Ready-mix concrete (RMC) is concrete batched at a plant and delivered to your site in a transit mixer truck. For roof slabs, rafts and commercial structures, it gives more consistent quality than mixing on site, and it lets a large slab be poured in one go.
This guide covers what RMC suppliers offer, how pricing works, how to check quality on delivery and what to avoid.
What RMC suppliers provide
- Concrete batched to a specified strength grade, with measured cement, aggregate, water and admixtures
- Delivery in transit mixers that keep the concrete turning
- Concrete pumps (boom or line pumps) to place concrete on upper floors
- Delivery tickets recording the mix, batch time and quantity
- Test cubes or cylinders, sometimes with lab test reports
Products and services in this category
| Product / service | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete by grade | Concrete supplied to a strength grade set by your structural engineer | Roof slabs, rafts, columns, beams, commercial floors |
| Concrete pumping | Boom or line pump that moves concrete from the mixer to the pour point | Upper-floor slabs, narrow streets, large pours |
| Special mixes | Mixes with admixtures for workability, slower setting or water resistance | Hot weather, long pump lines, basements, water tanks |
| Lean / blinding concrete | Low-strength concrete under foundations | Foundation base layer |
How to choose a supplier
- Distance to your site. Concrete has a limited working time. ASTM C94, a widely used ready-mix standard, has a rule that concrete may be discharged only up to 90 minutes after batch time (For Construction Pros). A nearby plant reduces traffic delays.
- Ability to deliver your whole pour. A slab poured in one go needs trucks arriving one after another. Ask how many mixers they will assign.
- Testing. Ask whether they take test cubes or cylinders and share lab results. Your engineer can also take independent samples.
- Standards. Ask which standard their mixes are designed to and request the mix design for your grade. The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) is the national standards body; ask the supplier to show any certificates they hold.
- Pump availability for your floor height and street width.
How pricing usually works
- Concrete: per cubic metre (or per cubic foot), by grade. Higher strength grades cost more because they use more cement.
- Pumping: a fixed charge per pour, a per cubic metre rate, or both, often with a minimum.
- Distance: extra charge beyond a set radius.
- Minimum order: small quantities may be charged as a minimum load.
- Admixtures: extra for retarders, plasticisers or waterproofing.
- Waiting time: some suppliers charge when trucks wait at site.
We do not publish RMC rates. Cement is a major cost input; Houseplot construction rate data shows cement at about Rs1,500 to Rs1,610 per 50 kg bag on 18 October 2026. Ask at least three suppliers for written quotes on the same grade, quantity and site.
What affects the price:
- Strength grade and mix design
- Total volume
- Cement and aggregate prices
- Distance and traffic
- Pump type and floor height
- Night pours or urgent orders
- Admixtures
Process: from request to pour
- Get the grade from your structural engineer for each element.
- Calculate volume from the drawings (length × width × thickness), plus an allowance agreed with your engineer.
- Request quotes with grade, volume, site location, floor and pour date.
- Confirm the order in writing: grade, volume, number of trucks, pump, start time.
- Prepare the site: shuttering checked, steel inspected, access cleared, curing water ready.
- On delivery, check each ticket and the concrete before it is placed.
- Take test cubes during the pour.
- Cure the concrete as advised by your engineer.
- Get cube test results and keep them with your records.
Ordering checklist
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Grade for each element | Different parts may need different strengths |
| Total volume | Avoids short loads or paying for excess |
| Pour date and start time | Trucks and pump need booking |
| Site address and access notes | Narrow streets may need a line pump |
| Floor level | Decides pump type and reach |
| Admixtures needed | Hot weather or long pumping |
| Testing arrangement | Who takes and tests cubes |
| Payment terms | Advance, per pour or on account |
RMC or site-mixed concrete?
Site mixing is still common for small Lahore houses. It can work when an experienced team measures materials by volume and an engineer supervises, but quality depends heavily on the crew on the day. Ready-mix suits roof slabs and rafts where a large volume must be placed quickly and evenly. Ask your structural engineer which elements should use RMC on your project.
Red flags
- Driver adds water at site to make concrete "flow better" without your engineer's approval
- No delivery ticket, or ticket missing batch time
- Trucks arriving long after batching
- Supplier refuses test cubes
- Quote with no grade stated
- Price far below others for the same grade
FAQs
Is ready-mix better than site-mixed concrete? It is usually more consistent because ingredients are measured at a plant. Site mixing can work for small jobs with close supervision.
Which grade do I need? Your structural engineer specifies it for each element. Do not choose a grade on price alone.
How do I know I received the right grade? Check the delivery ticket, and test cubes taken at site. Strength is confirmed by lab tests on those samples.
Do I need a pump? For upper-floor slabs and large pours, usually yes. For ground-level work with good access, the mixer chute may be enough.
Can I order a small quantity? Many suppliers have a minimum load; you may pay for the minimum even if you need less.
Sources
- For Construction Pros, "How to Take Advantage of the Concrete Delivery Ticket": https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/article/21104683/how-to-take-advantage-of-the-concrete-delivery-ticket
- Houseplot construction rate data (October 2026)