【Purposes】 This work is conducted to achieve the objectives of carbon emission reduction and resource utilization of solid waste. 【Methods】 Geopolymer concrete was prepared from red mud and coal-metakaolin, and the effect of four factors on its mechanical properties was investigated with an orthogonal test method. 【Findings】 The water-binder ratio was found to have a significant effect on the strength of the geopolymer concrete, followed by Na2O/H2O, while the curing conditions and the aggregate-binder ratio have lesser effect, according to the ANOVA. On the basis of the experimental results, the mathematical model of compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of geopolymer concrete was established, and the fitting effects of the equations were favourable. Further analysis obtained the optimal ratio of geopolymer concrete, and the compressive strength and splitting tensile strengthes of the cube specimens cured for 28 d were 43.6 MPa and 2.87 MPa, respectively. Then, the pore structures of the geopolymer concretes with different W/B ratios were characterised with low-field NMR tests. The results indicate that the geopolymer concrete is predominantly microporous internally. The increased content of evaporable free water increases the porosity and coarsens the pore structure, which macroscopically manifests as a reduction in strength of the material. This study can provide some theoretical guidance for the promotion and engineering application of geopolymer concrete.