How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost?
A poured concrete slab costs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed in 2026, with a national average near $8. That covers a 4-inch residential slab with a compacted base, wire mesh, and a broom finish.
A 20 × 20 patio therefore runs roughly $2,400 to $4,800. Stamped or decorative finishes push it to $15–$30 per square foot.
| Slab size | Square feet | Typical cost | Concrete needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 | 100 | $600–$1,200 | 1.23 yd³ |
| 12 × 12 | 144 | $860–$1,730 | 1.78 yd³ |
| 16 × 16 | 256 | $1,540–$3,070 | 3.16 yd³ |
| 20 × 20 | 400 | $2,400–$4,800 | 4.94 yd³ |
| 24 × 24 | 576 | $3,460–$6,910 | 7.11 yd³ |
| 30 × 30 | 900 | $5,400–$10,800 | 11.11 yd³ |
| 30 × 40 | 1,200 | $7,200–$14,400 | 14.81 yd³ |
Ranges assume level, accessible ground. Difficult access, demolition, or heavy excavation adds cost.
Where the money goes
On a typical residential slab, costs split roughly like this:
- Concrete: $2.00–$2.50 per sq ft at 4 inches — about a quarter of the total
- Labour: $2–$3 per sq ft for forming, placing, finishing
- Base and prep: $1–$2 per sq ft for excavation and compacted gravel
- Reinforcement: $0.35–$1.00 per sq ft for mesh or rebar
- Forms, sealer, control joints: the balance
Because concrete is only a quarter of the bill, shopping hard on the mix price barely moves the total. Access and site prep move it much more.
What changes the price
- Thickness. Going from 4 to 6 inches adds 50% to the concrete and usually pushes you into heavier reinforcement.
- Region. Southeast and Texas run $6–$10 per sq ft; California and the Northeast run $12–$18.
- Size. Small slabs cost more per square foot — fixed costs like mobilisation and short-load fees spread over less area.
- Finish. Broom finish is baseline. Stamped, coloured, or exposed aggregate can double or triple the rate.
- Access. If the truck cannot reach the forms, add pumping ($800–$1,200 per day) or wheelbarrow labour.
What DIY actually saves
Pouring it yourself removes the $2–$3 per square foot labour line — around $1,000 on a 20 × 20 patio. You still pay for concrete, base material, forms, mesh, and tool rental.
Finishing is the hard part. Concrete gives you a fixed window to screed, float, and trowel, and the surface is permanent. Small pads are a reasonable first project; driveways and garage floors are not.
Work out your own material cost with the concrete slab calculator, which gives yards, bags, and a cost estimate from prices you enter.
Estimating notes
- Figures are 2026 US averages. Get at least two local quotes before setting a budget.
- Permits, engineered drawings, and inspections are extra where required.
- Removing an existing slab typically adds $2–$6 per square foot.