Free Volume, Cost & Site-Mix Calculator – Updated 2026 Ready-Mix Prices
The price of C25/30 concrete per cubic metre in the UK in 2026 ranges from approximately £105 to £145 per m³ for ready-mix delivered by truck, depending on your location, order volume, supplier, and any additional admixtures specified. In most of England, the average ready-mix price for C25/30 concrete sits around £110–£130/m³ (ex-VAT) for standard delivery in normal quantities. London and the South East attract the highest prices, with Greater London typically 15–20% above the national average. Northern England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are generally 5–15% below the South East base.
C25/30 concrete — also referred to as RC25, ST4, or Grade 30 under older UK designations — is one of the most widely specified concrete grades for reinforced domestic and light commercial construction in the UK. With a characteristic cube strength of 30 N/mm² at 28 days, it provides greater strength and durability than the more basic C20/25 grade, making it the preferred specification for reinforced concrete slabs, driveways, garage floors, ground-bearing floors in extensions, and any application where the concrete will be exposed to moderate loading or moderate environmental conditions.
Our C25/30 concrete price per cubic metre calculator UK 2026 allows you to calculate the volume of concrete required for any pour, estimate the ready-mix order quantity, and calculate either the ready-mix delivery cost, site-mix material quantities, or the number of bagged pre-mix units needed — all updated to reflect current 2026 UK pricing from major ready-mix suppliers including Hanson, Breedon, Aggregate Industries, and CEMEX.
The designation C25/30 follows the European concrete grade notation defined in BS EN 206: the "C" denotes concrete, "25" is the characteristic compressive cylinder strength in N/mm², and "30" is the characteristic compressive cube strength in N/mm², both measured at 28 days. In UK practice, the cube strength of 30 N/mm² is the value most commonly referenced, as UK testing has traditionally used 150mm cubes. C25/30 is formally equivalent to the RC25 standardised (prescriptive) mix and the ST4 designed mix under BS 8500-1, and broadly corresponds to the old Grade 30 under the superseded BS 5328 standard.
C25/30 concrete is produced by certified batching plants to a designed mix formulation that consistently achieves the characteristic 30 N/mm² cube strength with a statistical confidence of 95% — meaning that no more than 5% of test results should fall below the characteristic value. This statistical assurance distinguishes designed ready-mix C25/30 from site-mixed concrete, where mix control is less precise and formal conformance certificates cannot be issued.
C25/30 concrete is specified across a wide range of domestic, commercial, and infrastructure applications where the moderate loading and moderate environmental exposure of the concrete element requires a step up from the lighter C20/25 grade. Its most common applications in the UK in 2026 include:
The price of C25/30 concrete per m³ in 2026 is influenced by several key factors that can push the delivered cost above or below the benchmark average:
Get live C25/30 ready-mix quotes 2026: Hanson Ready-Mix UK | Breedon Group UK | Aggregate Industries UK | CEMEX UK Ready-Mix
Where ready-mix delivery is not practical — for very small pours, remote sites, or where phased concrete placement is required — C25/30 can be approximated on site using the RC25 prescriptive mix: 1 part cement : 1.5 parts sharp sand : 3 parts 20mm gravel by volume, or equivalently approximately 4:1 all-in ballast to cement by volume. Per cubic metre of finished concrete, this requires approximately:
The lower water:cement ratio of 0.50 compared to 0.55 for the C20/25 equivalent is one of the key reasons C25/30 achieves greater strength and durability — less mixing water means a denser, less permeable concrete matrix. As with C20/25, site-mixed concrete cannot formally carry the C25/30 BS EN 206 designation; for work subject to building control or structural engineer inspection, ready-mix with a certified delivery ticket is strongly preferred.
The table below shows typical C25/30 ready-mix concrete prices per cubic metre across UK regions in 2026, based on standard delivery, no admixtures, and orders of 4 m³ or more (i.e. no short-load surcharge). All prices are exclusive of VAT.
| Region | C25/30 Price per m³ (Low) | C25/30 Price per m³ (Mid) | C25/30 Price per m³ (High) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East England | £98 | £108 | £120 | Lowest prices in England |
| North West England | £100 | £110 | £122 | Manchester area slightly higher |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £100 | £110 | £122 | Competitive market; multiple suppliers |
| East Midlands | £102 | £112 | £125 | Good plant coverage across region |
| West Midlands | £103 | £113 | £126 | Birmingham area premium |
| East of England | £105 | £115 | £130 | Rural areas attract delivery surcharge |
| South West England | £105 | £116 | £132 | Remote Cornwall/Devon higher |
| South East England (excl. London) | £108 | £120 | £136 | Base reference region |
| Greater London (Outer) | £120 | £134 | £150 | Higher labour, logistics, congestion costs |
| Greater London (Inner) | £128 | £142 | £160 | Access restrictions, ULEZ/LEZ compliance |
| Scotland | £100 | £112 | £126 | Edinburgh/Glasgow higher than average |
| Wales | £98 | £110 | £124 | Rural Wales delivery surcharges apply |
| Northern Ireland | £95 | £106 | £120 | Lowest average ready-mix prices in UK |
All prices are for standard C25/30 concrete, no admixtures, delivered Monday–Friday within the supplier's standard delivery radius, for orders of 4 m³ or more. Add £50–£150 short-load surcharge for orders below minimum load. Add approximately £3–£12/m³ for plasticiser, retarder, or air-entraining admixtures. Saturday deliveries typically attract a £80–£150 surcharge per load.
The table below shows how C25/30 compares to the full range of standard concrete grades used in UK construction, including equivalent designations under different standards and typical 2026 ready-mix pricing.
| Grade (BS EN 206) | Cube Strength | BS 8500 Equiv. | Old Grade | Typical Use | Ready-Mix £/m³ 2026 (SE England) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C8/10 | 10 N/mm² | GEN 1 | Grade 10 | Blinding, non-structural fill | £85–£105 |
| C16/20 | 20 N/mm² | GEN 3 | Grade 20 | Light foundations, paths | £92–£112 |
| C20/25 | 25 N/mm² | GEN 3 / ST3 | Grade 25 | Domestic foundations, basic slabs | £100–£125 |
| C25/30 | 30 N/mm² | RC25 / ST4 | Grade 30 | Reinforced slabs, driveways, garage floors | £108–£136 |
| C28/35 | 35 N/mm² | RC28 | Grade 35 | Frost-exposed external slabs, XF1 exposure | £112–£140 |
| C30/37 | 37 N/mm² | RC30 | Grade 37 | Structural elements, heavy-duty slabs | £115–£145 |
| C32/40 | 40 N/mm² | RC32 | Grade 40 | Industrial floors, HGV hardstandings, roads | £120–£150 |
| C35/45 | 45 N/mm² | RC35 | Grade 45 | Heavily loaded structural, ports, airports | £130–£162 |
| C40/50 | 50 N/mm² | RC40 | Grade 50 | High-rise, transfer structures, specialist | £142–£178 |
The full technical specification for C25/30 concrete in accordance with BS EN 206:2013+A2:2021 and BS 8500-1:2015+A2:2019 as applicable in the UK in 2026:
| Property | C25/30 Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Characteristic cylinder strength (fck) | 25 N/mm² | At 28 days; 5th percentile |
| Characteristic cube strength (fck,cube) | 30 N/mm² | At 28 days; 150mm cubes; most-used UK value |
| Mean cylinder strength (fcm) | 33 N/mm² | fck + 8 per EN 1992-1-1 |
| Modulus of elasticity (Ecm) | ~31 GPa | Secant modulus at 28 days |
| Density (normal weight concrete) | ~2,360 kg/m³ | Fresh concrete; varies with aggregate type |
| Max free water:cement ratio | 0.65 (XC1) / 0.55 (XC2–XC4) | Per BS 8500 Table A.3 |
| Min cement content | 260 kg/m³ (XC1) / 300 kg/m³ (XC2–XC4) | Per BS 8500 Table A.3 |
| Max aggregate size | 20mm standard / 10mm for congested reinforcement | Nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) |
| Slump class (typical domestic) | S3 (100–150mm) recommended | Request S2 for unreinforced mass pours |
| Suitable exposure classes | XC1, XC2, XC3, XC4 (carbonation) | With appropriate w/c ratio and cover |
| Frost resistance (XF1) | Marginal without air entrainment | Specify C28/35 or air-entrained C25/30 for frost-exposed |
| Equivalent prescriptive mix | RC25 (1:1.5:3) / ST4 | Per BS 8500-2 Table A.3 |
| Manufacturing / specifying standard | BS EN 206:2013+A2:2021 / BS 8500-1:2015+A2:2019 | Delivery tickets must confirm conformance |
Concrete specification guidance: BSI Group – BS EN 206 / BS 8500 | The Concrete Centre UK | GOV.UK Approved Documents
The table below compares the material quantities and costs for producing a C25/30-equivalent mix on site (RC25 / 1:1.5:3 mix ratio) against ready-mix delivery pricing in 2026. This comparison helps you decide whether site-mixing or ready-mix is the better option for your project volume.
| Material / Method | Quantity per m³ | Unit | 2026 Unit Price (ex-VAT) | Cost per m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPC Cement (25kg bags) | ~370 kg (~15 bags) | 25kg bag | £8.50/bag | ~£128 |
| All-in Ballast (bulk bag ~850kg) | ~1,650 kg (~2 bulk bags) | Bulk bag | £58/bag | ~£113 |
| Water | ~185 litres | — | Negligible | ~£0 |
| Total Site-Mix Materials Cost | — | — | — | ~£241/m³ |
| Ready-Mix C25/30 (delivered, SE England avg.) | — | — | — | £108–£136/m³ |
| Bagged pre-mix C25 (20kg bags) | ~111 bags | 20kg bag | £4.80/bag | ~£533/m³ |
This table illustrates clearly that for any pour over approximately 0.5–1.0 m³, ready-mix concrete is substantially more cost-effective than site-mixing or bagged concrete — even before accounting for the significant labour cost of site-mixing. Bagged pre-mix is only economical for very small pours (post holes, small repair patches) where the minimum ready-mix order and short-load surcharge make delivery uneconomical.
The table below provides specification guidance for the most common UK construction applications using C25/30 concrete, including minimum slab depths, sub-base requirements, reinforcement, and suitability notes.
| Application | C25/30 Suitable? | Min Depth | Sub-base | Reinforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground-bearing extension floor slab | Yes ✓ | 100–150mm | 150mm MOT Type 1 + DPM | A142 or A193 | Standard UK domestic specification |
| Domestic driveway (cars/light vans) | Yes ✓ | 125–150mm | 150mm MOT Type 1 | A142 or A193 | Preferred over C20/25 for better durability |
| Garage floor (domestic cars) | Yes ✓ | 125–150mm | 150mm MOT Type 1 + DPM | A193 | Power-float finish for smooth surface |
| Reinforced strip foundation | Yes ✓ | 200–300mm | Firm undisturbed ground | As engineered | BCB inspection required before covering |
| Pad / column base foundation | Yes ✓ | 300–500mm | Blinding layer + firm ground | Engineer designed | SE design mandatory |
| External patio / path (frost risk) | Marginal ⚠| 100mm | 100–150mm MOT Type 1 | Optional A142 | Specify C28/35 or air-entrained C25/30 for frost |
| Retaining wall base slab | Yes ✓ | 300mm+ | Blinding concrete | Engineer designed | SE design required; waterproof admixture if below ground |
| Agricultural hardstanding | Yes ✓ | 150mm | 200mm compacted hardcore | A252 | Suitable for tractors and light machinery |
| Suspended floor slab (domestic) | Yes ✓ | 175–200mm | N/A – spanning | SE-designed; A252 or A393 | Structural engineer mandatory |
| HGV lorry park / hardstanding | No ✗ | — | — | — | Use C32/40 minimum; full structural design required |
| Oversite / ground floor blinding | Yes ✓ (or C20/25) | 50–75mm | Compacted subsoil | None | C20/25 adequate and cheaper for blinding only |
| Precast concrete products | Yes ✓ | Varies | N/A | As designed | Lintels, steps, copings, garden furniture |
Ready-mix C25/30 costs approximately £108–£136/m³ (ex-VAT) in South East England in 2026. Northern England and Northern Ireland are typically 8–12% cheaper; inner London is 15–20% more expensive.
Orders below the minimum load (typically 4–6 m³) attract a short-load surcharge of £50–£150 per delivery. For pours under 2 m³, site-mixing may be more economical despite the extra labour.
C25/30 costs approximately £8–£12/m³ more than C20/25 from the same supplier. For a 5 m³ pour, the difference is only £40–£60 — making the upgrade to C25/30 very cost-effective for most domestic applications.
C25/30 has a characteristic cube strength of 30 N/mm² at 28 days — 20% stronger than C20/25 (25 N/mm²) and the most common grade for reinforced domestic concrete in the UK.
The RC25 site-mix (1:1.5:3 cement:sand:gravel or approximately 4:1 all-in ballast:cement) is the equivalent of C25/30 under BS 8500-2. It requires approximately 370 kg cement and 1,650 kg ballast per m³.
Normal-weight C25/30 concrete has a fresh density of approximately 2,360 kg/m³ (2.36 t/m³). A full 8 m³ truck load of C25/30 weighs approximately 18.9 tonnes of concrete.
Always retain your ready-mix delivery ticket (DS/1). It confirms the concrete grade, mix reference, batch time, and BS EN 206 / BS 8500 conformance. Building control and structural engineers will request these.
Where a concrete pump is needed (restricted access, tall formwork), pump hire costs an additional £250–£600/day depending on pump type and boom length — budget for this separately from the concrete cost.
Common admixtures add to the base price: plasticiser £3–£6/m³, retarder (hot weather) £5–£10/m³, accelerator (cold weather) £6–£12/m³, air-entraining agent (frost) £4–£8/m³.
Always add 10% to your calculated volume before ordering. Running short mid-pour creates a cold joint — a permanent structural weakness that building control will flag as a serious defect.
Saturday ready-mix deliveries typically attract a surcharge of £80–£150 per load. Plan your pour for a weekday where possible. Sunday deliveries are rarely available from most suppliers.
Ready-mix concrete is subject to VAT at 20% for most applications. New build residential construction is zero-rated, meaning no VAT is charged on concrete for qualifying new dwellings.
The use of C25/30 concrete in structural elements is governed by the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended), related Approved Documents, and the relevant British and European Standards. The following requirements are most relevant to domestic and light commercial C25/30 concrete work in 2026.
Approved Document A governs structural loading. For domestic reinforced ground-bearing slabs and foundations, C25/30 satisfies the structural material requirements and is the grade most commonly specified by structural engineers for reinforced domestic concrete. Building Control must inspect foundations, reinforcement positioning, and concrete placement before covering. Retain all ready-mix delivery tickets confirming the C25/30 (or RC25 / ST4) designation and BS EN 206 / BS 8500 conformance for the building control file.
Ground-bearing slabs forming part of a habitable building must include a continuous damp-proof membrane (DPM) of minimum 1200-gauge polythene under the C25/30 slab, lapped to the damp-proof course (DPC) in the surrounding walls. In areas of identified radon gas risk or ground contamination, additional protective measures are required. The more durable C25/30 mix (lower w/c ratio than C20/25) is beneficial in ground-contact applications as it provides a less permeable concrete matrix, helping to resist moisture transmission.
Regulatory resources: GOV.UK Approved Documents A & C | NHBC Standards 2026 | The Concrete Centre UK | Planning Portal UK
Ready-mix C25/30 concrete costs approximately £108–£136 per cubic metre (ex-VAT) in South East England in 2026, with regional variation from around £95–£106/m³ in Northern Ireland and North East England to £128–£160/m³ in inner London. These prices are for standard delivery, no admixtures, and orders of 4 m³ or more (no short-load surcharge). For smaller orders, add a short-load surcharge of £50–£150, which significantly increases the effective cost per m³ for pours under 2 m³. Always obtain two or three quotes from local ready-mix plants, as prices vary between suppliers even in the same area.
C25/30 is one of the most widely used reinforced concrete grades in UK domestic and light commercial construction. Its most common uses are reinforced ground-bearing floor slabs for house extensions and new builds, domestic driveways, garage and workshop floors, reinforced strip and pad foundations, retaining wall bases, and suspended domestic floor slabs. It is preferred over C20/25 for most reinforced concrete applications because its 20% greater cube strength and lower water:cement ratio provide better structural performance, durability, and resistance to moisture and chemical attack.
The key differences are strength and durability. C25/30 has a characteristic cube strength of 30 N/mm² versus 25 N/mm² for C20/25 — 20% stronger. C25/30 also has a lower maximum water:cement ratio (0.55 vs 0.70 for XC1 exposure) and higher minimum cement content (260 kg/m³ vs 240 kg/m³), producing a denser, less permeable concrete that performs better in moisture-exposed and moderately aggressive environments. The ready-mix price difference is typically only £8–£12/m³, making C25/30 the cost-effective choice for most reinforced concrete applications where C20/25 meets the minimum structural requirement but C25/30 provides better long-term durability.
For a typical domestic driveway measuring 5m × 3m × 0.15m (150mm deep): volume = 5 × 3 × 0.15 = 2.25 m³. Adding 10% wastage gives 2.48 m³ — round up to 2.5 m³ to order. At approximately £120/m³ plus a short-load surcharge of £100 (for under 4 m³), the total ready-mix cost would be approximately £400 ex-VAT delivered. For a 10m × 4m driveway at 150mm deep: volume = 6.0 m³ + 10% = 6.6 m³ order, costing approximately £720–£840 ex-VAT delivered with no short-load surcharge. Use our calculator above to compute the exact volume and cost for your specific dimensions.
The site-mix equivalent of C25/30 is the RC25 mix: 1 part cement : 1.5 parts sharp sand : 3 parts 20mm gravel by volume, or approximately 4 parts all-in ballast to 1 part cement by volume. Per cubic metre of finished concrete, you need approximately 370 kg (15 bags) of OPC cement, 1,650 kg of all-in ballast, and 185 litres of water. The total materials cost is approximately £241/m³ in 2026 — significantly more expensive than ready-mix delivery (£108–£136/m³) before accounting for the labour cost of mixing. Site-mixing is only economical for pours under approximately 0.5 m³ where the short-load surcharge makes ready-mix uneconomical.
C25/30 is marginally suitable for external patios and paths in terms of strength, but it does not provide full frost resistance for exposed external applications in the UK climate without air entrainment. For external concrete exposed to repeated freeze/thaw cycles — which is the case for most UK patios and paths — the correct specification under BS 8500 is C28/35 minimum (XF1 exposure class), or alternatively air-entrained C25/30 (specify PAV1 or PAV2 under BS 8500 for pavement concrete). The air-entraining agent adds approximately £4–£8/m³ to the ready-mix price and significantly improves frost durability.
C25/30 achieves approximately 50% of its 28-day strength at 3 days, 70–75% at 7 days, and full characteristic strength at 28 days under standard curing conditions (20°C, kept moist). In cooler UK conditions (5–10°C), strength gain is slower — at 5°C it may take 6–8 weeks to achieve full 28-day design strength. For a driveway, do not drive on the concrete for at least 7 days (longer in cold weather). For structural foundations, do not load until adequate strength has been confirmed — typically 7 days minimum for domestic work. Keep all fresh concrete protected from frost, direct sun, and drying wind for the first 3–7 days.
Yes — always retain the ready-mix delivery ticket (form DS/1) for every load of C25/30 concrete delivered to site. The delivery ticket confirms the concrete grade (C25/30), mix reference, plant batch number, batch time, volume delivered, and conformance with BS EN 206 / BS 8500. Your building control officer will request these tickets as evidence that the correct grade of concrete was used in foundations and structural slabs. Structural engineers and warranty inspectors (e.g. NHBC) also require delivery tickets. Keep all tickets for the duration of the project and file them in the health and safety file.
The choice of admixture depends on the application and weather conditions. For standard domestic pours in moderate conditions (10–20°C), no admixture is needed for a basic C25/30. Consider the following in specific circumstances: a plasticiser or superplasticiser (£3–£6/m³) for better workability around dense reinforcement without increasing the water content; a retarder (£5–£10/m³) for long pours or hot weather (above 20°C) to extend working time; an accelerator (£6–£12/m³) for cold weather (below 5°C) to maintain early strength gain; and an air-entraining agent (£4–£8/m³) for external exposed concrete at risk of frost attack. Always discuss admixture requirements with your ready-mix supplier when booking.
To order C25/30 ready-mix concrete: (1) calculate your required volume using our calculator above and add 10% wastage; (2) round up to the nearest 0.25 m³; (3) contact local ready-mix suppliers (Hanson, Breedon, Aggregate Industries, CEMEX, or local independent plants) and request quotes — always get at least two or three; (4) specify C25/30, 20mm aggregate, S3 slump, BS EN 206 / BS 8500 conformance, and any admixtures required; (5) confirm site access requirements (minimum 3.5m width, 4.0m height clearance for a standard mixer truck); (6) book at least 2–3 working days in advance; and (7) ensure someone is on site to receive and direct the delivery from start to finish — ready-mix drums rotate at a fixed speed and the concrete must be placed promptly once delivery begins.
Normal-weight C25/30 concrete has a density of approximately 2,360 kg per cubic metre (2.36 tonnes/m³). This is used when calculating structural dead loads and for assessing vehicle access. A full 8 m³ truck load of C25/30 concrete weighs approximately 18.9 tonnes of concrete, plus the truck itself at 15–22 tonnes tare weight, giving a gross vehicle weight of approximately 35–42 tonnes. Always check that your access road, bridge, or soft ground can support the loaded delivery vehicle. If in doubt, request a smaller 4 or 6 m³ drum truck, or use a concrete pump to reach the pour location without driving the truck onto sensitive ground.
C25/30 can be used as the base concrete for a basement slab, but for waterproofing performance a waterproof or watertight concrete specification is required. This typically means specifying C25/30 with a waterproofing admixture (e.g. crystalline waterproofing compound at £15–£30/m³ additional cost), a reduced maximum water:cement ratio of 0.45, and a minimum cement content of 330 kg/m³ — together producing a concrete with very low permeability classified as WR (watertight / water-resistant) under BS EN 206. For Grade 3 (fully dry) basement waterproofing, a Type B waterproofing system as defined in BS 8102:2022 is required, and the concrete specification should be agreed with a specialist basement waterproofing engineer.
Additional Resources 2026: Ready-mix at Hanson UK | Breedon Group | Aggregate Industries | CEMEX UK | Specification guidance at The Concrete Centre | Standards at BSI Group | Regs at GOV.UK