Concreting/United Kingdom

🇬🇧

Concreting Prices United Kingdom

Prices include VAT. Site access and ground conditions affect final cost.

8 service types3 cities with data

Concreting Prices by Service — United Kingdom

Prices include VAT. Site access and ground conditions affect final cost.

ServiceFromAverageUp to
🟫Plain Concrete Slab

Standard concrete slab with tamped finish

£80per sqm£100per sqm£120per sqm
🪨Exposed Aggregate

Decorative exposed aggregate finish

£90per sqm£115per sqm£150per sqm
🎨Coloured Concrete

Integrally coloured concrete

£85per sqm£105per sqm£130per sqm
🏛️Patterned / Imprinted Concrete

Stamped or printed decorative finish

£90per sqm£115per sqm£150per sqm
🚗Concrete Driveway

Standard concrete driveway

£70per sqm£90per sqm£110per sqm
🚶Path / Walkway

Garden path or walkway

£60per sqm£80per sqm£100per sqm
🧱Concrete Retaining Wall

Reinforced retaining wall

£200per lineal metre£380per lineal metre£600per lineal metre
🔨Concrete Removal

Break up and remove existing

£25per sqm£40per sqm£65per sqm

What Drives Concreting Prices in United Kingdom?

UK concreting prices often move on site access, weather risk, and whether the contractor is pricing a plain slab, an imprinted finish, or a driveway that may need drainage compliance.

Small domestic pours can look expensive per square metre because plant, labour, shuttering, and minimum concrete loads are being spread over a modest area.

The strongest quote is usually the one that explains ground preparation, disposal, and curing protection clearly before work starts.

Ground conditions and drainage

Clay, poor drainage, or front-garden conversions often require more sub-base and compliance work than the headline rate suggests.

Decorative finishing

Patterned or imprinted concrete demands more labour, better timing, and clearer aftercare than a plain slab.

Weather protection

Cold snaps and wet periods can add curing protection, schedule risk, or rebooking costs to domestic concrete jobs.

What Is Usually Included

Concrete supply, placement, screeding, and standard finish listed in the written scope
Basic formwork and reinforcement allowance for a straightforward residential job
Normal labour, cleanup, and washdown associated with the pour
Standard curing advice after placement

Common Extras To Watch

Demolition, saw-cutting, or disposal of old concrete
Rock excavation, imported base, compaction testing, or pump hire
Decorative sealing, saw-cut patterns, or premium edging details
Permits, engineering, drainage changes, or council crossover compliance

What To Expect When You Request Quotes

Step 1

Measure the pour area and confirm depth, reinforcement, and finish before comparing prices.

Step 2

Ask whether excavation, spoil removal, drainage, sealing, and cleanup are included or excluded.

Step 3

Check access conditions early because pumps, wheelbarrow runs, and tight sites change labour allowances fast.

Step 4

Compare at least three written quotes and reject any quote that does not state curing time and warranty expectations.

Concreting in United Kingdom ranges from £25 per m² for basic services like plain slabs to £600 for major projects like retaining walls. Prices include VAT. Site access and ground conditions affect final cost.

The most common finishes are plain (broom-finished) concrete, exposed aggregate with decorative stones, coloured concrete using oxide pigments, and stamped or stencilled concrete that mimics stone, slate, or tile patterns. Each finish has different cost, durability, and aesthetic characteristics.

Well-laid concrete typically lasts 25–50 years or more. Longevity depends on the quality of the mix, proper sub-base preparation, adequate curing, and regular sealing (every 2–5 years for decorative finishes). Driveways and high-traffic areas may need resealing more frequently.

Most standard residential concreting (slabs, driveways, paths) does not require a permit. However, you may need approval for: driveways that cross public land, retaining walls above a certain height (varies by region), work affecting drainage, and any structural concrete like house slabs. Always check with your local council or authority before starting work.

How We Get These Prices

This methodology combines country-level concreting price benchmarks with city-level quote data already mapped inside WhatCosts. We update the page when market ranges move enough to change the practical buying decision.

We aggregate live provider pricing, national rate cards, and city-level market ranges already stored in the WhatCosts dataset.
We normalise quotes into comparable service categories such as slabs, driveways, decorative finishes, retaining walls, and removal.
We publish ranges instead of a single number because excavation, reinforcement, access, and council requirements vary too much for a universal fixed rate.

Sample size on this template: 8 national service categories and 10 city-level price entries across 3 cities.