Pricing concrete for a London project is rarely as simple as reading a single figure off a website. Two quotes for the same slab can differ by hundreds of pounds once delivery charges, access problems and small-load fees appear on the invoice.
Most concrete London suppliers charge around £95 to £150 per cubic metre before VAT for standard grades. The grade you choose sets the base price. Volume, site access and the London-specific costs of getting a heavy truck through the capital then shape the final total.
Average Cost of Concrete Per Cubic Metre in London
A clear price range helps you set a realistic budget before requesting quotes. The cost per cubic metre changes with the type of concrete, the supply method and the size of your order.
Standard Ready-Mix Grades
Standard ready-mix grades usually cost between £95 and £135 per cubic metre before VAT. These grades cover most domestic work, including patios, driveways, floor slabs and house foundations. Buyers ordering a full or near-full load typically pay rates toward the lower end of this range.
High-Strength Grades
High-strength grades used for reinforced or commercial structures typically cost £125 to £150 per cubic metre. The higher price reflects the extra cement these mixes contain. Specialist additives for waterproofing or faster curing can raise the rate further.
Mix on Site Concrete
Mix on site concrete generally costs between £100 and £140 per cubic metre. The price stays close to ready-mix because the same raw materials go into both. The difference lies in the method, since mix-on-site trucks produce concrete at the site, which suits jobs where the final volume is hard to predict.
Small Loads Under One Cubic Metre
Small loads carry the highest effective rate, often £150 or more per cubic metre. The truck, driver and fuel cost the same regardless of volume, so spreading those fixed costs across a small order pushes the price up sharply.
Concrete has also held its price better than many other building materials this year. Ready-mixed concrete prices fell by 0.7% in the 12 months to August 2026, while several other construction materials recorded sharp rises over the same period.
Concrete Prices in London by Grade
Concrete grades describe compressive strength, and stronger grades contain more cement. Higher cement content raises the cost per cubic metre, so choosing the right grade keeps your budget in check.
| Grade | Typical Price Per m³ (ex VAT) | Common Uses |
| C10 | £95 to £110 | Blinding and kerb bedding |
| C15 | £100 to £115 | Garden paths and shed bases |
| C20 | £105 to £120 | Patios and light floor slabs |
| C25 | £110 to £125 | Foundations and general slabs |
| C30 | £120 to £135 | Driveways and external slabs |
| C35 | £125 to £145 | Reinforced and structural work |
| C40 | £130 to £150 | Heavy-duty commercial floors |
These figures act as a guide, since suppliers adjust prices for volume, distance and mix specification. Specialist additives such as fibres or retarders also add to the base rate.
Matching the grade to the job is the simplest way to avoid paying for strength a project does not need. Pro-Mix Concrete supplies grades from C10 to C40 across London, with their specialists reviewing the project requirements before the mix is confirmed. A patio, a footing or a commercial slab then receives concrete suited to the load it will carry.
Ready-Mix vs Mix on Site Concrete Costs
London buyers can choose between two main supply methods. The right option depends on the size of the pour, the access to your site and the certainty of your measurements.
Ready-Mix Concrete Pricing
Ready-mix concrete is batched at a plant to an exact grade, then delivered to site in a rotating drum. This method usually offers the best value per cubic metre on larger planned pours.
Ready-mix tends to suit these jobs best:
- Driveways and large patios
- House extensions
- Ground floor slabs
- Commercial foundations
Prices rise once an order falls below a full load. Many suppliers add a part-load charge for smaller volumes, which can push the effective rate well above the standard price per cubic metre.
Mix on Site Concrete Pricing
Mix on site trucks carry the raw materials separately. The concrete is then produced at the site as the pour progresses. Prices per cubic metre are often similar to ready-mix, though the method suits smaller jobs or pours where the final volume is hard to predict.
This option also helps on staged pours, where work moves slowly across a site. Fresh batches keep the concrete workable throughout the job.
What Affects the Price of Concrete in London
Several factors move a London concrete quote up or down. Understanding them helps you compare quotes on a fair basis:
- Grade and mix design: Higher-strength grades contain more cement, which raises the price. Additives such as fibres, accelerators or waterproofing agents add further cost.
- Order volume: Larger orders spread fixed delivery costs across more concrete. Small orders often attract part-load charges.
- Delivery distance: Sites further from the batching plant cost more to reach, especially across congested parts of the city.
- Delivery timing: Early morning, evening or weekend slots can carry a premium. Some boroughs also restrict delivery hours on residential streets.
- Site access: Narrow streets, rear gardens or basements may need a pump or a smaller truck. Both options add to the total cost.
Asking suppliers to list these factors separately makes it easier to see where the money goes.
London Delivery Costs Buyers Often Miss
Delivering concrete in London carries costs that rarely apply elsewhere in the UK. Suppliers usually build these into their delivery charges rather than listing them separately.
Congestion Charge
Trucks entering the central zone pay the Congestion Charge, which will rise from £15 to £18 from 2 January 2026. Sites in Westminster, the City or Southwark are most affected. Therefore, suppliers often add a small surcharge to cover the cost.
Emission and Safety Rules
Heavy vehicles must meet Low Emission Zone standards across Greater London. Large lorries also need an HGV Safety Permit to operate in the capital. Keeping a compliant fleet adds to running costs, which feed into delivery prices.
Parking and Council Permits
Busy residential streets often need extra arrangements before a truck can unload. These local costs may appear in your quote:
- Parking bay suspensions
- Traffic management on main roads
- Restricted delivery windows
- Longer journey times in heavy traffic
Checking council rules for your street before booking avoids last-minute costs on the day of the pour.
Extra Costs to Budget For
The price per cubic metre is only part of the full cost of a concrete job. Most London quotes may include these extras:
- Small-load charges, often £50 to £100
- Line pump hire, often £275 to £450
- Boom pump hire, often £500 to £1,400 per day
- Waiting time, often £60 to £90 per hour
- VAT at the standard rate of 20%
Planning for these items from the start gives you a realistic total rather than a headline figure that grows later.
Tight London sites often turn a simple pour into a long wheelbarrow relay through a hallway or side passage. Pro-Mix Concrete offers concrete pump hire on a same-day or next-day basis, with flexible piping that reaches hard-to-access areas. Booking the pump alongside the concrete keeps the pour on one schedule while saving hours of manual labour.
Example Concrete Costs for London Projects
Worked examples make the price ranges easier to apply to a real job. The figures below use typical 2026 London rates before VAT and exclude labour for laying the concrete.
Shed Base
A 3 m × 3 m shed base at 100 mm deep is one of the most common small jobs in London gardens. The volume falls just below one cubic metre, so a small-load charge usually applies.
- Volume: around 0.9 m³, rounded up to 1 m³
- Grade: C15
- Concrete cost: around £110
- Small-load charge: around £75
- Estimated total: roughly £185
Driveway
A 30 m² driveway at 150 mm deep needs a stronger grade to handle vehicle loads. The concrete cost below excludes pump hire, which narrow front gardens may require.
- Volume: around 4.5 m³
- Grade: C30
- Price per m³: around £125
- Estimated total: roughly £560
Extension Foundations
A 10 m run of strip footings, 600 mm wide by 1 m deep, represents a typical single-storey extension. Foundation work usually uses a general-purpose structural grade.
- Volume: around 6 m³
- Grade: C25
- Price per m³: around £118
- Estimated total: roughly £710
Adding around 5% to 10% to these volumes covers uneven ground and minor spillage. Your final quote will also depend on access, timing and the distance from the plant.
How to Get the Best Price on Concrete in London
Market conditions in the capital currently favour well-prepared buyers. Last year brought a record 27% fall in annual materials sales volumes in the London market, which makes comparing quotes more worthwhile than ever.
A few simple steps help you secure a fair price:
- Measure the area accurately before calling suppliers.
- Order the correct grade rather than a stronger one.
- Combine small jobs into a single delivery.
- Book weekday slots outside peak traffic hours.
- Compare quotes on a like-for-like basis, including VAT.
Clear details about the site, the volume and the access route also help suppliers quote the first time accurately.
FAQs
How much is a cubic metre of concrete in London?
A cubic metre of concrete in London usually costs around £95 to £150 before VAT. General-purpose C25 often falls between £110 and £125, while small loads, pumping or specialist mixes can raise the final price.
Is concrete more expensive in London than other parts of the UK?
Yes, concrete in London often costs around 15% to 40% more than in other regions. Congestion charges, emission rules, heavy traffic and restricted access all add to delivery costs, which suppliers pass on through their pricing.
Does the price of concrete include delivery?
Many suppliers include delivery within a set radius for full loads. Small orders, longer distances or out-of-hours slots often carry extra charges, so confirming what the quote covers before booking avoids unexpected costs later.
Is mix on site concrete cheaper than ready-mix?
No, not always. Prices per cubic metre are often similar. Mix on site suits small or uncertain volumes, while ready-mix usually offers better value on larger planned pours where the exact volume is known in advance.
Do you pay VAT on concrete in London?
Yes, most concrete supplies carry VAT at the standard rate of 20%. Some new residential builds may qualify for zero-rating, so checking with your supplier or accountant before ordering helps you budget correctly.
Planning Your Concrete Budget in London
Concrete in London usually costs around £95 to £150 per cubic metre before VAT, with the grade setting the base price. Volume, access, delivery timing and London-specific charges then shape the final total. Accurate measurements, the right grade and like-for-like quotes give you the clearest picture of the real cost.
For buyers comparing concrete London prices, Pro-Mix Concrete brings more than 20 years of supply experience to domestic, commercial and industrial projects. They deliver ready-mixed concrete or mix fresh concrete on site, backed by a network of local suppliers that keeps deliveries on time across the capital. A free quotation from their team sets out a clear price per cubic metre before the first load leaves the plant.
Read More: How Do You Choose Between Ready Mix Concrete Suppliers