Sand & Aggregates Prices in India — May 2026

Sand & Aggregates prices across 50 Indian cities

Sorted by the price of Coarse Aggregate 20mm (per tonne) — a representative sand & aggregates item tracked in every city. Click any city for the full brand and grade-wise breakdown.

About sand & aggregates

Fine and coarse aggregates per IS 383:2016 together occupy 60-75 % of the volume of concrete. Fine aggregate (sand) is either river sand (natural) or manufactured sand (M-sand, produced by crushing stone). Coarse aggregates are graded stone chips — 10 mm, 20 mm, and 40 mm nominal sizes are standard. For a typical M20 mix, each m³ of concrete needs ~0.45 m³ of sand and ~0.9 m³ of 20 mm coarse aggregate. Quality matters: silt content, water absorption, flakiness, and grading all feed into mix design per IS 10262. Most Indian cities have banned mechanised river-sand extraction since 2013-2016, making M-sand the default for RCC.

Price drivers

• Local mining royalties and district-level approvals (heavily regulated post-2013)
• Haul distance from quarry — every 50 km adds ₹100-150/tonne
• Monsoon shutdowns (June-September) reduce supply; prices spike 15-25 %
• River-sand ban status in the district (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra strictest)
• Crusher plant utilisation rate
• Nearby large-project demand (highway tenders, metro contracts absorb supply)

Recent sand & aggregates price history

Aggregate prices in India vary wildly by proximity to a quarry — coastal and hilly cities pay 2-3× the quarry-gate price due to transport. M-sand has overtaken river sand as the default in south India since 2020; north India and east India still lean on river sand where legally extracted. 2024-25 saw ~8-12 % price rise on diesel cost inflation and stricter mining enforcement. Kerala and the north-east remain the most expensive regions due to haul distance.

Buying tips

• Silt content test on-site before unloading — silt > 8 % in sand is unusable for RCC
• Flakiness index on coarse aggregate — > 25 % flaky particles compromise workability and strength
• 20 mm is standard for RCC; 40 mm only for mass concrete (foundations, dams); 10 mm for small sections
• River sand premium over M-sand is ~₹200-400/brass; use M-sand for 90 % of structural applications
• Bulk orders (> 10 tonnes) direct from the quarry can save ₹150-300/tonne vs dealer

Relevant Indian Standard codes

Frequently asked questions