What the rows mean
- Sand is river or crushed sand for concrete, mortar and plaster.
- Gravel 02 is the common coarse aggregate for structural concrete.
- Fino is fine crushed stone. Size 00 is the finest, size 01 is a little coarser. The bureau first listed fino in Q4 2018.
- Red ash is volcanic scoria for fill and for sub-base under floors and paths.
- Selected material is fill from a quarry. The price rises with the distance to the site.
All of them sell by the cubic metre.
Why the price moved
Sand went from ETB 2,012.68 in 2016 E.C. Q1 (Jul to Sep 2023) to ETB 6,250 per m³, a change of +210.5%. Most of that rise came in the last year. Diesel moves every load of sand and gravel, and the government raised the diesel price by 16.6 percent on 1 April 2026, the second rise in one month.
The official price includes loading, unloading and transport to a site in Addis Ababa. A site far from the quarries, or a site with a narrow road, pays more. Ask the supplier if the price is per truck or per cubic metre, and measure the truck body before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of sand in Addis Ababa?
The latest official rate is ETB 6,250 per m³, delivered, without VAT, for 2018 E.C. Q4 (Apr to Jun 2026).
What is the price of gravel in Addis Ababa?
The latest official rate for gravel size 02 is ETB 5,625 per m³, delivered, without VAT.
How much has the price of sand changed in Addis Ababa?
The official rate moved from ETB 2,012.68 in 2016 E.C. Q1 (Jul to Sep 2023) to ETB 6,250 per m³ in 2018 E.C. Q4 (Apr to Jun 2026). That is a change of +210.5%.
Sources
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2018 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q3
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q1
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q3
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q1
- Capital: Gov't raises fuel prices by 16.6% as subsidy burden reaches 272 billion birr (April 2026)
These prices are reference figures for a budget. They are not a quote. Prices change every week, so get a written price from a supplier before you buy.