How Much Does Concreting Cost? [2024]

Concrete is a versatile building material that can be used for house slabs, driveways, paving and much more. The cost of concrete is also relatively affordable compared to other building materials, not only in terms of the material, but also the ease of installation.

Read this guide to concreting costs in Australia to find out:

• How much does concrete cost?
• Concrete cost per m3
• How much do concreters charge?
• Types of concreting projects
• Hiring a concreter
• Getting quotes for concreting costs

 

Putting the finishing touches to a concrete driveway © One Stop Concreting

How much does concrete cost?

The cost of concrete can be anywhere from $50 to $150 per square metre, depending on the size of your job, the type of finish and amount of levelling required.

General concreting costs should be in the region of:

Spray-on concrete	$50 to $75 per sq/m
Plain concrete	$60 to $85 per sq/m
Reinforced concrete	$65 to $90 per sq/m
Coloured concrete	$75 to $90 per sq/m
Exposed aggregate	$100 to $150 per sq/m
Stencilled concrete	$100 to $150 per sq/m

 

The cost of concrete projects can vary depending on a number of factors, specifically:

• The size of your site
• How much it costs to excavate and level your site
• How much drainage needs to be installed on your site
• Access to your site

Concreting costs are naturally higher for decorative options such as coloured concrete compared to a plain concrete slab cost.

Read more: Decorative concrete - a world of possibilities

Concrete resurfacing can rejuvenate any surface with a range of effects possible. © Decorative Concrete Resurfacing

Concrete cost per m3

Concrete prices are normally quoted per square metre (m2), but some concreters may quote concreting costs per cubic metre (m3).

Expect to pay $200 to $300 for concrete per m3, or up to $350 per m3 for 40 MPa strength.

Read more about the cost of concrete per m3.

Concrete is versatile enough to be used for pool construction. © Australian Outdoor Living

How much do concreters charge?

Hourly rates for concreters vary throughout Australia, but on average, concreters charge about $67.50 per hour. 

While the rate may sound high, concreters use expensive equipment that speeds up the process and keeps the overall concrete cost per m2 or m3 down.

Because your concrete is a long-term investment, it’s not always the best idea to go with the cheapest option. 

Concreters can provide many services, including:

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

Read more: How much does concrete stencilling cost?

A concrete driveway is durable and easy on the eye. © Coolum Exteriors

Types of concreting projects

Depending on your project and the type of finish you're looking for, you may need to hire a concreter for many different jobs. These may include:

• Concrete pools: concrete is a very stable and durable option for a swimming pool
• Concrete driveways: a stable surface for driveways that's available in a wide range of finishes, including stencilled, stamped and exposed aggregate
• Exposed aggregate concrete: a popular decorative effect achieved by adding stone to concrete, suitable for driveways, patios and pathways
• Concrete footpaths: a functional and aesthetically pleasing option for a footpath, either laid as a single layer or individual blocks
• Concrete formwork: the timber or metal framework that contains a concrete structure while it hardens
• Concrete foundations: every building needs a solid base, and concrete is the most common material used
• Concrete house slabs: the perfect surface for house slabs – durable, stable and cost effective
• Spray-on concrete: a decorative feature that can make concrete more appealing
• Coloured concrete: adding dyes to concrete allows you to spruce up any area, indoors or out

An exposed aggregate driveway. © Simply Driveways

Hiring a concreter

When it comes time to hire a concreter, you need to make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• Are you licensed for my project?
• What level of insurance do you have?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up?
• Can I see photos of previous jobs?

Concreters are licensed on a state-by-state basis. All states except for Tasmania and the Northern Territory require either a dedicated concreting licence or a builder’s licence.

Today, concreters are specialising more than they did in the past. This is an important point to remember for a few reasons:

• You are likely to get the most competitive quotes from specialists
• A specialist will probably do a better job than a general concreter for certain types of work
• A specialist will have the right equipment for their speciality, so you won't be paying extra for equipment they don't need on your job

For example, some concreters specialise in pouring slabs and other large concreting jobs. They will come in with large trucks and concrete pumps. Working quickly and efficiently, they will pour a slab in the most cost-effective manner. However, the same company would probably be a poor choice if you want to have your driveway resurfaced with a decorative finish.

Getting quotes for concreting costs

The best way of finding out your concreting costs is to get quotes from local concreters. Getting at least 3 quotes will give you a sense of what market rates currently are and give you options to choose from.

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.