What does fibre reinforced concrete cost? Prices at a glance

One of the first questions when considering fibre reinforced concrete is: what does it actually cost, and how does that compare to traditional reinforcement? This article gives a realistic picture of the cost structure — with the caveat that exact prices are always project-dependent and are best determined via a bespoke quotation.

The base price of concrete

The price of regular ready-mix concrete typically ranges from €110 to €165 per m³, depending on strength class, aggregate and region. This is the starting point on top of which fibre reinforcement costs are added.

Surcharge for steel fibre

For steel fibre reinforced concrete, the surcharge in practice depends heavily on the dosage. As an indication:

• At a dosage of around 25-30 kg/m³ (within the common range of 25-50 kg/m³), suppliers charge a surcharge that can range from a few euros to around €45 per m³, depending on fibre type and the market price of steel.

• Some projects also require an adjusted (wetter) consistency of the concrete to properly work in the fibres, which can carry a small additional surcharge.

• If poured with a concrete pump, the usual pumping costs are added on top — this, incidentally, also applies to traditionally reinforced concrete.

Surcharge for synthetic fibre

Synthetic fibres (polypropylene) are used at much lower dosages than steel fibre — typically between 500 and 2,500 grams per m³ rather than 25-50 kg per m³. That usually translates into a lower direct surcharge per m³ than with steel fibre, although this depends on the specific product and the dosage required for the application (for example, shrinkage crack control versus fire resistance).

Where does the real saving lie?

The direct material surcharge for fibres only tells part of the story. The biggest saving from fibre reinforcement usually lies not in the material, but in:

• Labour hours: no separate operation for transporting, cutting, positioning and anchoring reinforcement mesh.

• Lead time: shorter formwork preparation time.

• Fewer failure costs: no risk of incorrectly positioned reinforcement.

Experience in practice shows that the total cost price (material + labour) of fibre reinforcement and traditional reinforcement often differ little — but fibre reinforcement wins on speed and flexibility, while traditional reinforcement is sometimes cheaper on pure material cost for very large quantities of reinforcing steel.

Factors that influence the price

• Fibre type: steel, synthetic or basalt each have a different price structure.

• Dosage: higher-dosed mixes (for heavier loads) cost more.

• Project size: larger volumes allow economies of scale.

• Region and raw material market prices: steel prices in particular fluctuate, which affects the surcharge for steel fibre.

• Additional requirements: such as a reinforcement study or calculation based on the reinforcement plan, which is often needed for macro synthetic fibres or steel fibre in structural applications.

In conclusion

An exact price quote for fibre reinforced concrete is always bespoke, but as a rule of thumb: expect a surcharge of a few to several tens of euros per m³ on top of the base price of concrete, with the caveat that this is often (partly) offset by lower labour costs and faster execution.