Add water in situ
  • Mix Name: Rapid-set repair; Cement : Sand : Aggregate: Proprietary product; Approx. Grade: ~C30+; Target Use: Concrete repairs, patching, ironwork setting; Bags of Cement per m³: N/A — pre-mixed; Water / Cement Ratio: Per manufacturer

How to Order Ready-Mix Concrete in the UK — 2026 Guide

Ordering ready-mix correctly saves money, avoids waste charges, and prevents delays. Here is the full process from enquiry to pour completion.

Information Your Supplier Will Need

  • Concrete grade / designation:e.g. C25/30, GEN3, RC30, FND2 — specify the BS 8500 designation where Building Regs apply
  • Volume in m³:determined net volume + 5–10% waste — always round up to nearest 0.5m³
  • Slump class:S2 (50–100mm) for direct chute; S3 (100–150mm) for pump; S4 (150–210mm) for trench-fill
  • Aggregate size:10mm (tight areas, pump work) or 20mm (standard) or 40mm (mass fill)
  • Delivery date and time window:book at least 2–5 working days ahead; more in summer peak season
  • Site address and access details:overhead cables, weight limits, gate widths, soft ground, gradient
  • Any additives:retarder (hot weather / long pour), accelerator (cold weather), fibres, air entrainment (frost exposure)
  • Never ask for water to be added on site — this reduces strength and voids the BS EN 206 compliance certificate
  • Ask for a delivery ticket (also called a delivery note or batch record) — keep it for Building Control records

Standard Ready-Mix vs Volumetric Mini-Mix — Which to Use?

Standard ready-mix (fixed drum truck, 6–8m³):Best for volumes over 3–4m³ where the full load is needed. Cheapest per m³. Requires site to be fully prepared before arrival — you have 30–45 minutes to unload. Short-load surcharges apply below the minimum economic load.

Volumetric mini-mix truck (on-site mixing, 0.5–6m³):Best for volumes under 3m³ or where exact volume is uncertain. Mixes on demand — you pay only for what is used. No short-load charge. Slightly higher per-m³ rate (+£10–£25/m³) but eliminates waste risk. Available from Tarmac Minimix, RMS Concrete, local volumetric suppliers. Ideal for foundations, post bases, and domestic projects where volume is uncertain.

Site Preparation Checklist Before the Truck Arrives

  • Formwork / shuttering fully installed, secured, and checked for level
  • Reinforcement (if specified) fully installed, tied, and held at correct cover by plastic spacers
  • Sub-base / blinding layer compacted and damp-proof membrane in place (for floor slabs)
  • Access route clear and load-bearing — concrete truck fully loaded weighs 25–32 tonnes
  • Adequate team on site for placing and compaction — typically 2–4 people depending on pour size
  • Poker vibrator available (for reinforced pours over 0.5m³) — prevents voids and honeycombing
  • Polythene sheeting / curing compound and wooden floats ready for finishing and curing
  • Do not start the pour in air temperature below 2°C or forecast below 2°C within 24 hours — cold weather concrete procedures required (insulated curing blankets, heated water)
  • Do not pour in heavy rain — rain dilutes the mix surface and reduces surface strength

Ready-Mix vs DIY Concrete — FAQ 2026

The most common UK questions about choosing between ready-mix and DIY bagged concrete in 2026.

DIY-mixed concrete using bags of cement, sharp sand, and aggregate costs approximately£65–£90 per m³ in materials onlyin 2026. Ready-mix concrete costs£100–£150/m³for standard grades (Midlands, exc. delivery). So on materials alone, DIY is cheaper.

However, the true DIY cost includes:

  • Mixer hire: £35–£55/day (electric) or £50–£80/day (petrol)
  • Labour: 3–5 hours of hard physical effort per m³ of hand/machine mixing
  • Delivery of bags: £40–£80 from a builders’ merchant if you cannot collect
  • Greater waste risk: over-mixed batches, left-over partial bags

Once all factors are included, ready-mix becomes cost-competitive at volumes above approximately0.8–1.0m³for most UK projects. Below that, DIY bags are genuinely cheaper. Above 1.5–2m³, ready-mix is almost always the better value when your time has any worth.

The minimum order for astandard ready-mix drum truckis typically6m³at most major suppliers (Heidelberg/Hanson, Tarmac, Cemex, Aggregate Industries). Ordering less than this triggers a short-load surcharge of typically£80–£200.

However,volumetric mini-mix truckscan supply from as little as0.5m³without any minimum-load penalty — they carry dry materials and water separately, mixing on-site to your exact quantity. Tarmac Minimix, RMS Concrete, and numerous independent volumetric suppliers operate across most of the UK. Mini-mix rates are typically £10–£25/m³ higher than fixed-plant prices but avoid all waste risk. For volumes under 3m³, a volumetric mini-mix is almost always the most cost-effective ready-mix option.

UK ready-mix concrete prices for 2026 (national average, exc. delivery and VAT):

  • C10/GEN 1 (blinding):£95–£115/m³
  • C20/GEN 3 (domestic foundations, floors):£100–£125/m³
  • C25/RC25 (driveways, lightly reinforced):£105–£135/m³
  • C30/RC30 (structural slabs, beams):£110–£142/m³
  • C35/RC35 (commercial floors):£118–£145/m³
  • C40/RC40 (industrial, heavy structural):£125–£150/m³
  • FND2/FND3 (sulfate-resistant):£115–£150/m³
  • Waterproof concrete:£155–£189/m³

London and South East prices are approximately 15–25% higher than the national average. Add delivery charges (£80–£200 typically) and pump hire if required (£275–£380/day for line pump). VAT at 20% is charged on top by VAT-registered suppliers.

For Building Regulations-controlled foundations (strip, raft, pad, trench-fill), you should use certified ready-mix concrete. Here is why:

  • Specification compliance:Building Control will ask for evidence that the concrete meets the specified grade (typically GEN3, RC25, or RC30). Only ready-mix concrete comes with a BS EN 206 / BS 8500 delivery ticket that proves compliance.
  • Volume:Most UK house foundations require 3–12m³ of concrete — DIY mixing at this volume is neither practical nor safe (cold joints between batches compromise structural integrity).
  • Grade accuracy:Achieving a consistent C25/30 from site-mixed bags is theoretically possible but practically very difficult without accurate weighing of all materials.

The exception is very small, non-notifiable projects (e.g. a small garden outbuilding under Permitted Development) where Building Regulations may not apply. In these cases, DIY mixed GEN3/C20 is widely used and perfectly acceptable for small, lightly loaded footings.

Always consult your Building Control officer if in doubt — they will confirm whether a delivery ticket is required.

The number of bags required per m³ depends on the bag size and mix type:

  • 25kg bags of cement(for site-mixing with separate aggregates): approximately6–9 bags per m³depending on mix ratio
  • Pre-mixed concrete bags (cement + sand + aggregate blended):20kg pre-mixed bag: approximately110–130 bags per m³25kg pre-mixed bag: approximately88–104 bags per m³40kg pre-mixed bag: approximately55–65 bags per m³
  • Postcrete / rapid-setting post mix (20kg bag):approximately 1 bag per small post hole (up to 100mm × 400mm deep)

Pre-mixed bags are considerably more expensive per m³ than buying separate cement and aggregates — typically £150–£250/m³ for pre-mixed bags vs £65–£90/m³ for separate materials. The convenience premium is substantial: use pre-mixed bags for small volumes (under 0.2m³) only.

Advantages of ready-mix concrete:

  • Consistent, certified quality to BS EN 206 / BS 8500 specification
  • Delivery ticket proves grade compliance for Building Control
  • Large volumes poured continuously — no cold joints
  • Saves significant labour — a 6m³ pour takes 30–45 min vs 8+ hours of DIY mixing
  • Specialist mixes available (FND2/3, waterproof, fibre-reinforced, self-compacting) not achievable on site
  • Correct slump class specified for the application — pump, chute, or trench-fill

Disadvantages of ready-mix concrete:

  • Minimum order charges / short-load surcharges make small volumes expensive
  • Inflexible timing — pour must be completed within 90–120 minutes of batching
  • Delivery truck requires good site access (25–32 tonnes GVW)
  • Waste risk — unused concrete is charged and cannot be returned
  • Pump hire adds £275–£650 if direct chute access is not possible
  • Lead time required — typically 2–5 working days minimum

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