How To Make Concrete In A Bucket
Mixing your own concrete from cement and ballast costs less than ready-to-use bags and lets you make only what you need.
The short answer
To make concrete, mix 1 part cement with 2 parts sand and 4 parts coarse aggregate, combine the dry materials thoroughly, then add water a little at a time while mixing until the concrete is smooth and holds its shape. A bucket and a paddle mixer are all a small job needs, and the concrete wants laying within 30 to 45 minutes of mixing.
Concrete is easy to mix at home once you know the order things go in. Ready-to-use bags that only need water are handy, but you pay a lot more for that convenience than for buying cement, sand and aggregate separately, and you're stuck with whatever's left in the bag.
Making it from scratch costs less and lets you mix exactly the amount the job needs. Setting a post in the garden or filling a section of floor indoors, the method doesn't change. This guide shows how we mix concrete in a bucket rather than a cement mixer, with photos of each stage and a Short of the mix going round.
What Concrete Is Made Of
Concrete is a mix of cement, sand and coarse aggregate bound together with water. The cement is the binder that hardens, the sand fills the gaps and the aggregate, which is gravel or crushed stone, gives the concrete its bulk and strength. Bags of all-in ballast combine the sand and aggregate in one, which saves a step.
How much you need depends on the size of the job, and the bags carry mixing guidance on the back. Nobody weighs everything to the gram, but stray too far from the ratio and the concrete ends up weaker and harder to work.
Mixing In A Bucket Or A Cement Mixer
Turning concrete over by hand with a shovel is hard, slow work. For smaller batches, most DIYers use a bucket or flexible tub with a paddle mixer, and that's how we mix ours. A cement mixer makes more sense once you need several barrow loads in one go, such as a large base or a long path.
What You'll Need
- Large bucket or flexible tub
- Paddle mixer, or a drill with a mixing paddle
- Trowel
- Sand
- Cement
- Coarse aggregate
- Water
- Dust mask
- Extension lead (optional)
How To Mix Concrete In A Bucket
1. Add The Sand And Aggregate
Start by tipping the sand and aggregate into the bucket. A standard general-purpose mix is 1 part cement to 2 parts sand and 4 parts aggregate, so measure the sand and aggregate out by the same scoop or shovel to keep the proportions right.
Unless you've got someone helping, mix half the total you need at a time. That gives you time to lay the concrete before the next batch, and nothing goes off in the bucket while you're busy with the first.
2. Blend The Sand And Aggregate
A quick mix at this stage spreads the sand evenly through the stones before the cement joins them. We used a paddle mixer for this, and for bucket-sized batches we'd recommend one over mixing by hand.
3. Add The Cement
Next, add 1 part cement for every 2 parts sand and 4 parts aggregate. For a stronger mix, such as a base that will carry heavy loads, increase the proportion of cement rather than the sand and aggregate, following the guidance on the cement bag.
Cement throws up a cloud of fine dust as it pours, as the photo shows, so wear a dust mask and keep a door or window open if you're mixing indoors.
4. Mix The Dry Ingredients Together
Mix the cement through the sand and aggregate before any water goes in. It's an extra minute, but the water then coats everything evenly instead of soaking into a pocket of neat cement. At this point you've effectively made your own ready-to-use concrete, without paying for a full bag you'll only use a quarter of.
5. Add Water A Little At A Time
There's no fixed amount of water, so pour in a small amount, mix it through completely and only then add more. It's very easy to overdo it, and a sloppy mix is weaker once it sets.
The mix is ready when it's smooth, evenly coloured and holds its shape on a trowel without slumping. If it's still dry and crumbly, add a splash more water. If it's turned runny, add more sand, aggregate and cement in the same ratio to bring it back.
6. Keep Mixing Until It's Ready To Lay
Once the consistency is right, keep the paddle going for a little longer so everything is fully combined. Aim to lay the concrete within 30 to 45 minutes so it doesn't start setting in the bucket. Concrete that has started to stiffen before it's placed won't bond or compact properly.
Our YouTube Short below shows the concrete being mixed in a bucket with a paddle mixer.
Testing The Latest Paddle Mixers - Mixing Up Concrete Has Never Been So Easy! #shorts #diy
Cleaning Your Tools Afterwards
Wash the bucket, paddle and trowel as soon as the last batch is out, before the concrete dries on them. Fresh concrete rinses off with water and a stiff brush. If some has started to harden, a pressure washer blasts most of it away. Don't pour the washing water down a drain, as the sediment settles and sets in the pipe.
Where To Use Your Concrete Mix
A 1:2:4 mix suits general jobs like small bases, paths and floor infills. When it's mixed, our guide to laying concrete and levelling it off picks up from here, and our guide on how long concrete takes to dry explains when you can walk on it and build on it. For fence posts, our comparison of concrete and wooden fence posts is worth reading before you set them.
Getting the mix right can take a batch or two the first time. If the first one comes out too wet or too dry, adjust it as described above and the next batch will be easier.
Other Questions We Get Asked
What is the ratio for mixing concrete?
The standard ratio for mixing concrete is 1 part cement to 2 parts sand and 4 parts coarse aggregate, known as a 1:2:4 mix. It suits general jobs such as small bases, paths and floor infills. For a stronger mix, increase the proportion of cement, and follow the guidance printed on the cement bag.
Can you make concrete without gravel?
Without gravel or another coarse aggregate, a mix of cement, sand and water is mortar or screed rather than concrete. It's fine for bedding bricks or levelling a floor, but it doesn't have the strength of concrete for bases and posts. For concrete, use coarse aggregate or all-in ballast, which already contains sand and gravel.
How much water do you put in concrete?
There's no fixed amount of water for concrete, as it depends on how damp the sand and aggregate already are. Add water a little at a time, mixing it through completely between each addition. The concrete is right when it's smooth and holds its shape on a trowel without slumping or crumbling.
Is it cheaper to make your own concrete?
Making your own concrete from cement, sand and aggregate is cheaper than buying ready-to-use bags that only need water. It also cuts waste, as you mix the exact amount the job needs instead of opening a full bag. Ready-to-use bags are only worth it for very small jobs where convenience matters more than cost.
Can I mix concrete by hand with a shovel instead of a paddle mixer?
You can, though your back will feel it, and getting the cement evenly through the stones takes a lot of turning. A paddle mixer does the same job in a bucket with far less effort, which is why we use one. If the job runs to several barrow loads, such as a large base or a long path, step up to a cement mixer.
What do I do if my concrete mix turns out too wet?
Bring it back with more dry material, keeping to the same ratio of sand, aggregate and cement so the strength doesn't drop. Don't be tempted to use it runny, because a sloppy mix sets weaker. Next time, add the water in small amounts and mix each one in fully before reaching for more.
How long have I got to lay the concrete once it's mixed?
Around 30 to 45 minutes. After that it starts to stiffen in the bucket, and concrete placed in that state won't compact or bond properly. If you're working on your own, mix half of what you need, lay it, then mix the rest, so you're never racing a full bucket.
Do I need a dust mask when mixing concrete?
Yes. The moment the cement leaves the bag a cloud of fine dust comes up with it, and you can see it in our photo of the pour. Wear the mask for the dry mixing too, and if you're working indoors, open a door or window to let the dust clear.
Dave, or Demolition Dave as the team calls him, worked as a builder for over 10 years before joining DIY Works. He now concentrates on his own properties and writes most of our construction content, along with tools, carpentry and plenty more.