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How much does a concreter cost?

A plain concrete slab or driveway usually costs about $75 to $130 per square metre supplied and laid, and exposed aggregate about $140 to $200. Taking out old concrete adds about $30 to $60 per square metre.

Plain concrete slab or driveway, supplied and laid:$75–$130 per m²

Updated 19 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

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On this page
  1. How a concreter works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a concreter works out the price

A concreter usually prices a slab, driveway or path by the square metre supplied and laid, which covers the concrete, formwork, labour and finishing. Site preparation, removal of old concrete, reinforcement and decorative finishes are often priced on top. Ready-mix concrete is bought by the cubic metre. The rate has to cover more than wages: the Fair Work Building and Construction General On-site Award sets minimum hourly rates from $26.67 to $30.38 for levels 1 to 4 (rates marked 1 July 2026), and the price also pays for the concrete, formwork, machinery and insurance.

  1. Measure the area and agree the thickness and strength of the concrete
  2. Remove old concrete and dispose of it, if needed
  3. Excavate and prepare a compacted base
  4. Set up formwork and place reinforcement where it is needed
  5. Pour, finish and cure the concrete, with a broom, exposed aggregate or stamped finish
  6. Cut control joints and seal if the quote includes it
  7. GST on the total

Worked example: Replace a 30 m² plain concrete driveway section: remove the old slab, prepare the site and pour new concrete (illustrative, not a quote)

Remove old concrete and dispose of it, 30 m² at $45 per m²
$1,350
Site preparation and excavation (allowance)
$500
New plain concrete supplied and laid, 30 m² at $100 per m²
$3,000
Total
$4,850 total (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from two Airtasker pages, a compiled cost guide from What's The Damage, a 2026 Australian guide that names no sources, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range at least two of them reach. The sources do not state a GST basis, no concreter's own price list was found, and several figures rest on one source.

  • Plain concrete slab or driveway, supplied and laid (per m²)

    Sources disagree. Airtasker gives $65 to $85 for a plain slab, a compiled guide gives $75 to $150, and another 2026 guide gives $85 to $130. We stay where at least two sources reach. Airtasker's driveway guide gives a lower $40 to $65, so a simple job can come in under this.

    Low
    $75
    Typical
    $100
    High
    $130

  • Plain concrete driveway, about 40 m² in total (per job)

    One compiled guide only, and it matches its own per square metre rate. Council crossovers, slopes and tight access push the price up.

    Low
    $2,600
    Typical
    $4,500
    High
    $6,000

  • Exposed aggregate finish (per m²)

    A compiled guide gives $120 to $200 and another 2026 guide gives $140 to $220 supplied and laid. Airtasker says decorative finishes can reach $150. We use the overlap of the first two.

    Low
    $140
    Typical
    $170
    High
    $200

  • Stamped or stencilled finish (per m²)

    A compiled guide gives $120 to $200, and Airtasker says decorative finishes can cost up to $150. We use the range they share, so a detailed pattern can cost more.

    Low
    $120
    Typical
    $140
    High
    $150

  • Footpath or path (per m²)

    One compiled guide only. The path width and the base needed change the price.

    Low
    $75
    Typical
    $110
    High
    $160

  • Remove old concrete, including disposal (per m²)

    A compiled guide gives $30 to $100 and another 2026 guide gives $30 to $60. We use the range they share. Reinforced or thick concrete costs more. Concreters often price removal lower inside a full replacement.

    Low
    $30
    Typical
    $45
    High
    $60
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Plain concrete slab or driveway, supplied and laid (per m²)Sources disagree. Airtasker gives $65 to $85 for a plain slab, a compiled guide gives $75 to $150, and another 2026 guide gives $85 to $130. We stay where at least two sources reach. Airtasker's driveway guide gives a lower $40 to $65, so a simple job can come in under this.$75$100$130
Plain concrete driveway, about 40 m² in total (per job)One compiled guide only, and it matches its own per square metre rate. Council crossovers, slopes and tight access push the price up.$2,600$4,500$6,000
Exposed aggregate finish (per m²)A compiled guide gives $120 to $200 and another 2026 guide gives $140 to $220 supplied and laid. Airtasker says decorative finishes can reach $150. We use the overlap of the first two.$140$170$200
Stamped or stencilled finish (per m²)A compiled guide gives $120 to $200, and Airtasker says decorative finishes can cost up to $150. We use the range they share, so a detailed pattern can cost more.$120$140$150
Footpath or path (per m²)One compiled guide only. The path width and the base needed change the price.$75$110$160
Remove old concrete, including disposal (per m²)A compiled guide gives $30 to $100 and another 2026 guide gives $30 to $60. We use the range they share. Reinforced or thick concrete costs more. Concreters often price removal lower inside a full replacement.$30$45$60

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What changes the price

  • Finish. A plain broom finish costs the least. Exposed aggregate and stamped finishes need more skill, time and materials.
  • Site preparation. Excavation, fill and a compacted base add cost. One guide puts site preparation for about 50 m² at $500 to $1,500.
  • Thickness and reinforcement. A slab for a vehicle or heavy load is thicker and needs steel mesh or bar. That adds concrete and steel to the price.
  • Slope and access. A sloping site needs more formwork, and a pump or wheelbarrows are needed where a truck cannot reach.
  • Job size. A small area needs the same set-up as a large one, so ask whether a minimum charge applies.
  • Council requirements. A driveway that links to the road may need council approval and a heavier specification, which costs more. Airtasker says driveways needing council compliance cost more.
  • Location. Concrete supply, local wages and demand vary. See the metro and regional note below.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Supply of the agreed grade of ready-mix concrete
  • Formwork, and reinforcement where the quote lists it
  • Pouring, levelling and the agreed finish
  • Cleaning up and removing formwork once the concrete has set

Often extra

  • Removing and disposing of old concrete, unless the quote says so
  • Excavation, fill and base preparation, unless the quote lists them
  • Council fees, permits and any engineering advice
  • Sealing, control joints and curing compounds, unless listed
  • Drainage, retaining walls, plumbing or electrical work near the slab

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more concreters, so quotes are easier to compare, but higher wages, parking and traffic time push rates up. Our sources do not give separate figures for each capital city.

Regional: None of our sources gives separate regional figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide. Outside the cities, a longer drive for the concrete truck and the crew can add to the price, and a concrete plant may be a long way off, which can add a delivery charge. Fewer concreters means fewer quotes to compare.

Licensing and compliance

Who may pour concrete for a fee depends on the state, and we could not confirm every state.

New South Wales: Fair Trading, part of the NSW Government, requires a contractor licence for residential building work, including general trade work, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST, and general concreting is a licence class on its page.

Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission requires registration for domestic building work above $10,000 (its page was last updated on 9 July 2025), and concreting is not named on the page, so check with the Commission.

Queensland: the QBCC requires a licence for building work valued over $3,300, and its Concreting class covers formwork, reinforcement and concrete.

Western Australia: Building and Energy requires a registered building contractor when work needs a building permit and is valued at $20,000 or more, and its page does not name concreting.

South Australia: Consumer and Business Services requires a building work contractor's licence for building work done for others.

Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) licenses builders, but we could not open its pages, so we could not confirm whether concreters need a licence; check the register.

The ACT: Access Canberra and the Construction Occupations Registrar license builders, and its page does not mention concreters.

Northern Territory: the Building Practitioners Board requires registration for residential building work valued at $12,000 or more.

Ask the concreter for a licence number where one applies, and ask who deals with council approval for a driveway crossover.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • What area, thickness and concrete strength are being priced?
  • Is the price supplied and laid, or labour only?
  • Are excavation, base preparation and reinforcement included?
  • Is removal of old concrete included, and where is it taken?
  • Which finish is included, and is sealing or colouring extra?
  • Who arranges any council approval, and does the quote say whether GST is included?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a concrete driveway cost per square metre?

Our sources overlap at about $75 to $130 per square metre for plain concrete supplied and laid. Exposed aggregate runs about $140 to $200, and a whole 40 m² plain driveway about $2,600 to $6,000 in one guide.

How much does it cost to remove old concrete?

About $30 to $60 per square metre in the sources we compared, including disposal. Thick or reinforced concrete can cost more, and some concreters price removal lower inside a full replacement.

How thick should a driveway be?

One guide says a private driveway is commonly 100 mm with SL72 mesh, and 125 mm if a caravan or heavy vehicle uses it. It is not a regulation, so ask your concreter and your council what applies to your site.

Is exposed aggregate worth the extra?

It costs noticeably more per square metre than a plain broom finish in our sources, about $140 to $200 against $75 to $130. Whether it is worth it depends on your site and budget.

Do I need council approval?

A driveway that crosses the footpath to the road often does. Ask your council and ask the concreter who arranges it.

Do I need a licensed concreter?

It depends on the state and the value of the job, as set out in the licensing section. Ask for a licence number where one applies.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from two Airtasker pages, a compiled cost guide from What's The Damage, a 2026 Australian guide that names no sources, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range at least two of them reach. The sources do not state a GST basis, no concreter's own price list was found, and several figures rest on one source. How we calculate our guides.

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