How much does ready-mix concrete cost per cubic metre in Toronto?

Canada Building Materials' January 2026 GTA list price is $245/m³ for 25 MPa and $255/m³ for 30 MPa, plus a $7 environmental charge and $2 fuel surcharge, before 13% HST. Market guides quote $175–$290 delivered depending on supplier and volume. Budget roughly $250–$280/m³ all-in for a typical residential exterior mix.

Why does a small concrete pour cost so much per cubic metre?

GTA plants run a practical 3 m³ minimum, and partial-truck charges punish small orders: CBM charges $175 per load for 3.2–4 m³, $300 for 1.2–3 m³, and $400 to deliver a single cubic metre. A 1.5 m³ backyard pad can cost roughly double its raw material value once the small-load fee lands.

How much does concrete pumping cost in Toronto?

Line pumps for residential pours run $500–$1,200 per day per Rockit Concrete Pumping. Boom pump trucks with operator run $1,200–$1,800 per half-day for a 28–36 m boom and $1,800–$2,500 for 42 m+ per 2AZ Group. You need a pump whenever the mixer truck can't chute directly into your forms - typically backyards and laneway garages.

What do concrete workers charge per hour in Toronto?

Job Bank pegs Toronto-region concrete finisher wages at $28.80–$47.00/hour, but contractor charge-out rates run higher: about $35–$50/hour for an experienced finisher and $35–$55 for a formwork carpenter per 2AZ Group. Budget 4–6 labour-hours per cubic metre poured - a 3 m³ garage slab is roughly $1,200–$1,800 in labour.

Can I pour concrete in winter in Toronto?

Yes, but it costs more. GTA suppliers add a winter handling charge from November 1 to April 30 - $22/m³ on the Canada Building Materials list, $20–$40/m³ market-wide - because plants heat the water and aggregate. Add site protection (hoarding, curing blankets, accelerators), and note many flatwork contractors simply stop exterior pours from December through April.

Do I need a permit to pour a concrete driveway or parking pad in Toronto?

Repaving your existing driveway footprint on private property generally needs no permit, but widening it, cutting the curb, or pouring on the boulevard requires a street work permit from Toronto's Right-of-Way Management office plus refundable financial securities. Front-yard parking pads are licensed and many streets ban new ones; zoning requires 50–75% of the front yard to stay soft landscaping.

How much does rebar or wire mesh add to a concrete slab?

In the GTA, 10M rebar runs $8–$12 per 20-foot bar and 15M runs $12–$18 per 2AZ Group; 6x6 welded wire mesh is $17–$40 per 4'x8' sheet from Ontario suppliers like Rebar.shop. On a typical 400 sq ft driveway, reinforcement adds roughly $300–$700 in materials - cheap insurance against cracking.

What does a concrete garage slab cost installed in the GTA?

A 20'x20' (400 sq ft) garage slab runs $5,000–$8,000 installed per 2AZ Group's 2026 GTA guide, which lines up with HomeStars' $5.31–$10.32 per square foot for garage slabs. That covers forming, pouring and finishing at 4 inches or more thick; removing an old slab first adds another $500–$1,500.

How Much Does Concrete Work Cost in Toronto in 2026?

Last updated: August 2, 2026By ConcreteFinder Research Team

Plain formed-and-finished concrete flatwork runs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed in Toronto, according to HomeStars, while ready-mix concrete is roughly $245 to $255 per cubic metre delivered before HST (Canada Building Materials, January 2026). Labour drives the rest: GTA crews charge $35 to $55 an hour and budget 4 to 6 hours per cubic metre poured.

What does concrete work cost by material, labour and project?

ConcreteFinder compiled this table from 10 named Canadian sources; where they disagreed, we widened the range rather than pick one.

Researched July 2026. CAD, sources named per row. Add 13% HST unless noted.
Item	Typical range	Unit	Source
Ready-mix concrete, 25 MPa, delivered (GTA)	$200–$290(typ. $245)	per m³	Canada Building Materials - GTA Price List (eff. Jan 15, 2026)
Ready-mix concrete, 30–35 MPa, delivered (GTA)	$255–$350(typ. $270)	per m³	Canada Building Materials - GTA Price List (eff. Jan 15, 2026)
Small-load delivery charge (partial truck, 1–4 m³)	$175–$400(typ. $300)	per load	Canada Building Materials - GTA Price List
Winter handling surcharge (Nov 1 – Apr 30)	$20–$40(typ. $22)	per m³	Canada Building Materials - GTA Price List
Truck waiting/unloading time beyond 60 min included	$120–$120	per hour	Canada Building Materials - GTA Price List
Concrete line pump with operator (residential pours)	$500–$1,200(typ. $800)	per day	Rockit Concrete Pumping (Toronto)
Boom pump with operator, 28 m to 42 m+ boom	$1,200–$2,500(typ. $1,500)	per half-day	2AZ Group - Real Cost of Concrete Work in the GTA 2026
Concrete finisher wage, Toronto Region (employee, not charge-out)	$28.80–$47.00	per hour	Government of Canada Job Bank - Concrete Finisher, Toronto Region
Contractor crew charge-out: finisher / formwork carpenter	$35–$55(typ. $45)	per hour	2AZ Group - Real Cost of Concrete Work in the GTA 2026
Poured concrete slab or pad, formed/poured/finished, installed	$6–$12(typ. $9)	per sq ft	HomeStars - Concrete Contractor Cost in Toronto
Garage slab, 20 ft x 20 ft, installed (subcontractor price)	$5,000–$8,000	per project	2AZ Group - Real Cost of Concrete Work in the GTA 2026
Rebar, 10M–15M, 20-ft bar	$8–$18	per bar	2AZ Group - Real Cost of Concrete Work in the GTA 2026
Welded wire mesh 6x6, 4 ft x 8 ft sheet	$17–$40(typ. $25)	per sheet	Rebar.shop (Ontario supplier)

What drives the price?

Not every quote is the same job. These are the variables that move concrete work pricing most in Toronto, so you can read a quote and see where the money goes.

Mix strength (MPa): each step from 25 to 35 MPa adds $10–$25/m³ on the CBM GTA list; 40 MPa+ jumps to $301–$349/m³. Exterior work needs air-entrained 30–32 MPa, which costs more than basement-floor mixes
Order volume vs the ~3 m³ plant minimum - partial-truck charges of $175–$400 per load make tiny pours disproportionately expensive per cubic metre
Site access: if the truck can't chute directly into the forms (backyards, laneway garages, over the house), add a line pump ($500–$1,200/day) or boom pump ($1,200–$2,500/half-day)
Season: Nov 1 – Apr 30 winter handling adds $22/m³ at CBM ($20–$40/m³ across the market), plus hoarding, heating and curing-blanket costs on site
Labour intensity: budget 4–6 crew-hours per m³ for forming/pouring/finishing; complex forms, steps and stamped or exposed-aggregate finishes push labour up sharply
Reinforcement spec: mesh-only vs 10M/15M rebar grid changes material cost by several hundred dollars on a typical driveway or garage slab
Demolition and disposal of existing concrete: $500–$1,500 removal (HomeStars) plus bin rental $350–$1,000 depending on size (2AZ)
Distance from the batch plant: standard delivery is typically included within ~30 km; beyond that expect $8–$15/km (2AZ)
Truck turnaround: 60 minutes unloading is included per CBM; slow crews pay $120/hour waiting time
Permits and securities for any work touching Toronto's right-of-way (boulevard, curb, sidewalk)

What's specific to Ontario and Toronto?

Ontario rules and Toronto's climate change the math in ways national price guides miss. Here is what applies locally, from HST to permits to freeze-thaw.

HST: 13% applies on top of both material and contractor prices - Canada Building Materials' GTA list prices are all pre-HST, so a quoted $245/m³ mix is actually ~$277 landed. Get quotes stated as 'plus HST' or 'HST included' in writing
Toronto right-of-way rules: constructing, widening or altering a driveway that touches the boulevard, sidewalk or curb requires a street work permit from the District Right-of-Way Management office, plus refundable financial securities to guarantee the work matches approved plans. You cannot legally pour concrete over the City boulevard without this permit
Front-yard parking pads are a licensed use of City property and heavily restricted - many Toronto streets are under moratorium and issue no new licences. Zoning also caps driveway width and requires 50–75% of the front yard/boulevard to remain soft landscaping depending on lot frontage
Underpinning/basement lowering requires a City of Toronto building permit with structural drawings stamped by a professional engineer (P.Eng); this is never a handshake job and engineering fees come on top of the concrete work
Winter pours (Nov 1 – Apr 30) carry a $22/m³ winter handling charge on the CBM GTA list ($20–$40/m³ market-wide) because plants heat water and aggregate; CSA A23.1 cold-weather protection (hoarding, blankets, accelerators) adds site cost, and many GTA flatwork contractors simply stop pouring exterior concrete from December to April
Downtown logistics: CBM applies a $350 restricted-load charge for constrained delivery zones, and parking a mixer or pump on a Toronto street can require a temporary street occupation permit
Concrete Ontario (the provincial ready-mix association) standards underpin supplier terms - the 60-minute included discharge window and strength-tested mixes trace back to its member plant certification

How can I pay less?

You can keep concrete work costs down without cutting the parts that matter. These are the levers GTA homeowners actually use, each tied to a real number above.

Pour between May and October: you avoid the $22/m³ winter handling surcharge and the extra hoarding/curing-protection costs, and crews work faster in good weather
Size your job to a full or near-full truck: a 1 m³ pour carries a $400 partial-load charge at CBM. Combine your pad with a neighbour's walkway or batch several small jobs into one delivery to get closer to the ~$175 (or zero) small-load band
Do demolition and base prep yourself: breaking out and disposing of old concrete ($500–$1,500) and excavating/compacting granular base are the most DIY-able line items; pay the pro crew only for forming, pouring and finishing at $35–$55/hr
Plan truck access before quoting: if the mixer can chute directly into the forms you skip a $500–$2,500 pump line item entirely - sometimes removing a fence panel is worth thousands
Buy reinforcement direct: 10M bars at $8–$12 and 6x6 mesh sheets from $17 at Ontario suppliers like Rebar.shop cost less than contractor-marked-up materials on small jobs
Get at least 3 itemized quotes showing concrete volume, MPa, reinforcement, and finishing separately - the $6–$12/sq ft Toronto spread means identical pads can be quoted thousands apart
Order accurate volume with a 5–10% buffer only: over-ordering 1 m³ wastes ~$250+, while under-ordering triggers a second delivery with its own small-load fee

How did we research these numbers?

Every price on this page comes from a named Canadian source, and where sources disagreed we widened the range rather than pick a favourite. Here is how ConcreteFinder reconciled the numbers.

Sources conflict on delivered ready-mix pricing: BuildersOntario's 2026 calculator cites $175–$225/m³ delivered for 25–32 MPa, while Canada Building Materials' actual GTA producer list (effective Jan 15, 2026) is $245/m³ for 25 MPa and $255/m³ for 30 MPa before a $7/m³ environmental charge, $2/m³ fuel surcharge and $1/m³ industrial emissions charge; 2AZ Group's GTA guide cites $250–$290/m³ as-delivered for 25 MPa. Ranges here were widened accordingly - expect real 416/905 quotes near the top of the range.
All figures are CAD and exclude 13% HST unless stated. The one US source that surfaced (HomeGuide rebar guide) was excluded rather than converted; every price row above is from a Canadian source.
Small pours are penalized twice: most GTA plants run a ~3 m³ practical minimum, and CBM's per-load partial-truck charges scale from $175 (3.2–4 m³) to $400 for a single cubic metre. 2AZ frames the same reality as a $50–$80/m³ short-load surcharge below 3 m³.
Most GTA pumping outfits (Max Pump, ConPump, Concrete Pump Rental Inc., Valley) publish no rates and quote per job based on boom size, hose length and access; the published figures used here are Rockit's $500–$1,200/day line-pump range and 2AZ's half-day boom rates. Third-party summaries put boom pumps at roughly $150–$300/hour with operator in the GTA.
Job Bank's $28.80–$47.00/hr is what Toronto-region concrete finishers are paid as employees; contractor charge-out rates run higher ($35–$55/hr per 2AZ), and a common rule of thumb is 4–6 labour-hours per cubic metre poured for forming, placing, finishing and stripping.
Installed per-square-foot pricing varies widely with demolition, base prep and finish: HomeStars pegs plain Toronto flatwork at $6–$12/sq ft but quotes a $5–$30/sq ft spread once decorative/stamped finishes and difficult access are included; slab removal adds roughly $500–$1,500 per HomeStars.
Wire mesh conflict: Rebar.shop lists 4x8 6-gauge sheets from $16.99 while 2AZ cites $25–$40 per sheet at supply yards; the row range spans both.

Sources

Who can do the work?

ConcreteFinder tracks 578 concrete contractors across the Greater Toronto Area, rated 4.75★ on average. The three below rank highest on our review-weighted score, based on ConcreteFinder's analysis of 578 GTA businesses, July 2026.

1
Verified listingTop rated
Prostar Concrete
BurlingtonConcrete Contractors
(905) 515-6072 Get Quotes
2
Verified listingTop rated
SB Excavation
MimicoConcrete Patios & Walkways
Get in touch with our Toronto-based team for expert excavation services. Reach out today for a free estimate! ☎ 647-904-5780
(647) 904-5780 Get Quotes
3
Verified listingTop rated
Massey Stone Concrete Inc
BramptonConcrete Contractors
Best concrete contractor near you! Award winning work, speaks for itself. Stamped Concrete| Exposed Concrete| Plain Concrete| Driveways, patios, backyard, sidewalks. Service Areas include Brampton, Caledon, Mississauga, Vaughan, Orangeville, Oakville, Bolton, Toronto.
(647) 244-4282 Get Quotes

See all 578 concrete contractors on ConcreteFinder

Frequently asked questions

How much does ready-mix concrete cost per cubic metre in Toronto?: Canada Building Materials' January 2026 GTA list price is $245/m³ for 25 MPa and $255/m³ for 30 MPa, plus a $7 environmental charge and $2 fuel surcharge, before 13% HST. Market guides quote $175–$290 delivered depending on supplier and volume. Budget roughly $250–$280/m³ all-in for a typical residential exterior mix.
Why does a small concrete pour cost so much per cubic metre?: GTA plants run a practical 3 m³ minimum, and partial-truck charges punish small orders: CBM charges $175 per load for 3.2–4 m³, $300 for 1.2–3 m³, and $400 to deliver a single cubic metre. A 1.5 m³ backyard pad can cost roughly double its raw material value once the small-load fee lands.
How much does concrete pumping cost in Toronto?: Line pumps for residential pours run $500–$1,200 per day per Rockit Concrete Pumping. Boom pump trucks with operator run $1,200–$1,800 per half-day for a 28–36 m boom and $1,800–$2,500 for 42 m+ per 2AZ Group. You need a pump whenever the mixer truck can't chute directly into your forms - typically backyards and laneway garages.
What do concrete workers charge per hour in Toronto?: Job Bank pegs Toronto-region concrete finisher wages at $28.80–$47.00/hour, but contractor charge-out rates run higher: about $35–$50/hour for an experienced finisher and $35–$55 for a formwork carpenter per 2AZ Group. Budget 4–6 labour-hours per cubic metre poured - a 3 m³ garage slab is roughly $1,200–$1,800 in labour.
Can I pour concrete in winter in Toronto?: Yes, but it costs more. GTA suppliers add a winter handling charge from November 1 to April 30 - $22/m³ on the Canada Building Materials list, $20–$40/m³ market-wide - because plants heat the water and aggregate. Add site protection (hoarding, curing blankets, accelerators), and note many flatwork contractors simply stop exterior pours from December through April.
Do I need a permit to pour a concrete driveway or parking pad in Toronto?: Repaving your existing driveway footprint on private property generally needs no permit, but widening it, cutting the curb, or pouring on the boulevard requires a street work permit from Toronto's Right-of-Way Management office plus refundable financial securities. Front-yard parking pads are licensed and many streets ban new ones; zoning requires 50–75% of the front yard to stay soft landscaping.
How much does rebar or wire mesh add to a concrete slab?: In the GTA, 10M rebar runs $8–$12 per 20-foot bar and 15M runs $12–$18 per 2AZ Group; 6x6 welded wire mesh is $17–$40 per 4'x8' sheet from Ontario suppliers like Rebar.shop. On a typical 400 sq ft driveway, reinforcement adds roughly $300–$700 in materials - cheap insurance against cracking.
What does a concrete garage slab cost installed in the GTA?: A 20'x20' (400 sq ft) garage slab runs $5,000–$8,000 installed per 2AZ Group's 2026 GTA guide, which lines up with HomeStars' $5.31–$10.32 per square foot for garage slabs. That covers forming, pouring and finishing at 4 inches or more thick; removing an old slab first adds another $500–$1,500.

Questions to ask your contractor

Can you show WSIB clearance and liability insurance for this job?
Will you pull the permits this scope needs, or is that on me?
What concrete strength and slab thickness are you pouring for this use?
How will you reinforce it: rebar, wire mesh, or fibre, and where do the control joints go?
What is the payment schedule and deposit? Typical line items and costs
What does your warranty cover for cracking and settlement, and for how long?

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