Precast concrete structures are built of prefabricated concrete plates, which arrive on the site dry and already formed. They are simply locked together to form the structure. Unlike typical concrete construction, there is no on-site pouring or forming involved.

This structural material is frequently used for parking garages, and often for residential buildings up to about 30 or 35 floors. It is more common for residential high-rises in Europe than in America, but even there cast-in-place concrete is more common.

This should not be confused with prefabrication, which is a construction method utilizing large finished building elements, not only structural framing pieces. Precast concrete may however be used in a prefabricated building.