How Much Does Concrete Cost Per m2? 2026 Price Guide (AUD, USD, GBP, CAD)

m2 vs Square Foot: The Conversion Reference

The square metre (m2) and square foot (sq ft) are the two most common units used to price concrete work globally. Australia, the UK, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand use m2. The USA uses square feet. If you are comparing quotes from different contractors or looking up prices across countries, this conversion table is your reference point.

Price Per m2	Equivalent Per Sq Ft	Price Per Sq Ft	Equivalent Per m2
$50/m2	$4.65/sq ft	$4/sq ft	$43.06/m2
$75/m2	$6.97/sq ft	$6/sq ft	$64.58/m2
$100/m2	$9.29/sq ft	$8/sq ft	$86.11/m2
$125/m2	$11.61/sq ft	$10/sq ft	$107.64/m2
$150/m2	$13.94/sq ft	$12/sq ft	$129.17/m2
$175/m2	$16.26/sq ft	$15/sq ft	$161.46/m2
$200/m2	$18.58/sq ft	$18/sq ft	$193.75/m2
$250/m2	$23.23/sq ft	$20/sq ft	$215.28/m2
$300/m2	$27.87/sq ft	$25/sq ft	$269.10/m2
$400/m2	$37.16/sq ft	$30/sq ft	$322.92/m2

Quick conversion formula: multiply per-sq-ft price by 10.764 to get per-m2. Divide per-m2 price by 10.764 to get per-sq-ft. This works for any currency – just keep the same currency on both sides of the conversion.

🇦🇺 Concrete Cost Per m2 – Australia (AUD)

Australia uses AUD per m2 as the standard pricing unit for all concrete work. Prices include GST and cover the full installed cost: site preparation, base compaction, forming, reinforcement (mesh or rebar), concrete supply and delivery, pour labour, and a standard finish. Concrete pump costs are listed separately when applicable.

Finish Type	AUD Per m2	20 m2 Total	50 m2 Total
Plain broom / flat finish	$190 to $230	$3,800 to $4,600	$9,500 to $11,500
Coloured concrete (integral)	$230 to $250	$4,600 to $5,000	$11,500 to $12,500
Exposed aggregate	$250 to $290	$5,000 to $5,800	$12,500 to $14,500
Stamped / pattern imprinted	$290 to $380	$5,800 to $7,600	$14,500 to $19,000
Honed concrete	$370 to $420	$7,400 to $8,400	$18,500 to $21,000
Polished concrete (high-gloss)	$400 to $500	$8,000 to $10,000	$20,000 to $25,000

Australian Prices by City

City	Plain Concrete AUD/m2	Exposed Aggregate AUD/m2	Labour Rate/hr
Sydney	$210 to $260	$270 to $320	$65 to $80
Melbourne	$200 to $250	$260 to $310	$60 to $75
Brisbane	$195 to $240	$255 to $305	$58 to $72
Perth	$195 to $240	$255 to $300	$58 to $72
Adelaide	$190 to $235	$248 to $295	$55 to $68
Canberra	$200 to $248	$258 to $308	$60 to $75
Regional / Rural	$170 to $210	$225 to $270	$49 to $65

🇺🇸 Concrete Cost Per m2 – USA (USD)

The USA uses square feet as the standard unit, but many homeowners and international buyers need m2 prices for comparison. All figures below are converted from verified 2026 USD per-square-foot pricing using the 10.764 conversion factor. These are fully installed prices including all labour, base prep, reinforcement, and standard finish.

Finish Type	USD Per Sq Ft	USD Per m2	50 m2 Project Total
Plain broom finish (4 in slab)	$6 to $10	$65 to $108	$3,230 to $5,382
Coloured / integral colour	$7 to $11	$75 to $118	$3,769 to $5,919
Exposed aggregate	$7 to $12	$75 to $129	$3,769 to $6,459
Stamped – basic (1 pattern)	$10 to $13	$108 to $140	$5,382 to $6,997
Stamped – mid-range (2 colours)	$13 to $17	$140 to $183	$6,997 to $9,152
Stamped – premium / custom	$17 to $25	$183 to $269	$9,152 to $13,455
Foundation slab (6 in thick)	$8 to $15	$86 to $161	$4,306 to $8,073
Driveway (5 to 6 in thick)	$7 to $12	$75 to $129	$3,769 to $6,459

USA Prices by Region (Per m2)

Region	Plain Slab USD/m2	Stamped USD/m2
South / Southeast (TX, GA, FL)	$59 to $86	$108 to $161
Midwest (OH, IL, IN, MI)	$70 to $97	$118 to $172
Mountain / Southwest (AZ, CO)	$65 to $97	$118 to $172
Northeast (NY, MA, CT, NJ)	$86 to $140	$151 to $226
California	$97 to $161	$172 to $258

🇬🇧 Concrete Cost Per m2 – UK (GBP)

UK concrete pricing uses GBP per m2 as the standard quote unit. Prices include VAT at 20% where applicable on new residential construction, and typically cover excavation, sub-base, reinforcement, concrete supply, pour, and a standard finish. Pump hire and decorative finishes are commonly quoted as line-item additions.

Finish Type	GBP Per m2	20 m2 Total	50 m2 Total
Plain concrete (C20 to C25 mix)	£70 to £110	£1,400 to £2,200	£3,500 to £5,500
Coloured concrete	£90 to £130	£1,800 to £2,600	£4,500 to £6,500
Exposed aggregate	£100 to £150	£2,000 to £3,000	£5,000 to £7,500
Pattern-imprinted / block effect	£120 to £200	£2,400 to £4,000	£6,000 to £10,000
Polished / honed interior slab	£150 to £220	£3,000 to £4,400	£7,500 to £11,000
Foundation / structural slab	£90 to £140	£1,800 to £2,800	£4,500 to £7,000

UK Prices by Region

Region	Plain Slab GBP/m2	Pattern Imprinted GBP/m2	Labour Rate/day
London	£95 to £140	£155 to £250	£280 to £380
South East England	£85 to £125	£135 to £220	£240 to £320
Midlands	£75 to £115	£125 to £205	£200 to £280
North England	£70 to £108	£118 to £195	£190 to £265
Scotland	£72 to £110	£120 to £198	£195 to £270
Wales	£68 to £105	£115 to £190	£185 to £255

🇨🇦 Concrete Cost Per m2 – Canada (CAD)

Canadian concrete pricing follows m2 in most provinces, though some contractors in Ontario and Alberta quote in square feet due to proximity to US practices. All prices below include labour, materials, delivery, base preparation, and standard reinforcement.

Finish Type	CAD Per m2	20 m2 Total	50 m2 Total
Plain concrete slab	CAD $120 to $175	$2,400 to $3,500	$6,000 to $8,750
Coloured concrete	CAD $145 to $200	$2,900 to $4,000	$7,250 to $10,000
Exposed aggregate	CAD $155 to $215	$3,100 to $4,300	$7,750 to $10,750
Stamped concrete	CAD $180 to $285	$3,600 to $5,700	$9,000 to $14,250
Driveway (130mm thick)	CAD $130 to $185	$2,600 to $3,700	$6,500 to $9,250
Heated driveway (in-slab heating)	CAD $250 to $380	$5,000 to $7,600	$12,500 to $19,000

Canadian Prices by Province

Province	Plain Slab CAD/m2	Stamped CAD/m2
Ontario (Toronto)	$145 to $185	$210 to $295
British Columbia (Vancouver)	$150 to $195	$220 to $305
Alberta (Calgary / Edmonton)	$135 to $175	$195 to $275
Quebec (Montreal)	$125 to $168	$185 to $262
Saskatchewan / Manitoba	$118 to $160	$175 to $250

🇿🇦 Concrete Cost Per m2 – South Africa (ZAR)

South African concrete pricing uses ZAR per m2. Labour costs are significantly lower than in Australia, the UK, or Canada, which results in lower installed prices per m2. Material costs have risen sharply in recent years due to fuel and logistics pressures. All prices include labour, river sand, stone aggregate, Portland cement, and a standard finish.

Finish Type	ZAR Per m2	20 m2 Total	50 m2 Total
Spray-on concrete (plain)	R550 to R825	R11,000 to R16,500	R27,500 to R41,250
Plain poured concrete	R660 to R935	R13,200 to R18,700	R33,000 to R46,750
Coloured concrete	R825 to R990	R16,500 to R19,800	R41,250 to R49,500
Exposed aggregate / ornamental	R1,100 to R1,650	R22,000 to R33,000	R55,000 to R82,500

Cost Per m2 by Finish Type: All Countries

This master comparison table shows what the same finish types cost across all five markets in their local currency. Use it to understand how each country’s labour and material cost structure positions concrete pricing globally.

Finish Type	AUD/m2	USD/m2	GBP/m2	CAD/m2
Plain concrete	$190-$230	$65-$108	£70-£110	$120-$175
Coloured / integral	$230-$250	$75-$118	£90-£130	$145-$200
Exposed aggregate	$250-$290	$75-$129	£100-£150	$155-$215
Stamped / pattern	$290-$380	$108-$269	£120-£200	$180-$285
Honed / polished	$370-$500	$130-$215	£150-£220	$210-$310
Foundation slab	$220-$280	$86-$161	£90-£140	$145-$210

The large price gap between USD/m2 and AUD/m2 for the same finish type reflects the significant labour rate differential between the two countries. A concrete finisher in Australia earns AUD $49 to $80 per hour. In the USA, the equivalent role earns USD $25 to $75 per hour – with the lower end of that range (in southern US markets) explaining the lower floor on US pricing.

Cost Per m2 by Project Type

Beyond finish type, the project application drives a different price per m2 because of thickness requirements, reinforcement specs, and forming complexity.

Project	Thickness	AUD/m2	USD/m2	GBP/m2
Footpath / walkway	75 to 100mm	$175 to $220	$60 to $97	£65 to £100
Patio – plain	100mm	$190 to $230	$65 to $108	£70 to £110
Patio – exposed aggregate	100mm	$250 to $290	$75 to $129	£100 to £150
Driveway – plain	125 to 150mm	$200 to $250	$75 to $129	£80 to £125
Driveway – coloured	125 to 150mm	$240 to $290	$90 to $140	£95 to £145
Garage floor	100 to 125mm	$195 to $245	$75 to $129	£75 to £120
Pool deck – plain	100mm	$200 to $255	$75 to $118	£80 to £120
Pool deck – exposed aggregate	100mm	$260 to $310	$86 to $140	£105 to £160
House slab / foundation	150 to 200mm	$220 to $280	$86 to $161	£90 to £140
Shed / utility pad	75 to 100mm	$165 to $210	$54 to $86	£55 to £90

m2 to Cubic Metres: How Much Concrete You Need

Once you know your project area in m2, calculating the concrete volume in cubic metres (m3) is straightforward. Knowing your volume lets you get accurate quotes from concrete suppliers and check whether your contractor’s estimate is reasonable.

Area (m2) × Thickness (m) = Volume (m3)

Area	At 75mm (3 in)	At 100mm (4 in)	At 125mm (5 in)	At 150mm (6 in)
10 m2	0.83 m3	1.10 m3	1.38 m3	1.65 m3
20 m2	1.65 m3	2.20 m3	2.75 m3	3.30 m3
30 m2	2.48 m3	3.30 m3	4.13 m3	4.95 m3
50 m2	4.13 m3	5.50 m3	6.88 m3	8.25 m3
75 m2	6.19 m3	8.25 m3	10.31 m3	12.38 m3
100 m2	8.25 m3	11.00 m3	13.75 m3	16.50 m3
150 m2	12.38 m3	16.50 m3	20.63 m3	24.75 m3
200 m2	16.50 m3	22.00 m3	27.50 m3	33.00 m3

All volumes above should have 10% added for waste and variation before ordering. Use the concrete calculator for precise volumes on any shape including circular slabs, L-shaped areas, and multiple sections poured together. To confirm the right thickness for your specific application, use the slab thickness calculator before approving any contractor’s specification.

What Drives the Cost Per m2 on Any Job

Whether you are in Sydney, Chicago, London, or Calgary, the same core factors move the price per m2 up or down. Understanding each one lets you evaluate any quote much more critically.

1. Labour Rate (Biggest Factor in Every Market)

Labour represents 50 to 65% of any installed concrete cost. This is why the same plain concrete driveway costs AUD $220/m2 in Sydney, USD $85/m2 in Ohio, and GBP £80/m2 in northern England. The concrete material itself costs only USD $12 to $20 per m2 regardless of location. Everything above that is labour, equipment, and overhead – and those vary dramatically by market.

2. Thickness and Concrete Mix Strength

Every additional 25mm of thickness adds approximately AUD $15 to $25/m2, USD $5 to $8/m2, or GBP £6 to £10/m2 in material cost. Upgrading from a standard 20 MPa (C20) mix to a 32 MPa (C32) or 4000 PSI mix adds a smaller amount – roughly USD $2 to $4/m2 – but is almost always worth it for driveways, garage floors, and any exposed slab. See the concrete PSI guide for the right mix strength by application.

3. Reinforcement Type

Steel mesh adds AUD $8 to $15/m2 in Australia, USD $3 to $5/m2 in the USA, and GBP £4 to £8/m2 in the UK. Rebar at standard spacing adds roughly double those figures. Engineered rebar for structural slabs and foundations adds more. Always confirm what reinforcement is included in any per-m2 quote – two identical-looking prices can include completely different reinforcement specs.

4. Site Access and Preparation

Difficult access adds cost in all markets at roughly similar proportional rates. Concrete pump hire: AUD $800 to $2,000 per project in Australia, USD $500 to $1,500 in the USA, GBP £400 to £900 in the UK. Excavation and removal of existing material is typically charged per cubic metre of material removed – AUD $80 to $150/m3, USD $40 to $80/m3, GBP £50 to £100/m3.

5. Decorative Finish Complexity

Plain broom finish is the cheapest. Every upgrade from that baseline adds cost: colour adds 15 to 25%. Exposed aggregate adds 30 to 40%. Stamped pattern adds 50 to 150% depending on pattern complexity and number of colour applications. Honed or polished finishes double or more the plain concrete price in every market because of the specialised grinding, sealing, and finishing equipment required.

6. Project Size

Contractors price smaller jobs at a higher per-m2 rate to cover mobilisation costs – truck, crew, equipment, and travel time. A 10 m2 shed pad costs more per m2 than a 100 m2 driveway from the same contractor. Most contractors price a break in rate at around 20 to 30 m2 for patios and 50 m2 for driveways and larger slabs.

Frequently Asked Questions