Concrete cost per square metre in Australia (2026)
Updated , rebuilt monthly. Public ranges extracted 17 Oct 2026.
For plain concrete, published cost guides give $75 to $150, $75 to $120 and, for South Australia only, $110 to $155 per square metre (published cost guides, checked 17 Oct 2026), and the guides do not agree with each other. We show them side by side and do not average them. We have no ballpark figures from the Reply Test yet, so the by-city table shows published ranges next to our listing medians, which are Google ratings and review counts and not prices. Updated 17 Oct 2026.
What published cost guides say
| Region | Range | What it covers | Source | Rates as of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $75 to $180 per m² | headline range on the source's cost guide index | Yakka Labour | 2026 |
Sources disagree
- $75 to $150 per m² · What's The Damage · Australia · plain concrete slab, typical $110 · rates as of October 2026
- $75 to $120 per m² · Yakka Labour · Australia · plain grey broom finish, inc GST · rates as of October 2026
- $110 to $155 per m² · The Quote Yard · SA · plain broom finish, Adelaide metro · rates as of April 2026
We do not average or blend these. Treat each as one guide's view, and ask your own quotes to show their scope.
Concrete cost per m² by city
| City | Concreters on our list | Median Google rating | Median review count | Ballpark figures given in reply to our standard enquiry (1) | Published cost guides (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney NSW | 53 | 5.0 / 5 | 11 | No figure yet | No figure yet |
| Melbourne VIC | 65 | 4.9 / 5 | 12 | No figure yet | No figure yet |
| Brisbane QLD | 101 | 4.9 / 5 | 13 | No figure yet | No figure yet |
| Perth WA | 38 | 4.8 / 5 | 18 | No figure yet | No figure yet |
| Adelaide SA | 39 | 4.6 / 5 | 18 | No figure yet | No figure yet |
(1) Ballpark figures given in reply to our standard enquiry (the Reply Test) are not collected yet, so no median is shown. A ballpark figure is not a written quote.
(2) Published cost guides: one entry per source, with the date it gives for its rates. A range from one state is shown only against that state's cities.
Listing medians are the Google rating and review count of the concreters on our list in each city. They describe the businesses, not prices.
No ballpark figures have been collected yet, because the Reply Test has not run. We hold 0 written quotes so far. A city gets its own page, built from both, when it reaches 10 prices.
What homeowners report
- Going rate is 100-120 a sqm (AusRenovation, 2024-2026). Source thread
- 270 a m2 for plain concrete, last year's highs 280 (Sydney, 2023-03). Source thread
- 90 a m2 commercial rate, no pump, saw cuts in; 150 to 200 with pump and margin (not stated, 2026-01). Source thread
Unverified reports from public forum threads. They are never part of a range.
What changes the price
- Finish. Plain, exposed aggregate and polished are priced differently.
- Excavation and earthworks. Often quoted separately.
- Thickness and reinforcement. 75 mm paths and 100 mm driveways are common quote specs; mesh should sit on chairs.
- Pump hire. Charged separately on many quotes.
- Removing old concrete. Breaking out and disposal.
- Small jobs. Short-load fees and minimum hours.
- Where you live. Prices differ between cities, and each city has its own page.
- Permits.
The crossover is a separate check
A driveway that crosses the footpath usually needs a vehicle crossing permit from your council, and the fee is separate from the concrete. Councils differ, so check yours in the permit table.
Common cost questions
How much is concrete per square metre in Australia?
The table above shows what concreters on our list gave in each city.
Why do concrete prices per square metre vary so much?
Quotes cover different scope. One may include excavation, a pump and removal and another may not. Plain concrete on a flat site is at the low end.
Is it cheaper to do concrete yourself?
Cheaper in cash, not always in the result. One homeowner reported a carpenter doing 85 m² for $8,500, while others report levelling failures on DIY slabs. If you try it, get the base and the falls checked.
Is the cheapest concrete quote a good idea?
Not on its own. Compare the written scope: area, thickness, base, mesh on chairs, joints and what is excluded. Cheaper often means something is left out.
Do I need a licence or permit for concrete in Australia?
Ask for the number and look it up on your state register. The guide to hiring a concreter links to each one.
How do I find a reliable concreter in Australia?
Then ask each for a written quote and see who replies. Reply Test
Compare concreters near the job
Concrete driveway cost · Exposed aggregate cost · Concrete slab cost · Polished concrete cost. Want to know who replies to enquiries? See the Reply Test. Think a figure is wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Yakka Labour: cost guides index (yakkalabour.com.au/cost-guides), rates as of 2026, extracted 17 Oct 2026.
Every range above is printed on the source page named here, on the date given. We extracted them on 17 Oct 2026. Where two sources print different ranges for the same job, we show both.