Concrete Cost Per Cubic Metre 2026
If you want the short answer, plain premixed concrete in Australia often lands somewhere around $250 to $350 per cubic metre before all the annoying extras. That is the rough number. Not the final invoice.
The catch is nobody actually buys “one clean cubic metre with no complications”. Delivery, small-load fees, pump hire, reinforcement, access, finish, and site prep are where the budget starts drifting.
| Cost item | Rough idea |
|---|---|
| Plain concrete per m³ | About $250 to $350 |
| Pump hire | Extra, often material to the total |
| Small-load fee | Common on small jobs |
| Labour and finish | Can cost as much as the concrete itself |
What changes the price
- Strength and mix: not every slab uses the same mix.
- Quantity: tiny jobs often get punished with fees.
- Access: tight or awkward sites cost more.
- Location: metro, regional, and remote jobs do not price the same.
- Finish: plain broom finish is different from decorative work.
Where people get caught
The usual mistake is comparing only the concrete price per cubic metre and ignoring everything around it. That is how a “cheap” slab quote suddenly stops looking cheap.
Need to work out volume first?
Use the SmartKoala Concrete Calculator before you start comparing quotes.
Use the SmartKoala Concrete Calculator before you start comparing quotes.
Also worth checking: Concrete Calculator Guide and Concrete Shed Slab Guide.