Concrete Price Calculator (Metric)
Enter how many cubic metres you need and compare bagged concrete against ready-mix delivery so you buy the cheaper option for your job size.
What your result means
Ready-mix cost is your volume times the delivered price per cubic metre. Bagged cost is the number of 36 kg bags it takes (one bag makes about 0.017 m³) times your bag price. Comparing the two tells you which way to buy — bags for small pours, a truck for anything bigger.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the cubic metres you need (use our slab calculator if you only have dimensions).
- Enter the delivered ready-mix price per cubic metre from your supplier.
- Enter the price of a 36 kg bag at your store.
- Compare the two totals and the bag count.
- Remember ready-mix may add delivery and short-load fees on small orders.
The formula
One 36 kg bag yields about 0.017 m³, so it takes roughly 59 bags to make a single cubic metre. That's why bagging is only economical for very small pours.
Worked example
For 4 m³ with ready-mix at $210 a cubic metre and 36 kg bags at $7 each: ready-mix is $840.00. Bagged would need about 236 bags, roughly $1,652.00 — ready-mix wins easily at this size.
Bagged vs ready-mix: when each wins
| Job size | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under ~0.4 m³ | Bagged | No delivery fee; mix as you go |
| ~0.4 – 0.8 m³ | Toss-up | Compare bag count vs short-load fee |
| 0.8+ m³ | Ready-mix | Cheaper per m³ and far less labour |
| 36 kg bag yield | — | ~0.017 m³; ~59 bags per cubic metre |
| Short-load fee | — | Often added by truck on small loads |
Tips & gotchas
- It takes about 59 of the 36 kg bags to equal one cubic metre — mixing that by hand is a serious job.
- Ready-mix trucks often charge a short-load fee on small loads.
- Bagged is handy for posts, small pads, and repairs where a truck isn't worth it.
- Factor your time: hand-mixing dozens of bags can take all day.
- Prices here are material only; delivery and pumping (if needed) are extra.
Frequently asked questions
Is bagged concrete cheaper than ready-mix?
Only for very small jobs. Per cubic metre, bagged concrete usually costs more than delivered ready-mix, and it's far more labour.
How many 36 kg bags make a cubic metre?
About 59 bags. Each 36 kg bag yields roughly 0.017 m³.
How much does a cubic metre of concrete cost?
Delivered ready-mix is priced per cubic metre, before delivery or short-load fees. Enter a local rate above.
When should I use ready-mix?
Any pour of about 0.8 m³ or more. It's cheaper per cubic metre and saves hours of mixing.
Does this include delivery fees?
No. This compares material cost only. Ready-mix delivery, short-load fees, and pumping are extra.
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