If you have ever ordered a full load of ready mix concrete for a small job, you will know the problem. You order more than you need, the lorry turns up with far too much, and you end up paying for concrete that goes straight in the skip. It is a waste of money and a waste of material.
That is exactly the problem metered concrete delivery is designed to solve.
At Express Concrete, our metered service is one of the most popular options for smaller jobs across London. Instead of paying for a fixed load, you only pay for the amount of concrete that actually comes out of the lorry and into your project. No guesswork, no overordering, and no paying for wasted concrete.
What is Metered Concrete?
A metered concrete lorry works a bit like a fuel pump. It carries the raw ingredients (cement, aggregate, water and additives) and mixes them fresh, on site, as the concrete is poured. A meter on the lorry measures exactly how much concrete comes out, so you are billed for the precise volume you use rather than a rounded-up load.
This is different from a standard ready mix delivery, where a fixed volume is mixed at the plant and delivered in one batch. With a standard delivery, if you order slightly more than you need “just in case”, that extra concrete is wasted the moment it sets in the wrong place.
Metered delivery removes that guesswork completely.
Who Metered Concrete Suits Best
Metered concrete is not for every job, but for the right ones, it is a much smarter way to order. It tends to work best for:
| Type of Job | Why Metered Works Well |
|---|---|
| Small builders and tradespeople | Avoids paying for a full load on jobs that only need a fraction of one |
| DIY and home improvement projects | No need to estimate volumes precisely before ordering |
| Tight or awkward sites | Concrete can be poured gradually as access allows |
| Repairs and patch jobs | Ideal for small areas like steps, paths or patch repairs |
| Projects with uncertain volumes | You only pay for what is actually used, even if the exact amount is hard to predict |
If you are working on a large new build or a job with a clearly defined, sizeable volume, a standard ready mix delivery is usually more cost-effective. But for smaller and less predictable jobs, metered concrete can save a genuine amount of money.
How Metered Delivery Stops You Overpaying
The biggest advantage of pay-as-you-pour concrete is straightforward: you are billed for what leaves the lorry, not for what you guessed you might need.
With a traditional load, most customers round up their estimate to make sure they do not run short. That “just in case” extra concrete is rarely used, and once it sets, it cannot be returned or reused. On a small job, that wasted portion can end up costing more than the job itself needed.
Metered delivery removes that risk. If your job takes less concrete than expected, you simply pay less. If it takes a little more, the lorry can usually provide it there and then, without a second delivery charge or a delay waiting for another load.
This makes budgeting far more accurate, particularly for builders quoting fixed prices to their own customers, and for homeowners trying to keep a tight rein on project costs.
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Working Out How Much You Need
Even with a metered service, it helps to have a rough idea of volume before the lorry arrives, so you know what to expect on site and can plan access and pouring time. You can work out how much you need using our online calculator before you book your delivery.
Why Choose Express Concrete for Metered Delivery
Metered concrete only works well if the lorry arrives on time and the mix is right for the job. That reliability is central to our delivery promise, covering punctual delivery, correctly batched concrete and clear communication throughout.
Express Concrete has been a family-run since 1991 supplier to builders and homeowners right across London. Our metered service sits alongside our ready mix concrete services, giving customers the flexibility to choose the right ordering method for the size and shape of their project.
Whether you are pouring a small patio, patching a driveway, or working on a site where access is tight, metered delivery gives you control over both the volume and the cost.
The Technical Side, Explained Simply
Ready-mixed concrete is batched to a precise recipe, whether it is delivered as a fixed load or metered on site. The Concrete Centre explains how ready-mixed concrete is manufactured to exact specifications in a central plant or via mobile mixing, so the strength and consistency of the mix stays reliable no matter how it is delivered.
This is worth knowing because it means metered concrete is not a lower-quality shortcut. It is the same carefully controlled mix, just measured and billed differently to suit smaller or less predictable jobs.
Getting Started
If you think metered concrete delivery could suit your next project, get in touch with our team. We can talk through your job, help you estimate roughly how much you might need, and arrange a delivery time that works for your site.
