Concreting Cost Australia 2026
Concreting costs depend on the finish type, slab size, site preparation, and whether old concrete needs removing first.
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National Pricing Overview
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete slab (per sqm) | $75/sqm | $110 | $150 |
| Coloured concrete (per sqm) | $95/sqm | $140 | $200 |
| Exposed aggregate (per sqm) | $120/sqm | $160 | $200 |
| Stamped / stencilled (per sqm) | $120/sqm | $155 | $200 |
| Polished concrete (per sqm) | $100/sqm | $170 | $270 |
| Spray-on resurfacing (per sqm) | $50/sqm | $65 | $80 |
| Driveway — plain (typical 40 sqm) | $2,600total | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Driveway — exposed aggregate | $4,800total | $6,500 | $9,000 |
| Concrete path / footpath | $75/sqm | $110 | $160 |
| Concrete patio / entertaining | $80/sqm | $125 | $180 |
| Shed slab (typical 20 sqm) | $1,500total | $2,200 | $3,500 |
| Old concrete removal | $30/sqm | $50 | $80 |
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Concreting Cost by Finish
The finish you choose moves the per-square-metre price more than almost anything else. The pricing table above lists each finish; here's what separates them and why the gap exists.
Plain concrete is the baseline at $75 to $150/sqm — a grey structural slab for sheds, paths, and sub-floors where looks don't matter. Step up to coloured concrete ($95 to $200/sqm), where oxide is added to the mix for a through-body tint, or stamped and stencilled ($120 to $200/sqm), which presses a pattern — pavers, tiles, slate — into the wet surface. Both cost more for the materials and the extra finishing labour.
Exposed aggregate ($120 to $200/sqm) is the popular driveway choice: the top layer is washed back to reveal the stone, giving grip and a textured look. Polished concrete ($100 to $270/sqm) has the widest range of any finish because it depends on how many grinding passes and what gloss level you want — a basic grind is cheap, a mirror polish with multiple cuts is the top end.
At the other end, spray-on resurfacing ($50 to $80/sqm) isn't new concrete at all — it's a thin decorative topping over existing sound concrete, which is why it's the cheapest line on the page. It only works if the slab underneath is in good condition.
What Affects Concreting Cost
Site access
Can the truck back up to the pour, or does the concrete need pumping or barrowing? Tight or sloping sites add labour and sometimes pump hire.
Excavation & prep
A level, ready site is cheap. Sites needing excavation, fill, compaction, or removal of old concrete ($30 to $80/sqm to break out and cart away) add cost before any concrete is poured.
Slab thickness & reinforcement
A footpath is thin and lightly reinforced; a driveway taking vehicle loads needs a thicker slab with steel mesh or bar, which uses more material.
Finish complexity
Plain is fast; exposed aggregate, stamping, and polishing each add a finishing stage and skilled labour.
Slab size
Larger pours have a lower per-sqm rate as the setup cost spreads further, so a 40 sqm driveway is cheaper per square metre than a 10 sqm path.
Driveway, Slab or Path: What Each Costs
Pricing concreting by job type is often clearer than per-square-metre, because each job carries different prep and thickness.
A plain concrete driveway of a typical 40 sqm runs $2,600 to $6,000; the same driveway in exposed aggregate jumps to $4,800 to $9,000 because of the finish and stone. A shed slab (around 20 sqm) is $1,500 to $3,500 — simpler than a driveway but still needs a proper base. A concrete path or footpath is $75 to $160/sqm, and a patio or entertaining area $80 to $180/sqm, the latter a touch higher because it's usually finished to look good rather than just function.
The through-line: structural jobs that carry load (driveways, slabs) are priced on thickness and reinforcement, while decorative jobs (patios, coloured paths) are priced on finish. Get a quote for your specific job type rather than assuming a flat per-sqm rate across everything.
How to Save Money on Concreting
You can trim a concreting quote without compromising the slab:
Prep the site yourself where you safely can. Clearing the area, removing the old surface, and ensuring access can reduce the labour the concreter has to quote for — though leave excavation and compaction to them if load-bearing.
Choose finish for where it's seen. Spend on exposed aggregate or stamping for the visible front driveway, and use plain concrete for the side path or shed slab nobody looks at. Mixing finishes across a job is normal.
Pour everything in one visit. If you need a driveway, a path, and a shed slab, doing them together is cheaper than three separate call-outs — the truck, pump, and crew are already on site.
Get three quotes for the same spec. Concreting prices vary between operators, so compare like for like — same thickness, same reinforcement, same finish — and check the quote includes prep, the pour, and clean-up.