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A concreting job has two prices: the concrete itself, sold by the cubic metre, and what a concreter charges to prepare the site, pour and finish it. This guide covers both for 2026, and what pushes a job to the top of the range, so a quote doesn't catch you out.
How much does concrete cost per cubic metre?
Plain concrete costs $200 to $250 per cubic metre. Coloured, reinforced and decorative mixes cost more:
| Type of concrete | Price per cubic metre |
|---|---|
| Plain or standard concrete | $200–$250 |
| High-strength concrete | $250–$320 |
| Exposed aggregate or decorative stencilled/stamped concrete | $250–$350 |
| Coloured concrete | $250–$400 |
| Reinforced concrete | $300–$400 |
| Polished concrete | $300–$450 |
| Spray-on concrete (shotcrete) | $350–$450 |
These are prices for the concrete itself. A supplier's quote can also include delivery, a fee for small loads, and pump hire if the truck can't reach the pour. Ask what's included so you compare like with like.
Expect to pay 10 to 20% more in regional areas than in cities, mostly because of the cost of trucking concrete over long distances.
How much do concreters charge per square metre?
For a finished job, concreting can cost $50 to $150 per square metre. Where your job lands depends on how much excavation and levelling the site needs, the finish you choose and the size of the area.
What concreters quoted through Service.com.au
Concreters quoting driveway jobs through Service.com.au in the 12 months to October 2026 gave a typical quote of $9,600, and most quotes fell between $4,000 and $18,000 (based on 13 quotes). Driveways vary a lot in size, finish and preparation, which is why the range is wide. A quote given without a site visit will move once the concreter has seen the site.
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How much do concreters charge per hour?
Concreters typically charge $60 to $120 an hour. Experienced concreters with a strong track record usually sit towards the top of that range, and they tend to finish faster than someone just starting out.
Labour generally makes up 40% to 60% of the cost of a concreting job. The concrete and other materials make up the rest.
Tip: Ask each concreter to list materials and labour separately. That lets you compare quotes line by line.
What pushes the price up
- Size and complexity: a bigger area needs more concrete and more hours. Excavation, levelling and drainage add to both.
- Site access: if the truck can't get close, the concrete has to be pumped or barrowed in, which takes longer and costs more.
- Finish: coloured, exposed aggregate, stencilled and polished finishes cost more than plain concrete (see the table above).
- Location: regional jobs pay more for materials, and labour can cost more where fewer concreters work.
How to work out how much concrete you need
Multiply the length by the width by the depth, all in metres. A path 10 metres long and 1 metre wide, poured 100 mm (0.1 m) deep, needs 10 × 1 × 0.1 = 1 cubic metre of concrete.
Your concreter will set the depth and allow for waste. Use the sum to sense-check the volume on a quote, and multiply it by the price per cubic metre above to see roughly what the concrete alone should cost.
What concreters do
Concreters prepare the site, build formwork, place reinforcement, then pour, finish and cure the concrete. Common jobs around the home include:
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- Driveways, paths and patios
- House slabs and footings
- Pool surrounds, retaining walls and rendering, often with spray-on concrete
- Polished, stencilled, stamped and exposed aggregate finishes
- Cutting, grinding and sealing existing concrete
Finding a concreter and getting quotes
Post your job on Service.com.au for free and compare quotes from verified concreters in your area.
Ask each concreter about their licence and insurance, and for photos of past work. Quotes from at least three concreters give you a benchmark price for your job.
Licensing rules for concreters vary by state. NSW and Queensland have a specific concreting licence for jobs above a set value, while other states and territories rely on builder licences or registration for certain work. Always check your concreter's licence.
More cost guides
- How Much Can Concrete Stencilling Cost?
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pergola?
- How Much Do House Extensions Cost?
- How Much Does a Granny Flat Cost?
All prices in this guide are approximate and accurate at the time of writing. They may differ by location and from business to business.