Why quotes vary
Concrete, labour and mesh are easy to price, so honest quotes rarely differ much on those. Site preparation is where they split. On our calculator, the same 40m² broom driveway is $8,100–$8,800 on a level block and $10,350–$12,750 once 100mm to 300mm of soil has to be dug out and taken away.
Where the money goes
| 40m² broom driveway, 100–300mm cut | Amount |
|---|---|
| Concrete supply (4.4m³ of N25, including wastage) | $1,386 |
| Labour: placing, finishing and formwork | $3,400 |
| SL72 mesh | $440 |
| Delivery zone surcharge | $85 |
| Base preparation and formwork materials | $1,000–$1,520 |
| Excavation and spoil removal | $1,800–$3,200 |
| Site clean-up | $300 |
| Overheads and contingency | $1,009–$1,240 |
| GST | $942–$1,157 |
| Total incl. GST | $10,362–$12,728 |
In this example, base preparation and excavation are about 36% of the price before GST. A quote that leaves them out, or covers them with a vague line like "site prep as required", can't be compared with one that prices them.
The checklist
- Area and shape, measured on site, not from an aerial photo.
- Thickness, for example 100mm for a car driveway, plus any thickened edges.
- Concrete grade (N20, N25 or N32).
- Reinforcement: mesh type (SL72, SL82) on bar chairs, or rebar to an engineer's design.
- Base: topsoil removal, road base depth and compaction.
- Excavation: how deep, roughly how many cubic metres, and whether spoil removal and tip fees are included.
- Demolition: breaking out and disposing of old concrete, pavers or asphalt, and whether the old slab is reinforced.
- Finish: broom, exposed aggregate, coloured or stamped, with the colour or pattern named.
- Joints: control joints (sawn or tooled) and isolation joints against the house, garage and pits.
- Sealing: included or not, which sealer and how many coats.
- Pump or access: pump hire, barrowing or mini-machines if the truck can't reach.
- Drainage: strip drains, connection to stormwater, and the falls.
- Council crossing: who applies, who pays the fees and who books the inspections.
- Clean-up: removal of formwork, waste and washout.
- GST: included or extra.
- Payment terms: deposit, progress payments and when the balance is due.
- Weather: what happens if the pour has to be moved.
- Exclusions: rock, contaminated soil, retaining walls, tree removal, moving services.
Red flags
- A single lump sum with nothing about thickness, grade or mesh.
- No mention of base preparation or excavation on a site that obviously needs it.
- A square-metre rate that supposedly covers everything but lists nothing.
- Pressure to pay a large deposit long before the work is booked.
- A promise that the slab won't crack. All concrete shrinks; joints and mesh control it.
- Being told a driveway doesn't need mesh.
Comparing quotes fairly
Put the quotes side by side against the checklist and ask about the gaps. The cheapest quote often ends up the most expensive once extras for excavation, rock or more base are added on the day. Our price calculator splits every estimate into the same lines as the table above, which makes it a useful benchmark, and the driveway cost guide shows how site conditions move the price.
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Common questions
Why is one concrete quote so much cheaper than the others?
Usually because it leaves something out: excavation, spoil removal, mesh, thickness or clean-up. Ask each contractor to confirm the same specification in writing, then compare.
Should a concrete quote include council fees?
If the job includes a footpath crossing, the quote should say who lodges the council application and who pays the application and inspection fees. Many quotes exclude the fees themselves because council sets them.
Related services
Sources
Prices in this guide come from our concrete price calculator and update when its rates are reviewed. They are estimates, not fixed quotes: the final price is confirmed at a free site inspection. Council rules were checked against each council's published policy and can change, so confirm with your council before you build.
