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How much does concreting cost? | 2024 cost guide

5th Feb '24 • By Jared Jeffery

Concreting is an essential element of most building projects, being utilised for driveways, house slabs and everything in between! We love the copious design options, quirky effects and flooring alternatives.

Concreting can cost $50 - $150 per square metre, subjective on the levelling required, the type of finish used and the size of the job. You can expect to pay $200 - $300 per cubic metre.

  • Spray on concrete costs $50 - $75 per square metre
  • Plain concrete costs $60 - $85 per square metre
  • Coloured concrete costs $100 - $150 per square metre 
  • Exposed aggregate or decorative stencilled finish costs $100 - $150 per square metre 

Concreting significantly reduces building costs due to its high supply ability and ease of working with. So how much does concreting cost in 2024? We'll go into detail below. 

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spreading concrete on ground

Article Overview

  • Standard concrete costs 
  • Types of concrete 
  • What jobs do concreters do? 
  • Finding a concreter and taking quotes
  • Concreting FAQs

Standard Concrete Costs

Choice of Concrete

The concrete you choose to work with will impact your price. As mentioned, spray-on concrete costs $50 - $75 per square metre, and plain concrete costs $60 - $85 per square metre

Coloured concrete costs $100 - $150 per square metre, while exposed aggregate or decorative stencilled finish costs $100 - $150 per square metre. 

Concrete Slab Prices

  • Spray-on — $50 - $75 per m² 
  • Plain — $60 - $85 per m² 
  • Reinforced concrete pathway — $65 - $90 per m² 
  • Exposed aggregate finish — $100 - $150 per m² 
  • Decorative stencilled concrete driveway — $100 - $150 per m² 

Labour Costs

The industry standard rate for concreting labour is approximately $70 per hour, this however may vary depending on skill level, expertise and experience. 

Low-End Concreting Labour Costs

Generally, you will find a labourer who has just finished his trade and is starting out in the industry will charge a lower rate, closer to $40 per hour. 

Medium-Range Concreting Labour Costs

Concreters charging between $40 - $70 per hour have typically been in the industry for 1 - 5 years and have an established clientele. You are paying more for increased security on their level of workmanship, and they will likely be a lot faster at completing a job than someone who is just starting out. 

High-End Concreting Labour Costs

Within the higher-end range of $70 upwards per hour, you can expect to receive a premium service. Extremely experienced concreters, with years of experience and a strong clientele to back them. Communication will be exceptional, the workmanship will be to the highest possible standard, and you can rest assured that you are investing in a service that will withstand years to come. 

Factors That May Affect Your Concreting Cost

The size of your site will impact the cost of the job, as the more area to cover, the more concrete and time required. The amount of time and work needed to excavate and level your site can increase your cost. The overall cost will rise if significant drainage needs to be installed on your site. The accessibility to your site may increase the cost as it can affect both the time frame and complexity of your job. 

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white car in driveway

Types of Concrete 

Spray-On Concrete 

Spray-on concrete is a popular option due to its speedy application and decorative design features that add to your home’s look. 

Coloured Concrete 

Coloured concrete can massively change the look of your walls both internally and externally. Coloured concrete is achieved by mixing dyes in with the concrete and comes in a range of colour options. 

Concrete Pools

Concrete is a popular pool material option due to its stable nature and durability against water, weather, and accidents. Concrete pools can be very visually appealing too. 

Concrete House Slabs

Chosen for their durability, stability and affordability, concrete house slabs are a fantastic option for covering the surface of your house slabs. 

Concrete Footpaths 

The most widely seen material used on footpaths, concrete offers a single layer or individual block option for footpaths. 

Concrete Driveways

Because what else would you want laying under heavy vehicles? Concrete driveways are a very suitable driveway choice, offering a multitude of finishes to choose from. 

Exposed Aggregate Concrete

More of a decorative concrete, exposed aggregate incorporates stone with concrete to achieve a visually aesthetic design. It is often seen on patios, pathways and driveways. 

Concrete Framework 

Combining concrete and timber to create a concrete framework for your property. 

Concrete Foundations 

Last but not least, the foundation of your property is extremely important. A solid base can make a world of difference, and concrete is the most popular option.

top view of concrete ground

What jobs do concreters do? 

Concreters are equipped with a number of skills and services. Including but not limited to:

  • Mixing and laying concrete
  • Concrete cutting
  • Reinforcing concrete to strengthen it
  • Laying house foundations
  • Cleaning dirty concrete
  • Pouring concrete into formwork for creating a variety of structures
  • Grinding/polishing/sealing concrete surfaces
  • Creating different decorative effects with stencils and stamps 

Finding a Concreter and Getting Quotes

Service.com.au offers a range of concreters within your local area. There are a number of specialists to choose from, with varying prices and skills to fit your budget and needs. Specialists are worthwhile due to their competitive prices, premium workmanship and specialised equipment for their area of expertise. 

Almost every Australian state — aside from NT and Tasmania — requires concreters to hold a dedicated concreting licence or a builder's licence. We strongly discourage hiring an unqualified concreter as this will be a significant risk to the quality of their service. 

When taking quotes, you should check licences, insurance, whether they will provide a written quote and their references. As always, take quotes from at least three different concreters to establish a benchmark price for your specific job. 

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yellow labrador on concrete driveway

Concreting FAQs

Can I DIY concreting? 

No — concreting is a specialised area that requires the correct qualifications and licences to be undertaken. 

How much does concreting cost? 

Concreting can cost $50 to $150 per square metre, subjective on the levelling required, type of finish used and size of the job. You can expect to pay $200 to $300 per cubic metre. 

Where can I find a good concreter? 

Service.com.au offers a range of concreters within your local area. There are a number of specialists to choose from with varying prices and skills to fit your budget and needs. 

How much does a concrete slab cost? 

spray on concrete slabs cost $50 - $75 per square metre, plain concrete slabs cost $60 - $85 per square metre, reinforced concrete pathway costs $65 - $90 per square metre, exposed aggregate finish costs $100 - $150 per square metre and decorative stencilled concrete driveway costs $100 - $150 per square metre.  

Can I hire a builder to do my concreting? 

Yes, a licensed builder is able to do concreting (If you would like to know more about builder costs, check out our builder cost guide), however, we strongly recommend hiring a specialist concreter for the job. Specialists offer competitive prices, premium workmanship and specialised equipment for their area of expertise. 

How long does concreting take? 

There is no one answer, as this completely depends on the size of your job and its complexity. For example, concreting a pool will take significantly longer than concreting one single wall.

Cost Guides

Please note that all prices mentioned are to be used as an approximate guide only and are accurate at the time of writing. These prices may differ by location and at the discretion of each business.

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