CONCRETE

Ready-Mix Concrete Grades

Plant-mixed concrete delivered fresh to site per IS 4926

Also calledrmcready mixready-mix concretermc m20rmc m25
Related on InfraLens
CODES
IS 4926
Definition

Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) grades available from major Indian RMC suppliers cover the standard IS 456 grade ladder: M5, M7.5, M10 (PCC applications), M15, M20 (general PCC and light RCC), M25 (most common residential), M30 (commercial and severe exposure), M40 (high-rise, pre-stressed), M50, M60+ (specialty). Per IS 4926:2003, all RMC grades are produced under controlled conditions with mix design verification per IS 10262:2019.

Indian RMC market grade distribution (April 2026): M25 ~45% of production volume (residential and general commercial); M30 ~25% (severe exposure, basements, water tanks); M20 ~15% (light RCC and large fills); M40 ~8% (pre-stressed, high-rise columns); M50+ ~5% (specialty); below M20 ~2% (PCC blinding, mass fills). Major suppliers: Ultratech RMX (largest), Lafarge, ACC, Heidelberg, Birla, Prism RMC.

Mix design specifics by grade per IS 10262 + supplier confirmation: M20 — 280-320 kg/m³ cement, w/c 0.50-0.55. M25 — 320-380 kg/m³, w/c 0.45-0.50. M30 — 380-440 kg/m³, w/c 0.40-0.45 (severe exposure also caps maximum w/c). M40 — 440-480 kg/m³, w/c 0.35-0.40 (often with silica fume or GGBS). M50+ — 480-540 kg/m³, w/c 0.30-0.35 (mandatory silica fume). Pricing (April 2026): M20 ₹4,500/m³; M25 ₹4,800-5,200/m³; M30 ₹5,200-5,800/m³; M40 ₹6,200-7,000/m³; M50 ₹7,500-8,500/m³; M60+ ₹9,000+/m³.

Where used
  • All Indian metropolitan and tier-1 city construction
  • RMC plant production (1,200+ plants across India)
  • Most building, infrastructure, and industrial projects
  • Pre-stressed concrete (M30+ minimum)
  • Specialty applications — SCC, FRC, lightweight
Acceptance / threshold
Per IS 4926:2003 + IS 10262:2019: mix design verified; transit time ≤ 90 min; slump ±25 mm; cube test per IS 456 Cl. 16; delivery slip with mix code, water, admixture, batch.
Frequently asked
What grades of RMC are available in India?
Major Indian RMC suppliers offer the standard IS 456 grade ladder: M5, M7.5, M10 (PCC), M15, M20, M25 (most common), M30 (severe exposure), M40 (pre-stressed, high-rise), M50, M60+ (specialty). About 45% of Indian RMC volume is M25; 25% is M30.
What is the cost of RMC by grade?
April 2026 Indian market: M20 ₹4,500/m³; M25 ₹4,800-5,200/m³; M30 ₹5,200-5,800/m³; M40 ₹6,200-7,000/m³; M50 ₹7,500-8,500/m³; M60+ ₹9,000+/m³. Premium for higher grades reflects: (1) higher cement content; (2) silica fume additive (M40+); (3) tighter mix design; (4) more rigorous quality control.
Which RMC grade is used for residential?
M25 is the standard for most modern Indian residential RCC construction (45% of RMC volume). For typical 1-3 storey residential: M20 also acceptable. For high-rise residential (>15 storeys): M30 minimum. For severe exposure (coastal, basement): M30+ minimum. Always verify against IS 456 + IS 1893 (seismic) specific requirements before specifying grade.
Related concrete terms
Concrete Mix Design
Proportioning of cement, water, aggregates per IS 10262
Concrete Grades (M15-M80)
M20=20 N/mm² characteristic strength at 28 days
Water-Cement Ratio (w/c)
Mass of water to mass of cement. 0.40-0.55 typical.
Concrete Cover
Min concrete from rebar to surface (15-50mm per exposure)
Concrete Curing
Min 7 days for OPC, 10 days for PPC, 14 days for sulphate-resistant
Slump Test / Workability
25-150mm slump per application (IS 1199)
Cube Test (Compressive Strength)
150mm cube compressive strength test at 7/28 days (IS 516)
Concrete Admixtures
Plasticizers, accelerators, retarders per IS 9103