Concrete Patio Cost Per Square Foot: Labor & Materials

A concrete patio runs $9-$23 per square foot installed, with most homeowners landing between $12 and $18 per square foot when you add up materials, labor, forms, base prep, rebar, and finish. On a typical 400 square foot patio, that puts the all-in cost somewhere between $4,800 and $7,200.

Those ranges feel wide, and they are. The reason is that a basic broom-finished slab on flat ground with easy access is a completely different project than a stamped, colored patio with multiple levels and tight side-yard access. Both are “concrete patios.” They do not cost the same.

This guide breaks down every cost component so you understand what drives the number on your bid.

Quick Answer: What Does a Concrete Patio Cost?

Cost Component	Low	Typical	High
Concrete materials (ready-mix)	$110/yd	$150/yd	$200/yd
Concrete slab installed (all-in)	$4/sf	$6/sf	$8/sf
Labor only	$5/sf	$8/sf	$15/sf
Rebar #3	$0.30/LF	$0.55/LF	$0.80/LF
Rebar #4	$0.40/LF	$0.70/LF	$1.00/LF
80-lb bag concrete	$5	$7	$10

Regional disclaimer: Every number in this guide reflects national averages. Labor costs in Seattle or San Francisco will run 30-50% higher than rural markets. Material costs shift based on concrete plant proximity and local demand. Always get local quotes.

Use our Concrete Cost Per Yard calculator to get a materials estimate specific to your project size.

What Goes Into the Cost of a Concrete Patio?

Most homeowners see one number on a bid and have no idea what’s behind it. Here is every component that makes up the total price.

1. Excavation and Sub-Base

Before a drop of concrete hits the ground, the site has to be prepared. That means:

Excavation: Removing 6-10 inches of existing soil to get below the frost line and establish the correct finished grade. On a flat lot with easy equipment access, this is straightforward. Add a slope, rocky soil, or a backyard with no gate and costs climb fast.
Gravel base: 4-6 inches of compacted crushed rock under every residential patio. This is not optional if you want the slab to last. Skipping or skimping on the base is the number one reason concrete patios crack within a few years.
Compaction: The base has to be mechanically compacted, not just raked smooth.

Typical base prep cost: $1.50-$3.00 per square foot, depending on depth required and site conditions.

2. Forms

Concrete forms define the shape of the slab. For a simple rectangular patio, you are looking at 2x4 or 2x6 lumber set on stakes. For curved edges or decorative borders, forms get more complex and more expensive.

Form costs are usually rolled into the overall labor bid, but on a complex shape, expect the contractor to call out form labor separately. A curved or freeform patio can add $1-$2 per square foot just in form labor.

3. Concrete Materials

This is where most of the materials budget lives. Ready-mix concrete is ordered in cubic yards, and the cost per yard varies significantly by region and market conditions.

Typical ready-mix pricing: $110-$200 per cubic yard, with $150 per yard being a reasonable planning number in most markets.

To know how many yards you need, use our Concrete Calculator. For a 4-inch thick slab, you need roughly 1.23 cubic yards per 100 square feet, plus a 10% waste factor.

Short-load fees are real. If your job is under 5-6 yards, most ready-mix suppliers charge a short-load or minimum delivery fee, typically $75-$200. On a small 10x12 patio that only needs 2 yards, that fee is a significant percentage of the concrete cost. Budget for it.

Bag concrete vs. ready-mix: For anything over 50-60 square feet, ready-mix almost always wins on cost and quality. Mixing 80-pound bags at $5-$10 each for a 200 square foot patio means 30+ bags, hours of labor, and inconsistent mix quality. Ready-mix delivers a consistent product in one shot.

4. Rebar and Reinforcement

Rebar is what keeps a cracked slab from falling apart into rubble. Whether you use it, what size, and how it is spaced matters.

Common options for residential patios:

#3 rebar (3/8 inch): $0.30-$0.80 per linear foot. Standard for most residential patios up to 4 inches thick.
#4 rebar (1/2 inch): $0.40-$1.00 per linear foot. Used for thicker slabs, driveways, or areas with poor soil.
Wire mesh (welded wire fabric): Cheaper than rebar on material cost, harder to position correctly. Many experienced contractors prefer fiber reinforcement in the mix instead.
Fiber mesh additive: Added at the plant for $5-$10 per yard. Distributes through the entire slab. Does not replace rebar for structural slabs, but works well for residential patio slabs on stable soil.

A typical 400 sf patio on a 12-inch rebar grid (both directions) uses roughly 800-900 linear feet of rebar. At $0.55 per foot for #3, that is about $440-$500 in rebar material alone, plus labor to place and tie it. Use our Rebar Spacing Calculator to get exact quantities for your layout before ordering.

5. Concrete Thickness

Thickness drives material cost directly. More concrete, more yards, more money. It also affects labor time for finishing.

Thickness	Cubic Yards per 100 sf	Common Use
4 inches	1.23 yd	Standard residential patio
5 inches	1.54 yd	Heavy loads, hot tubs, poor soil
6 inches	1.85 yd	Driveways, commercial

Most residential patios are fine at 4 inches with a proper base. If you have soft soil, plan to put a hot tub on it, or are in a freeze-thaw climate, 5 inches buys real insurance against cracking.

6. Finish Options and Their Costs

The finish is the single biggest factor in labor cost after basic square footage. Here is what different finish types typically add per square foot:

Finish Type	Added Labor Cost
Broom finish (standard)	$0 (included in base labor)
Exposed aggregate	+$2-$4/sf
Stamped concrete	+$8-$20/sf
Colored concrete (integral)	+$1.50-$3/sf
Salt finish	+$1-$2/sf

A stamped concrete patio that looks like flagstone or pavers will cost two to three times as much in labor as a plain broom finish. The forms are more complex, the timing during the pour is critical, and the work requires more skill to execute correctly.

Worked Example 1: Basic 16x20 Broom-Finish Patio

Size: 320 square feet, 4-inch slab

Excavation and 4 inches compacted gravel base: 320 sf x $2.00 = $640
Ready-mix concrete: 320 sf needs about 3.95 yards, plus 10% waste = 4.35 yards. Order 4.5 yards at $150 = $675
Forms (2x4 lumber, straight run): $80 in material + $120 labor = $200
Rebar #3 on 18-inch grid: ~500 LF x $0.55 = $275
Concrete labor (pour, screed, float, broom): 320 sf x $8.00 = $2,560
Short-load fee: $0 (4.5 yards, no fee at this plant)

Total estimated cost: $4,350 Cost per square foot: $13.60

This is a real number for a straightforward job with good access, flat ground, and no special finishing.

Worked Example 2: 12x16 Stamped and Colored Patio

Size: 192 square feet, 4-inch slab with integral color and slate-stamp finish

Excavation and 6-inch compacted gravel base (poor soil, went deeper): 192 sf x $2.75 = $528
Ready-mix concrete with integral color: 2.7 yards at $185 (color additive) = $500
Forms (complex, curved corner): $120 in material + $200 labor = $320
Rebar #3: ~350 LF x $0.55 = $193
Short-load fee: $150 (small batch)
Concrete labor, base rate: 192 sf x $8.00 = $1,536
Stamp and color finish upcharge: 192 sf x $14.00 = $2,688
Sealer (required for stamped concrete): 192 sf x $1.00 = $192

Total estimated cost: $6,107 Cost per square foot: $31.80

Same square footage, more than double the per-square-foot cost. This is why the range is so wide and why “how much does a concrete patio cost” is almost impossible to answer in one sentence.

How Much Is Labor for a Concrete Patio?

Labor is where contractors have the most variation. Concrete labor for a patio runs $5-$15 per square foot, with broom-finish work on the low end and decorative finishes on the high end.

What drives labor cost up:

Access difficulty: A backyard with a 3-foot gate means concrete has to come in by wheelbarrow. That is hours of extra labor.
Slope and grading: Pouring on a sloped site requires more forming, more careful screeding, and more experience.
Finish complexity: Stamping, texturing, and exposed aggregate all require experienced finishers and more time.
Size: Smaller jobs cost more per square foot because mobilization, setup, and cleanup costs get spread over fewer square feet.
Season and demand: Spring and summer pours during peak season cost more than fall work.

The most common question contractors get is “why does concrete labor cost so much?” The answer is simple. A concrete pour has a hard deadline. Once the truck shows up, the clock is running. There is no pausing, no coming back tomorrow. You need enough skilled hands to screed, float, and finish the slab before it sets. That crew, that coordination, and that no-margin-for-error pressure is reflected in the price.

Common Mistakes That Blow Up the Budget

Underestimating the base: A 4-inch slab on 6 inches of compacted gravel sits on 10 total inches of material that has to be excavated. Homeowners often focus on the concrete thickness and forget about the earthwork below.

Ignoring the short-load fee: If your patio only needs 3 yards of concrete, call the plant and ask about minimum delivery requirements. Some plants charge $100-$200 for loads under 5-7 yards. This can be 15-20% of your material cost.

Skipping rebar to save money: Reinforcement is what separates a slab that lasts 30 years from one that cracks into chunks in 8. The savings on materials is a few hundred dollars. The cost to tear out and replace a failed slab is thousands.

Not accounting for drainage slope: Every concrete patio should slope 1/4 inch per foot away from the house. That means one edge of a 10-foot wide patio is 2.5 inches lower than the other. If your excavation and forming do not account for this, you get a patio that drains toward your foundation.

Choosing based on price alone: In 20 years in the trades, the most expensive jobs I have ever seen were ones where the homeowner went with the cheapest bid. A cut-rate concrete crew skips the base, goes thin on the slab, skips the rebar, and leaves you with a cracking, heaving, settling mess inside 5 years. The honest bid costs more upfront. The cheap bid costs more in the long run.

Pro Tips for Getting an Accurate Bid

Get at least 3 bids, and make sure every bid covers the same scope. Compare what is included for base depth, rebar spacing, slab thickness, and finish type.
Ask about the sub-base specifically. A contractor who mentions compacted gravel depth and compaction method is one who knows what they are doing. One who glosses over it is cutting corners there.
Know the finish before you call anyone. Every time a homeowner changes their mind mid-project, it costs money. Decide on broom, stamped, or exposed aggregate before the first contractor shows up.
Check access before calling for bids. If the only way to your backyard is a 3-foot side gate, tell every contractor upfront. The ones who bid without knowing will change-order you later.

For a fast check on whether a concrete quote is in the right ballpark, Try EstimationPro free to run a quick materials and labor estimate before the bids come in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 400 square foot concrete patio cost?

At the typical all-in range of $12-$18 per square foot, a 400 sf patio runs $4,800-$7,200. A basic broom-finish patio with easy access will land closer to $4,800-$5,500. Add decorative finish, poor access, or complex shape and you can push past $7,000 easily.

Is concrete cheaper than pavers for a patio?

Concrete is almost always cheaper than pavers on the upfront install cost. A concrete patio at $12-$18 per square foot compares to concrete pavers at $15-$30 per square foot and natural stone pavers at $30-$60 per square foot. Concrete is also faster to install. Pavers can be repaired individually without tearing up the whole patio, which matters if you have roots or settling over time.

What PSI concrete should I use for a patio?

3,000 PSI is the standard for residential patios in mild climates. Use 3,500-4,000 PSI in freeze-thaw climates or for patios that see heavy loads. The PSI upgrade from 3,000 to 4,000 typically adds $10-$20 per yard. On a 5-yard pour, that is $50-$100 to significantly improve durability. Worth it in climates that cycle between freezing and thawing.

How long does a concrete patio take to pour?

The active pour on a 300-400 sf residential patio usually takes 3-6 hours from truck arrival to finishing. Curing is a different story. Concrete reaches walking strength in 24-48 hours, furniture weight in 7 days, and full structural strength at 28 days. Do not place heavy planters or a grill on it the first week.

Do I need a permit for a concrete patio?

It depends on your municipality. Most jurisdictions do not require a permit for a ground-level concrete patio that is not attached to the house structure. Add a cover, attach it to the house, or build it elevated, and permits usually become required. Always check with your local building department before starting.

If you are pricing out a concrete patio project and want to verify how many yards you need before calling suppliers, start with our Concrete Calculator and our Concrete Cost Per Yard tool to build your materials budget from the ground up.

Getting your numbers right before the bids arrive means you will know when a quote is honest and when someone is leaving scope out to win the job. That knowledge is worth more than any individual quote. For a roundup of the best free concrete estimating tools, see our best concrete calculators comparison.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of calculating concrete volume for any slab shape, see our guide on how to calculate concrete for a patio. If you want broader slab pricing context beyond patios, including garage floors, driveways, and warehouse slabs, the guide on concrete slab cost per square foot covers all the major slab types with a regional pricing breakdown.

Try EstimationPro free to run complete project estimates for concrete patios and any other scope you are pricing.