If you have searched for barrow mix concrete, you are usually after a small, manageable volume of fresh concrete that can be wheeled straight to where it is needed: a footing, a shed base, a run of fence posts, or a path round the back of a property a truck cannot reach. The phrase describes how the concrete is handled on site, not a different material. In practice, barrow mix concrete is almost always volumetric concrete, mixed fresh on the lorry and discharged in barrow-sized amounts.
This guide explains exactly what barrow mix concrete is, how it works, how many barrowloads make up a cubic metre, what it costs, and when it beats the alternatives. Procon 24/7 supplies it across Yorkshire and the North West, around the clock.
What Is Barrow Mix Concrete?
Barrow mix concrete is fresh concrete supplied in quantities small enough to move by wheelbarrow rather than poured directly from a chute or pumped. It is the practical answer when a mixer truck cannot get close to the pour, or when the job only needs a part-load.
The term is a description of the method on site. The concrete itself is standard structural concrete in whatever grade your job needs, from a C20 garden base to a C35 structural footing. What makes it "barrow mix" is simply that it is delivered, mixed, and then handed over in barrow-sized batches you can wheel into position.
Because each barrow is filled fresh, there is no rush to empty an entire drum before the load goes off. That single difference is why most barrow mix work is supplied volumetrically rather than from a traditional drum truck.
How Does Barrow Mix Concrete Work?
A volumetric mixer carries the sand, aggregate, cement, and water separately and combines them on board, only mixing what you ask for. For a barrow mix job the process is straightforward:
- The lorry parks within reasonable reach of the pour, on the road or driveway.
- The mix is calibrated to the grade your job needs, then mixed on the spot.
- Fresh concrete is discharged straight into your wheelbarrows, one barrow at a time, at a pace you can keep up with.
- You wheel each barrow to the footing, base, or formwork and tip it.
- When the job is done, the mixing stops. You pay only for what you actually poured.
This is why people searching for the best mix on site concrete for small jobs keep landing on volumetric supply. Nothing is batched hours earlier at a depot, so nothing is wasted if you order slightly more than you need. For the full mechanics, see our explainer on how a volumetric concrete mixer works.
How Many Wheelbarrows Are in a Cubic Metre of Concrete?
A standard builder's wheelbarrow holds around 85 litres when level, but you cannot safely fill it to the brim with wet concrete and still push it. Loaded to a sensible, movable weight, most barrows take roughly 50 to 65 litres of concrete.
That works out at roughly 15 to 20 barrowloads per cubic metre, depending on how full each barrow is loaded and how far it has to travel. A full cubic metre of concrete weighs around 2.4 tonnes, so a single barrow of concrete is already a heavy push at about 120 to 150kg. Plan for two people on the barrows for anything above half a metre, and keep the run from lorry to pour as short and level as you can.
If you are not sure how much you need in the first place, our free concrete calculator turns your slab or footing dimensions into a cubic-metre figure in seconds.
How Much Does Barrow Mix Concrete Cost?
Because barrow mix is supplied volumetrically, you pay by the cubic metre for exactly what you pour, typically in the region of £90 to £130 per cubic metre depending on grade, location, and access. There is no charge for concrete you order but do not use, which is the hidden cost that catches people out with traditional drum deliveries.
Two things move the price on a small barrow mix job:
- Volume. Very small part-loads carry a higher effective rate per metre than a full load, because the call-out and time still have to be covered. Even so, with volumetric supply you are not paying for a 6 cubic metre minimum you will never pour.
- Access and distance. A long barrow run, awkward parking, or an out-of-hours slot can affect the quote. Procon 24/7 runs nights and weekends, so a time-critical pour is not a problem.
For a full breakdown of grades and pour types, see our UK concrete cost guide.
Barrow Mix vs Bagged vs Ready-Mix: Which Is Cheapest?
The right choice depends almost entirely on volume. Bagged concrete wins for a single fence post. A drum truck wins for a large continuous pour. Barrow mix volumetric supply owns the middle ground that catches most domestic and small commercial jobs.
| Option | Minimum order | Rough cost per m³ | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagged concrete | One 25kg bag | £200 to £300 equivalent | A handful of posts or a patch repair |
| Barrow mix (volumetric) | No minimum, pay per m³ | £90 to £130 | Bases, footings, paths, part-loads with poor access |
| Ready-mix drum truck | Usually 3 to 6 m³, plus short-load surcharge | £90 to £130 plus £100 to £200 part-load fee | Large, continuous pours with good truck access |
Once a job needs more than five to ten bags, mixing by hand stops being cheaper or easier, and the strength becomes inconsistent batch to batch. That is the point where barrow mix concrete becomes the better value choice. Our guide on using ready-mix concrete bags covers exactly where that threshold sits.
When Barrow Mix Concrete Is the Right Choice
Barrow mix is the sensible option whenever the truck cannot reach the pour or the volume is too small to justify a drum delivery. Common jobs include:
- Shed, greenhouse, and garden room bases
- Footings and foundations for extensions and garden walls
- Fence post runs and gate posts
- Paths, steps, and small patios
- Back-garden pours where access is through a side gate
For any of these, the combination of an exact-volume mix, zero waste, and barrow-sized discharge is hard to beat. If your pour is larger or harder to reach, ask about a ready-mix alternative or a concrete pump, and we will recommend whichever is genuinely cheaper for your site.
Barrow Mix Concrete Near You: Manchester, Leeds, and Across Yorkshire and the North West
Procon 24/7 supplies barrow mix concrete across both regions from a fleet of volumetric mixers. If you have searched for barrow mix concrete near me, barrow mix concrete Manchester, or barrow mix concrete Leeds, you are inside our standard delivery area.
We cover Manchester and the wider North West, and Leeds, Huddersfield and the whole of Yorkshire, with same-day and out-of-hours slots available. Because we run 24/7, a Saturday shed base or a night-time footing is just another booking. Tell us the grade and rough volume, or use the calculator, and we will confirm a price and a slot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barrow Mix Concrete
How much is a barrow mix of concrete?
Barrow mix concrete is priced by the cubic metre, usually around £90 to £130 per m³ depending on grade, access, and location, because it is supplied volumetrically. You pay only for what you pour, with no charge for unused concrete. Very small part-loads carry a higher effective rate to cover the call-out.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic metre of concrete?
Roughly 15 to 20 builder's wheelbarrows make up one cubic metre, depending on how full each barrow is loaded. A sensible, movable barrow holds about 50 to 65 litres of concrete and weighs 120 to 150kg, so plan for two people on the barrows for anything above half a metre.
Is barrow mix concrete the same as volumetric concrete?
In practice, yes. Barrow mix describes how the concrete is handled on site, while volumetric describes how it is mixed. Most barrow mix jobs use volumetric supply because the concrete is mixed fresh on the lorry and discharged in barrow-sized amounts, with no minimum order and no waste.
Can you get barrow mix concrete near me on the same day?
Across Yorkshire and the North West, including Manchester and Leeds, Procon 24/7 offers same-day and out-of-hours barrow mix delivery. We operate around the clock, so nights and weekends are available for time-critical pours.
What is the smallest amount of barrow mix concrete I can order?
There is no fixed minimum with volumetric supply. We can mix from as little as half a cubic metre, which makes barrow mix viable for jobs far too small for a traditional drum truck that needs a 3 to 6 cubic metre minimum.
Is barrow mix cheaper than bagged concrete?
For anything above roughly five to ten bags, yes. Bagged concrete works out around £200 to £300 per cubic metre equivalent and is hard work to mix consistently. Barrow mix volumetric supply is typically £90 to £130 per cubic metre with guaranteed, uniform strength.
