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Concrete - Mass – cost per m³ – UK 2026 Rate Guide

Budget rate for supply & lay · typical budget rate before your adjustments

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Concrete - Mass
per m³ · supply & lay
£193 – £473 / m³
What is it

Mass concrete is plain, unreinforced ready-mixed concrete placed in bulk for foundations, bases, infill and similar structural or non-structural applications.

Rate guide
Standard C20/25, direct chute placement£209 – £275/m³
C16/20 mass fill or blinding concrete£193 – £253/m³
C25/30 higher-strength mass concrete£226 – £297/m³
C20/25 placed by concrete pump£259 – £352/m³
Small or restricted pours with manual handling£330 – £473/m³
Labour output
Continuous pump placement with prepared workface70–120 m³/day
Direct chute placement into accessible excavation45–85 m³/day
Crane and skip placement20–40 m³/day
Broken-up pours with barrow or restricted handling8–18 m³/day
Key rate adjusters
Concrete specification
Higher strength, sulphate resistance or prescribed mixes typically add £10–£35/m³ to the concrete supply cost.
Pump attendance
A pump commonly adds £750–£1,500 per visit plus around £15–£35/m³, with the greatest effect on short pours.
Load efficiency
Part-load charges, waiting time and aborted deliveries can increase the effective rate by £25–£75/m³.
Site access
Restricted vehicle access or remote placement can add £30–£120/m³ through additional labour and handling plant.
Pour size
Repetitive pours below approximately 10 m³ can carry a 15–35% premium because mobilisation and supervision are spread over less volume.
Weather and programme
Winter working, out-of-hours pours or accelerated sequencing can increase the placed rate by 5–15%.
Quantity surveyor insights
  • Waste and buildability: Allow around 3–5% for normal overbreak, uneven formation and residual concrete, rising to 8–12% where excavations are irregular or poorly controlled. Direct chute access and larger continuous pours generally provide the most economical solution.
  • Scope and procurement: Confirm whether the rate includes pumping, testing, curing, construction joints, formwork and disposal of washout, as these are frequent scope gaps. Secure ready-mix capacity and pump availability together, with clear waiting-time and cancellation terms for programme-critical pours.

Estimate Anything AI answer · indicative budget rates · updated 31 August 2026

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