How much does concreting cost in Sydney?
Laying a plain concrete slab in Sydney costs $86–$170 per square metre in our table, typically $125, and that per-metre rate is the one to compare quotes on. Decorative work sits higher: exposed aggregate is $140–$230 and stamped or stencilled $140–$230. For a whole job, a typical 40 sqm plain driveway lands at $3,000–$6,900. Sydney is denser than the country as a whole, with 30.7% of dwellings being flats or apartments against 14.2% nationally (ABS 2021 Census), so plenty of jobs here are courtyards, paths and side passages where the truck cannot pull up beside the formwork.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Concreting cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Concreting Cost in Sydney 2026
Marking out a car park, warehouse floor or loading bay? See our line marking cost guide for Sydney.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete slab (per sqm) | $86/sqm | $125 | $170 |
| Coloured concrete (per sqm) | $110/sqm | $160 | $230 |
| Exposed aggregate (per sqm) | $140/sqm | $185 | $230 |
| Stamped / stencilled (per sqm) | $140/sqm | $180 | $230 |
| Polished concrete — polish existing slab (per sqm) | $69/sqm | $125 | $195 |
| Spray-on resurfacing (per sqm) | $57/sqm | $75 | $92 |
| Driveway — plain (typical 40 sqm) | $3,000total | $5,200 | $6,900 |
| Driveway — exposed aggregate | $5,500total | $7,450 | $10,350 |
| Concrete path / footpath | $86/sqm | $125 | $185 |
| Concrete patio / entertaining | $92/sqm | $145 | $205 |
| Shed slab (typical 20 sqm) | $1,725total | $2,525 | $4,025 |
| Old concrete removal (stand-alone, incl. disposal) | $34/sqm | $69 | $115 |
| Ready-mix concrete, 25 MPa delivered (supply only, per m³) | $345per cubic metre | $435 | $550 |
| Polished concrete — new slab poured + mechanical polish (per sqm) | $185/sqm | $240 | $300 |
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Get Sydney quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Sydney metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
What to Know About Concreting Work and Cost in Sydney
In the City of Sydney a driveway needs approval before it is built, repaired or changed, and approval is not permission to build: a separate road opening permit is needed too. You can use your own contractor or accept the City’s quote.
The 2026/27 charges when your contractor builds it: a $300 road opening permit, a $3,320 security deposit, refunded after the final inspection and a $1,200 inspection. If the City builds it, concrete is $760 a square metre plus a $1,800 site establishment fee — against $86–$170 a square metre for a plain slab in our table. The crossing is finished with a medium broom.
Sydney concrete: ready-mix, a 40 m² driveway two ways, and a coloured or stamped patio
Ready-mix concrete prices in Sydney
Ready-mix concrete, 25 MPa delivered (supply only), is $345–$550 a cubic metre in our Sydney table, typically $435; laid and finished, plain concrete is $86–$170 a square metre.
A 40 m² Sydney driveway, plain or exposed aggregate
A plain driveway of about 40 square metres is $3,000–$6,900 in our Sydney table and an exposed-aggregate driveway $5,500–$10,350; at the typical prices exposed aggregate is $2,250 more.
A coloured or stamped patio in Sydney
For 30 square metres at the typical prices in our Sydney table, plain concrete comes to $3,750, coloured concrete $4,800 and stamped or stencilled concrete $5,400.
These answers use the prices in the table on this page.
What Affects Concreting Costs in Sydney
Cost per square metre, finish by finish
Plain concrete with a broom finish is $86–$170 a square metre in Sydney. Mixing colour through the concrete takes it to $110–$230, and exposed aggregate, where the top layer is washed off to reveal the stones, to $140–$230. Pouring a fresh slab and grinding it to a polish costs $185–$300, the dearest finish on the list.
Terraces, courtyards and pumping
Only 55.8% of Sydney dwellings are separate houses, and another 12.8% are semi-detached, terrace or townhouse homes (ABS 2021 Census). On those sites concrete often has to be barrowed down a side passage or pumped over the roof line. Ask whether pump hire is in the price or a separate line, because a small courtyard job carries much the same setup as a bigger one.
Driveways in the City of Sydney
Inside the City of Sydney council area, building, repairing or changing a driveway needs a permit, and a driveway road opening permit on top before work starts. The City lists $300 for the road opening permit, $1,200 for the standard driveway inspection and a refundable $3,320 security deposit, returned once the final inspection passes. Significant trees and stormwater pits normally stay put. Other Sydney councils run their own driveway rules, so check with yours.
The $5,000 licence line
NSW law requires a contractor licence once residential work tops $5,000 in labour and materials (GST included). A typical exposed aggregate driveway ($7,450) is well past that, and so is a large patio. Ask for the licence number before you sign, and check that the name on it matches the business on the quote.
When the rain falls
Annual rainfall at Observatory Hill averages 1,211.1 mm, with June (133.1 mm) and March (131.6 mm) the wettest months and September the driest at 68.1 mm (BOM averages). Heavy rain on fresh concrete can pit the surface, so a wet run pushes pours back and crews juggle their bookings. September and October, the two driest months, give the best run of dry days.
Taking up old concrete
Breaking out an old slab and carting it away runs $34–$115 per square metre here, disposal included. For a 20 sqm courtyard that is about $680 to $2,300. If the slab is sound but tired, resurfacing it with a spray-on coat ($57–$92) or polishing what is there at $69–$195 may be enough.
Strength, thickness and reinforcement
Supply-only ready-mix at 25 MPa is $345–$550 a cubic metre delivered, so concrete itself is only part of the bill; labour, formwork and finishing make up the rest. Ask whether a higher-strength mix is specified where cars will park, and have the quote state slab thickness and the mesh or bar used. A quote silent on reinforcement is one to query.
How to Save Money on Concreting Cost in Sydney
- Renting is common here (35.9% of Sydney homes, ABS 2021 Census), and a new slab or path is the owner's call, so tenants should get the landlord's agreement in writing before anyone books a concreter.
- If you can pick the date, aim for September, Sydney's driest month on average (68.1 mm, BOM averages), and avoid committing to a pour in the wet stretch around March and June.
- Sweep rather than hose: Sydney Water's Water Wise Guidelines do not allow paths, driveways or concrete to be cleaned with water unless it is needed for safety, health, an emergency, construction or contamination.
- In the City of Sydney, add the road opening permit, inspection and refundable deposit to your driveway budget, and keep the paperwork so the deposit comes back after the final inspection.
- For any job over $5,000, ask for the contractor licence number and look it up before paying a deposit.
- Line the quotes up on the same terms: area, finish, thickness, MPa rating, and whether removal and pump hire are in or extra.
Frequently Asked Questions — Concreting Cost in Sydney
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →