Is It Cheaper To Buy Ready Mix Concrete?

What Are These Two Options?

Before examining costs, it’s important to understand how these two approaches work. They operate completely differently, and that difference matters when calculating expenses.

Ready-Mix Concrete

Ready-mix concrete shows up at your site in a truck, already mixed and ready to use. A factory has already combined everything perfectly (cement, sand, gravel, and water) in exactly the right amounts. The truck’s spinning drum keeps everything fresh and well-mixed while it travels to your location. Once it arrives, the concrete simply pours out and gets smoothed into place.

Different types are available depending on project requirements:

• Regular strength for everyday projects like patios and paths
• Extra strong for driveways or weight-bearing applications
• Quick-setting for projects needing faster use
• Colored or textured finishes for decorative applications

The main benefits include:

• Precise measurements: Machines measure everything accurately every time
• Guaranteed quality: Every batch gets tested before leaving the plant
• Time savings: No hours spent mixing, just pouring and finishing
• Building compliance: Automatically meets building standards and codes

Site-Mixed Concrete

Site-mixed concrete means buying all ingredients separately and mixing them on location. This involves purchasing bags of cement, piles of sand, and gravel, then following a mixing ratio to combine everything. An electric mixer (usually rented) or manual hand mixing with a shovel are the options. Hand mixing exhausts workers quickly and produces inconsistent results.

The process involves these steps:

1. Buy cement bags, sand, and gravel separately
2. Measure everything with buckets or shovels
3. Mix in a rented machine or by hand on boards
4. Add water gradually while checking consistency
5. Pour immediately because the setting begins within minutes

Site mixing appears cheaper initially because only raw materials need to be purchased. However, many additional costs emerge once everything gets factored in.

What Does Each Option Actually Cost?

The price tag on bags at hardware stores tells only part of the story. The complete picture requires examining all expenses.

Ready Mix: The Full Cost Breakdown

Ready mix companies charge per cubic meter depending on the type of concrete needed. Standard mixes cost less than specialised formulations, and prices vary by region based on local competition and material availability.

Beyond the base price, other costs include:

• Delivery charges: Most plants deliver for free if you’re within 10-15 kilometres. If your project is further away, expect to pay extra transport fees based on the distance.
• Minimum orders: Suppliers need you to order at least 1 cubic meter. Anything less comes with surcharges, and you’ll have 15-20 minutes to unload before waiting fees start adding up.

These costs might look expensive at first, especially with that minimum order requirement. But what you’re actually paying for is precision, consistency, and time savings. Every batch gets tested and certified at the plant, computerised systems ensure perfect measurements every time, and you can start pouring immediately without spending hours mixing concrete yourself.

Site Mixing: The Hidden Costs

Site mixing appears inexpensive until the actual work begins. Several costs emerge that aren’t obvious at first.

• Material costs: Bagged cement costs much more at stores than the bulk rates batching plants pay. Hardware stores also charge higher prices for sand and gravel compared to trade suppliers.
• Equipment rental: Renting a mixer adds to the budget unless one is already owned. Daily rates suit short jobs while weekly rates work better for longer projects. Smaller mixers require multiple batches to complete the work.
• Labour costs: Mixing requires 2-3 people working together for efficiency. Fatigue reduces productivity after several hours. Time spent mixing reduces the time available for proper finishing work.
• Material waste: Beginners typically estimate quantities incorrectly. Running short creates weak spots in the concrete. Excess concrete hardens and requires paid disposal at facilities.

When Each Option Makes Financial Sense

The right choice depends entirely on specific project circumstances. Different scenarios favour different approaches.

Ready Mix Works Better When…

Once projects reach 1 cubic meter or more, ready mix becomes the more economical choice. Delivery fees become proportionally smaller when spread across a sufficient quantity.

• Larger projects over 1 cubic meter: A single truck delivery eliminates the need for mixing batch after batch throughout the day. Teams can focus entirely on pouring and finishing rather than waiting for the next mix.
• Projects requiring special concrete: Waterproof concrete, specific strength ratings, and self-levelling formulations require precise ingredient control. These specialised mixes are nearly impossible to replicate accurately with manual mixing and basic equipment.
• Projects with strict deadlines: Pouring foundations before inspector visits or completing structural elements within limited weather windows requires a reliable concrete supply. Building inspectors reject uncertified concrete for load-bearing applications because liability and safety concerns make documentation essential.

Site Mixing Works Better When…

Small jobs can work out cheaper with self-mixing. Very small quantities make delivery charges disproportionately expensive compared to the actual concrete cost.

• Small DIY jobs under 0.5 cubic meters: Setting a few fence posts or repairing some steps uses minimal concrete. Minimum delivery charges alone typically exceed the cost of purchasing a few bags for self-mixing.
• Equipment already owned: Having a concrete mixer sitting in storage means no rental fees, which changes the financial equation completely. Working on weekends at a comfortable pace removes time pressure from the decision.
• Truck access physically impossible: Narrow side passages, steep hillsides, or gated communities with tight turns sometimes prevent truck entry entirely. Wheelbarrowing bags of cement to secluded locations requires more physical effort but may be the only practical option.

The Surprise Costs That Emerge Later

Both options include unexpected expenses that people typically discover only after committing to an approach. Understanding these ahead of time helps with better decisions.

Ready Mix Surprises

Getting the truck to the site creates more complications than anticipated:

• Trucks require 3 meters of width to navigate through gates and passages
• They need 4 meters of overhead clearance for chute operation
• Adequate turning radius is essential for positioning near pour locations

When trucks cannot get close enough to work areas, concrete pumps become necessary. This equipment extends reach using long hoses, which solves access problems but adds several hundred dollars to the total cost.

Timing and weather charges include:

• Weekend deliveries incur Saturday premiums
• Rush orders within 24 hours face expedited service fees
• Rain delays may trigger rescheduling charges
• Extreme temperatures require special additives that increase prices
• Winter concrete with antifreeze compounds costs considerably more

These charges are at least predictable because companies disclose them before orders get placed.

Site Mixing Surprises

DIY mixing creates unexpected costs through mistakes and inefficiencies rather than predictable fees.

Common mistakes include:

• Adding too much water permanently weakens concrete
• Forgetting plasticisers makes finishing extremely difficult
• Contaminated tools introduce debris that compromises strength

Cleanup proves more difficult than anticipated:

• Concrete adheres stubbornly to tools, clothing, and surrounding surfaces
• Pressure washers and specialised cleaning solvents become necessary purchases
• Hardened residue on borrowed equipment causes permanent damage

Storage and disposal create ongoing problems:

• Bagged cement absorbs moisture from the air and deteriorates
• Opened bags lose effectiveness rapidly
• Leftover mixed concrete hardens into waste requiring paid disposal at proper facilities

Quality inconsistency becomes visible:

• Each batch emerges slightly different, despite careful measurement attempts
• Colour variations appear across finished projects
• Strength varies from section to section, though these differences aren’t visible

Need help calculating exactly how much concrete a project requires? Pro-Mix Concrete helps determine precise quantities to avoid wasting money on excess material or experiencing shortages during pours. 

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