Quick answer: Bentonite Pro sells sodium bentonite fines in 1.2 tonne bulk bags at $295 + GST a bag, which is about $246 a tonne before GST and freight. Freight is estimated from Mildura VIC to your address at about $0.26 per tonne per kilometre, excluding GST. A 12 bag (14.4 tonne) order delivered to Bendigo VIC works out at about $5,544 including GST, or $385 a tonne delivered.
This guide sets out what sodium bentonite costs in a bulk bag, how far one bag goes, how bulk bags compare with 25 kg bags, and indicative delivered prices to regional centres across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Prices were calculated on 4 October 2026 with the Bentonite Pro transport calculator. They are indicative only. Freight is confirmed with you before any order is accepted.
What does sodium bentonite cost in a bulk bag?
One 1.2 tonne bulk bag of sodium bentonite fines costs $295 + GST ($324.50 including GST). That is $245.83 a tonne excluding GST, or $270.42 a tonne including GST, before freight. Freight is charged separately and depends on your delivery address and order size.
How much area does one bulk bag cover?
At Bentonite Pro’s standard ordering rate of 30 kg/m², one 1.2 tonne bag provides material for 40 m² before any allowance. The rate is a company ordering standard, not a sealing guarantee. Confirm soil suitability, the cause of leakage and the installation method before ordering. The bentonite application rate guide explains how to measure the treated area.
| Area to treat | Bentonite at 30 kg/m² | Whole 1.2 tonne bags | Product cost ex GST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 m² | 6.0 tonnes | 5 | $1,475 |
| 480 m² | 14.4 tonnes | 12 | $3,540 |
| 1,000 m² | 30.0 tonnes | 25 | $7,375 |
| 2,000 m² | 60.0 tonnes | 50 | $14,750 |
Use the bentonite quantity calculator for your own area and rate.
Are bulk bags cheaper than 25 kg bags?
Yes, per tonne of material. Retail 25 kg bags of dam-grade bentonite listed online on 4 October 2026 ranged from about $16 to $25 a bag, which is $640 to $1,000 a tonne before freight. A Bentonite Pro bulk bag is $270.42 a tonne including GST before freight. Even with freight to Toowoomba QLD, about 1,520 km by road from Mildura, the indicative delivered cost in the table below is $706 a tonne including GST.
| Pack | Material cost per tonne | Handling for 1.2 tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 tonne bulk bag | $270.42 incl. GST | One lift by forklift or telehandler |
| 25 kg retail bags | About $640 to $1,000 | 48 bags to unload and open by hand |
Small bags still suit very small jobs. For farm dams and larger ponds, bulk bags reduce both the material cost and the handling time.
Indicative delivered prices for a 12 bag order
The table shows a 12 bag order (14.4 tonnes), enough for 480 m² at 30 kg/m². This order size sits inside the calculator’s reference load band of 14 to under 24 tonnes. Product cost is $3,540 ex GST in every row.
| Delivery town | Road km from Mildura | Freight ex GST | Delivered total incl. GST | Delivered cost per tonne incl. GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Hill VIC | 224 | $841 | $4,819 | $335 |
| Horsham VIC | 312 | $1,169 | $5,180 | $360 |
| Bendigo VIC | 400 | $1,500 | $5,544 | $385 |
| Ballarat VIC | 449 | $1,682 | $5,744 | $399 |
| Shepparton VIC | 450 | $1,686 | $5,749 | $399 |
| Griffith NSW | 431 | $1,616 | $5,672 | $394 |
| Wagga Wagga NSW | 561 | $2,103 | $6,208 | $431 |
| Orange NSW | 772 | $2,892 | $7,075 | $491 |
| Dubbo NSW | 809 | $3,032 | $7,229 | $502 |
| Tamworth NSW | 1,109 | $4,156 | $8,466 | $588 |
| Port Macquarie NSW | 1,394 | $5,222 | $9,639 | $669 |
| Roma QLD | 1,292 | $4,841 | $9,219 | $640 |
| Toowoomba QLD | 1,521 | $5,699 | $10,163 | $706 |
Distances are standard Google driving estimates from the Mildura town reference point to each town, not truck-approved routes or property entrances. Unloading, special access and truck waiting time are not included. The final freight charge is confirmed with you before any order is accepted.
How is freight calculated?
The transport calculator multiplies the one-way road distance from Mildura by the tonnes to be transported and by an indicative rate of $0.2601552134 per tonne per kilometre, excluding GST. GST is then added at 10%. For example, Bendigo is 400 km: 400.489 km × 14.4 tonnes × $0.26016 = $1,500 ex GST.
Orders below 14 tonnes or at 24 tonnes and above fall outside the reference load band. Part-load minimums, full loads or multiple trucks may change the final price, so smaller orders can cost more per tonne to deliver than the table shows.
How do I get a delivered price for my property?
- Measure the floor and walls you intend to treat and enter the area in the quantity calculator.
- Carry the bag count into the transport calculator and confirm your delivery location.
- Send the result through the delivered quote form with your access and unloading details. We confirm freight, unloading and timing before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Is freight included in the $295 price?
No. $295 + GST is the price of one 1.2 tonne bulk bag. Freight is calculated to your delivery address and shown separately.
Where does Bentonite Pro deliver?
Bentonite Pro delivers to farms and job sites across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Freight is estimated from Mildura VIC.
What do I need on site to unload a bulk bag?
A forklift or telehandler able to lift a 1.2 tonne bag by its lifting loops, and truck access to a firm unloading area. Tell us about access when you request a quote.
Why is my estimate different from this table?
Your road distance, order size and the date of the estimate will differ. Freight rates can change daily, and orders outside the 14 to under 24 tonne reference band may attract part-load or multiple-truck pricing.
Prepared by Angus Hughson, CEO, Big Ditch Dam Building Company. Bentonite Pro is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Big Ditch Dam Building Company. Prices calculated 4 October 2026.