Concrete Pumping Calculator — Reach, Rate & Cost

Choose based on reach distance and pour rate. A 24m boom pump suits most domestic work. A 32m pump handles two-storey buildings and longer reach. A 42m pump is for commercial or hard-to-reach locations. Line pumps (no boom) are cheaper but require manual hose placement — best for ground-floor work within 50m. Use our Concrete Volume Calculator to work out how much concrete to order for the pour.

Those headline figures (boom 60-100 m³/hr, line 20-30 m³/hr) are rated outputs. Real-world throughput is typically only 60-85% of rated capacity once you allow for setup, truck-waiting and mix consistency, so this calculator applies a 75% efficiency factor. Practical pour rates are also limited by ready-mix truck arrival frequency (one 6 m³ truck every 15-20 minutes = ~18-24 m³/hr). For large pours, coordinate truck arrivals with the pump operator to avoid waiting time.

Pumped concrete needs a minimum slump class S3 (100-150mm) for boom pumps. Line pumps can work with S2 (50-90mm) for shorter distances. The concrete must be cohesive enough to flow through the pipeline without segregating. Specify "pumpable" when ordering from the batching plant — they'll adjust the mix design accordingly.

As an indicative guide, boom pump hire typically costs £100-150 per hour with a 4-hour minimum (£400-600 minimum charge), and line pump hire is £80-120 per hour. Additional charges may apply for washing out, standby time (waiting for trucks), and weekend/evening work. For a typical domestic pour of 10-15 m³, expect to pay £500-800 for pumping. These are typical UK market rates and vary by region and supplier — always confirm the quote with your pump hire company.

As concrete travels through the pipeline, friction reduces the delivery rate and increases pump pressure. As a planning rule, horizontal pipeline adds roughly 1% loss per 10m (about 5-15% per 100m). Vertical pumping is far more demanding: 1m of vertical lift is treated as about 3m of horizontal pipe, so this calculator weights vertical height ×3 when working out the equivalent distance. Long runs and lifts both reduce the effective delivery rate, as do stiffer mixes and smaller pipeline diameters.