Concrete Pricing Guide

You’ve probably noticed that there is no flat rate when purchasing concrete, and prices can vary significantly. This isn’t done to confuse you; it’s the result of several key factors that can impact the overall cost.

This comprehensive concrete pricing guide will tell you everything you need to know about why price fluctuations exist so you can calculate the cost of concrete for your upcoming construction project.

How is concrete sold?

Concrete is sold by the cubic metre, and you’ll find that when using tools such as our concrete calculator, that is the measurement used when determining how much concrete you need. A cubic metre of concrete generally weighs around 2.5 tons, but this can be significantly altered by the presence of additions such as steel fibres. 

What factors affect the pricing of concrete? 

Before you place your order, consider the six main factors that can impact the cost of concrete.

• Cement content: Typically, the stronger the concrete mix, the more expensive it will be. This is because more cement is required, which is the most expensive component of a concrete mix.
• Quantity of concrete needed: This goes without saying, but the more concrete you need, the more expensive your order will be.
• Delivery distance and time: Travel costs, such as the distance a supplier has to travel and the scheduled delivery time, need to be factored into the overall price.
• Competition: This depends on how many suppliers are in one area. Greater competition could lead to cheaper rates while lacking competition could make it more costly.
• Lead time: The time it takes to make and deliver the concrete.
• Inclusion of any additives or fibres: Speciality mixes of concrete are more expensive than standard grades. For example, steel fibre-reinforced concrete is generally £35 more expensive per cubic metre, but you save time and money on reinforcing mesh.

How is concrete priced and what costs are involved?

The first step is to use our concrete calculator to work out how much concrete you need. You will also need to consider the use of the concrete, whether you require something structural or a lower-grade mix, and whether you want to add fibres or colour. Delivery charges are then based on volume and distance.

With Heidelberg Materials UK, concrete pricing is determined by the factors we have listed above, as well as these considerations:

Mini mix/small loads

For deliveries requiring a small volume of concrete or sites with restricted access, we offer a mini mix concrete operation under the Supamix brand. This service is available to customers requiring between 0.5 and three cubic metres of concrete across the North East, Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Part loads

We offer free delivery on full truck loads of concrete but, when unavoidable, we do charge for part loads. We offer deliveries in six and eight-cubic metre capacity trucks and can also provide smaller mini-mix vehicles in some areas on request. 

Returns

We charge for returns, so please consider the environment and order carefully so you return the truck with zero waste.

Time after the truck arrives on site

Once the truck arrives on site you will have half an hour to offload your concrete. Additional charges will apply after half an hour. 

Cancelled orders

If you provide less than two hours notice, we may have to charge a cancellation fee (equivalent to the value of the first load of the order).
Note: You can pay by Visa or Mastercard or apply for an account with us (terms and conditions apply).

How much does ready-mix concrete cost?

There is no flat rate for ready-mixed concrete.  At Heidelberg Materials UK, your ready-mix concrete cost will be determined by the factors we’ve described in this guide, including cement content, delivery distance, lead time and the inclusion of any additives or fibres.

What is the cost of concrete per metre?

Concrete price per metre will largely depend on the strength of your concrete mix.  Many people assume that 'concrete is concrete', but there are, in fact, many different types suitable for separate applications. For example, concrete for a nuclear power station will be significantly stronger – and more expensive – than that required for a shed base. 

Concrete is usually specified by strength, and the stronger the concrete, the more expensive it will be. The normal strength range is between 10N/mm2 and 40N/mm2 (as measured at 28 days). However, strengths over 100N/mm2, or at earlier ages, are sometimes required.

To provide you with a quote for the correct concrete strength, we will usually ask you where and how the concrete is being used, e.g., for footings or foundations, houses, garages, industrial floors, or perhaps a path, driveway, or industrial loading bay.  

Generally, buried concrete, i.e. GEN1 (10N/mm2), used for strip footings or garden wall foundations, will be towards the lower end of the price range, and PAV2 (40N/mm2) concrete used for heavy-duty external industrial yards will be at the upper end.

Concrete used outside is usually required to be frost-resistant, and while this will increase the price over non-frost-resistant (air-entrained) concrete, it avoids the disappointment of your brand-new driveway flaking away during the winter months.

You may have to pump the concrete into place if you have limited access and cannot get a concrete truck close to your building project. To be successfully placed by pump, the concrete must be 'pump grade'. This will have little impact on the cost of industrial concrete but could add £2-£3/m3 on a lower-grade footing concrete.

You will also need to consider how wet the concrete needs to be. The price will increase the wetter the concrete is, as the supplier will need to add more cement to keep the strength the same.  You mustn't simply add water on site, as this will reduce the strength of the concrete. It may cost an extra £2.00/m3 to have the consistency you need, but adding your own water will invalidate the warranty the concrete supplier offers and result in an inferior final product.

How can you calculate the cost of concrete for your project?

Using our concrete calculator is The easiest way to determine how much concrete you need. It asks for the basic shape of the area you are working with – square/rectangle, right-angled triangles, parts of a circle – and dimensions to estimate the required volume. 

Using the Heidelberg Materials UK concrete calculator, you can accurately work out the volume of concrete you need for your project.

For any additional queries about concrete pricing, please contact our customer service team or request a quote today.

“Through our innovative range of concrete products, we believe we have the right solution to offer whatever application you need on-site. There is no job too big or too small and no problem too demanding or difficult. Our sales and technical managers are always on hand to offer that personal and professional support.” - Simon Brown, Area General Manager, Heidelberg Materials UK.