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Prepare to Build Building Control Conservation Areas Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) Listed Buildings The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 Basement Development Advice HETAS NICEIC Gas Safe Construction Management Waste Management Interior DecorationDeciding between ready-mix and volumetric concrete delivery? We break down costs per cubic metre, minimum loads, truck access requirements, and exactly which method suits your job size and site conditions.
Ready-mix concrete is usually cheaper per m³ (£90–£130/m³) and suits large pours of 4 m³ or more, while volumetric (mix-on-site) trucks charge a premium of £10–£25/m³ but have no minimum load, making them the better choice for small or awkward jobs under 3 m³.
A ready-mix (drum) truck arrives with concrete already batched at a central plant — you have roughly 90 minutes to discharge it all. A volumetric truck carries raw materials in separate compartments and mixes concrete on demand at your site, letting you take exactly as much as you need, then stop.
| Factor | Ready-Mix (Drum Truck) | Volumetric (Mix-on-Site) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost per m³ | £90–£130 | £110–£155 |
| Minimum load | 3–6 m³ (varies by plant) | 0.25 m³ (no real minimum) |
| Short-load surcharge | £100–£250 if under minimum | None — pay for what you use |
| Saturday delivery surcharge | £50–£150 | £50–£100 |
| Waiting time charge | £2–£5 per minute after ~10 min | Less common — truck waits while mixing |
| Pump hire (if needed) | Separate hire, £300–£600/day | Separate hire, same cost |
Truck dimensions are the most common reason a delivery fails on the day. Both vehicle types come in similar sizes, but it pays to confirm before booking.
| Truck Type | Typical Gross Weight | Typical Length | Min. Road/Gate Width | Overhead Clearance Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full drum (8 m³) | 32 tonnes | 9–10 m | 3.5 m | 4 m |
| Mini drum (3–4 m³) | 18–22 tonnes | 7–8 m | 2.8 m | 3.5 m |
| Full volumetric | 26–32 tonnes | 10–11 m | 3.5 m | 4 m |
| Mini volumetric (4 m³ capacity) | 18 tonnes | 7.5 m | 2.8 m | 3.5 m |
Your pour is 4 m³ or more in a single session
You have good truck access (3.5 m+ clear width, firm ground)
Your pour can be completed within 90 minutes of discharge starting
You have enough labour on site to move and finish concrete quickly
You want the lowest headline cost per m³ for a bulk order
Your pour is under 3 m³ — you'll avoid short-load surcharges
You are unsure of the exact quantity needed and want to avoid waste
You need multiple mix designs in one visit (e.g. foundations + blinding)
Access is tight — mini volumetric trucks can reach 2.8 m gate widths
The pour will be interrupted or phased, e.g. setting posts then a slab
You want to adjust slump (workability) on the spot without remixing
| Application | Recommended Designated Mix | Min. Cement Content | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| House strip/trench foundations | GEN 3 / FND 2 | 240 kg/m³ | FND 4 for sulfate-bearing soils |
| Domestic garage or shed floor slab | RC28/35 (C28/35) | 280 kg/m³ | Minimum 100 mm thick, reinforced |
| Driveway / hardstanding | PAV1 or RC32/40 | 300 kg/m³ | Air-entrained PAV1 for freeze-thaw resistance |
| Garden wall footings | GEN 1 | 180 kg/m³ | Lightly loaded, mass concrete |
| Reinforced suspended slab | RC32/40 or RC35/45 | 320 kg/m³ | Structural engineer to specify |
Multiply length (m) × width (m) × depth (m) to get your volume in m³. For a 4 m × 3 m garage slab at 100 mm depth: 4 × 3 × 0.1 = 1.2 m³. Add 10% for waste and uneven sub-base, giving you 1.32 m³ to order. At that volume, a volumetric truck will almost always be the more economical choice.
A 10% over-order allowance is the industry standard for domestic pours — under-ordering mid-pour is far more costly than a small amount of waste.
Measure and confirm gate/road width and overhead clearance for the truck type booked
Lay road plates or scaffold boards on any soft ground along the access route
Have all shuttering/formwork and reinforcement in place and checked
Confirm number of labourers on site — aim for one person per 2 m³ for barrow work
Pre-wet formwork to prevent premature water loss from the mix
Have a float, tamping board, and plastic sheeting ready for curing
Reconfirm delivery slot with supplier — allow 30-minute arrival window either side
Ready-mix concrete typically costs £90–£130 per m³ for standard designated mixes (e.g. GEN 3 or RC32/40), plus a short-load surcharge of £100–£250 if your order falls below the supplier's minimum load of 3–6 m³. Weekend and Saturday deliveries usually add £50–£150 on top.
Most ready-mix drum truck suppliers require a minimum load of 3–6 m³; ordering less triggers a short-load surcharge of £100–£250. Mini-mix drum services can go as low as 1 m³ at a flat call-out rate of around £180–£300 total, while volumetric (mix-on-site) trucks have no practical minimum and charge only for what is poured.
A full-size ready-mix or volumetric truck needs a clear road and gate width of at least 3.5 m, overhead clearance of 4 m, and firm ground capable of bearing 26–32 tonnes. Mini trucks (3–4 m³ capacity) can manage 2.8 m gate widths and weigh around 18 tonnes laden. Chute reach is only 3–4 m from the truck's rear, so anything further requires a concrete pump or barrow runs.
Yes, for pours under 3 m³ a volumetric (mix-on-site) truck is usually cheaper in total because there is no minimum load or short-load surcharge — you pay only for the concrete actually poured. The per-m³ rate is £10–£25 higher than ready-mix, but that premium is quickly outweighed on small quantities once ready-mix surcharges are factored in.
For a domestic driveway, specify PAV1 (air-entrained, freeze-thaw resistant) or RC32/40 to BS 8500-2. For a garage floor slab, RC28/35 or RC32/40 at a minimum 100 mm thickness is standard. Always quote the BS 8500-2 designated mix reference to your supplier so you receive a conformity delivery ticket.
You typically have around 90 minutes from when batching is completed (usually stamped on the delivery ticket) to fully discharge a ready-mix drum truck. Most suppliers start a waiting-time charge of £2–£5 per minute after the first 5–10 minutes on site, so have all formwork, labour, and equipment ready before the truck arrives.
Multiply length (m) × width (m) × depth (m) to get volume in m³, then add 10% for waste and sub-base irregularities. For example, a 4 m × 3 m slab at 100 mm depth = 1.2 m³ base volume; order approximately 1.35 m³. Ordering slightly more is far cheaper than running short mid-pour.