How Much Concrete for a 2m x 2m Slab?

A 2 × 2 m slab (4 m²) poured 100 mm thick needs 0.40 m³ of concrete, about 1.0 tonnes. Allow 10% for waste and order 0.50 m³ of ready-mix, or mix about 6 bags of 25 kg cement with sharp sand and aggregate. Change the thickness below for a 150 mm slab.

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Your project

Paths and patios are usually 100 mm. Driveways are 125 to 150 mm. Check what your plans or the Building Regulations require.

%

Uneven ground and spillage. 5 to 10% is typical.

Results

Example job shown. Change the numbers to match yours.

Concrete needed
0.44 m³
Includes your waste allowance
What to buy
  • Bags of cement (25 kg)6 bags
Ready-mix to orderRounded up to the next quarter m³. Ask your supplier about minimum loads
0.50 m³
Weight of concrete
1.06 tonnes
Area
4.0 m²

If you mix it yourself

Cement
139 kg
Bags of cement (25 kg)
6 bags
Sharp sand0.19 m³
0.31 tonnes
20 mm aggregate (gravel)0.39 m³
0.58 tonnes
  • Assumptions used: 10% waste added; DIY mix 1 : 2 : 4 by volume with a dry-volume factor of 1.54; cement 1440 kg/m³, sharp sand 1.6 and aggregate 1.5 tonnes/m³; concrete 2.4 tonnes/m³; 25 kg bags.
  • The DIY quantities are approximate: sand and aggregate bulk up with moisture, and the cement content of a "1:2:4" mix varies. For anything structural, use the mix design your supplier or engineer specifies. Concrete weighs about 2.4 tonnes per m³.

Before you buy: round up to whole packs, check the size printed on the label, and add a little spare. Your supplier has the final say.

Concrete needed for a 2 × 2 m slab, by thickness

These figures are for the whole 4 m² slab. The ready-mix column adds 10% for waste and rounds up to the next quarter m³, which is how most suppliers sell it. The cement bags are for mixing it yourself at 1:2:4.

Thicknessm³ (no waste)m³ with 10% wasteReady-mix to order (m³)Weight (tonnes)Bags of cement (25 kg)
75 mm0.300.330.500.85
100 mm0.400.440.501.16
125 mm0.500.550.751.37
150 mm0.600.660.751.69

What a 2 × 2 m slab is used for

A 2 × 2 m slab is a small base for a hot tub, a water butt stand, a bin store, a heat pump or a small greenhouse. 100 mm is plenty for these loads, but a hot tub or a heat pump should follow the maker's base requirements.

Bags or ready-mix for 2 × 2 m?

At 0.44 m³ you can mix this yourself in a small mixer or a barrow: about 6 bags of 25 kg cement with the sharp sand and aggregate to go with it. A ready-mix order would be mostly minimum-load charges, so mixing is the sensible choice.

Don't forget the sub-base and the reinforcement

A slab needs a compacted sub-base, usually 100 mm of MOT Type 1, which for 4 m² is about 0.9 tonnes with 5% for compaction (see the gravel calculator). Vehicles need mesh such as A142 and movement joints. For a patio on top of the slab, the paving calculator gives the slabs and sand. Check for buried services before you dig.

Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Concrete Calculator (UK, m³): edit any number and the results update instantly.

Tools & materials for this project

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Frequently asked questions

How much concrete do I need for a 2m x 2m slab?

A 2 × 2 m slab is 4 m². At 100 mm thick that is 0.40 m³, or 0.44 m³ with 10% extra, so order 0.50 m³ of ready-mix. At 150 mm it is 0.60 m³, or 0.66 m³ with 10% extra.

How many bags of cement for a 2m x 2m slab?

For a 1:2:4 mix at 100 mm with 10% extra you need about 6 bags of 25 kg cement, 0.31 tonnes of sharp sand and 0.58 tonnes of 20 mm aggregate. At 150 mm it is 9 bags.

How much does a 2m x 2m concrete slab weigh?

At 100 mm thick it weighs about 1.0 tonnes, using 2.4 tonnes per m³. At 150 mm it is about 1.4 tonnes.

Related sizes and guides

Related sizes

Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.