A concrete sidewalk runs $25 to $75 per linear foot installed, with most residential jobs landing in the $35 to $55 range once you account for width, base prep, forming, rebar, and finish. That spread is wide because a 3-foot-wide front entry walk is a completely different project from a 5-foot public-facing sidewalk with a curb cut and ADA requirements.
If you are replacing an existing walk, add $10 to $25 per linear foot for demo and disposal before pouring a drop of new concrete. Most homeowners do not factor that in, and it is one of the most common sources of sticker shock on sidewalk bids.
This guide covers everything that drives the price: width, thickness, forms and curves, demo, finish options, and the permit question that comes up on almost every right-of-way job.
Quick Answer: Concrete Sidewalk Cost by Width
The width of the walk is the biggest lever on per-linear-foot cost because it directly controls how much concrete, forming, and labor goes into every foot you pour.
| Walk Width | Concrete Thickness | Installed Cost Per LF | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 feet | 4 inches | $25 - $40 | Narrow front entry walk, garden path |
| 4 feet | 4 inches | $35 - $55 | Standard residential front walkway |
| 5 feet | 4 inches | $45 - $65 | Wide entry, side yard access |
| 4 feet | 5 inches | $40 - $60 | Heavy traffic, freeze-thaw climate |
| 5 feet | 5 inches | $50 - $70 | High-use or near-property-line code requirement |
| 5-6 feet | 4-5 inches | $55 - $75 | Public-adjacent sidewalk, curb cut included |
These are all-in installed numbers including base prep, forming, rebar or mesh, pour, and broom finish. They do not include demolition of an existing walk or permits. See those sections below for those add-ons.
For exact cubic yard calculations on your specific sidewalk dimensions, use the Concrete Calculator. To check current ready-mix pricing in your area, see Concrete Cost Per Yard.
What Is Actually Behind That Per-Foot Price
Most homeowners see a per-linear-foot number and think it is just the concrete. It is not. Here is every line item that goes into a residential concrete sidewalk.
Base Preparation
Every sidewalk needs a compacted sub-base: excavate 6-8 inches, install 4 inches of crushed gravel, and compact it mechanically. Not just rake it flat - compact it. Base prep runs $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. On a 4-foot by 40-foot walk (160 sf), that is $240 to $480 before you order concrete. Skip compaction and you will have a cracking, settling walk inside 5 years.
Forming
Straight walks use simple 2x4 or 2x6 lumber on stakes, roughly $0.50 to $1.00 per linear foot in materials with labor rolled into the pour crew time.
Curves are a different job. A radius or S-bend requires flexible Masonite or kerfed plywood strips, more stakes, and significantly more labor to align. Add $1.50 to $4.00 per linear foot to the labor side for any curved walk. If that is not in the bid, something is getting cut.
Concrete Materials
A 4-inch sidewalk uses about 1.23 cubic yards per 100 square feet. A 5-inch walk uses about 1.54 cubic yards per 100 square feet. Add 10% for waste.
Ready-mix pricing runs $110 to $200 per cubic yard nationally, with $145 to $165 per yard as a typical planning number in most markets. Short-load fees apply if your pour is under 4-5 yards, typically $75 to $200. On a small front walk that only needs 2 yards, that fee is a real line item worth calling about before you price the job.
Rebar and Reinforcement
A 4-inch residential sidewalk allows some flexibility on reinforcement:
- Rebar (#3 at 18-inch spacing): Best for durability. Runs $0.30 to $0.80 per linear foot of rebar, adding $1.00 to $2.50 per linear foot of walk across the two-direction grid.
- Welded wire mesh (6x6 W1.4/W1.4): Cheaper on material cost, harder to keep elevated properly during the pour.
- Fiber mesh additive: Added at the plant for $5 to $10 per yard. Works well for light foot-traffic walks on stable soil.
In freeze-thaw climates, use rebar. For any walk where you expect vehicle traffic near the edge, use rebar.
Finish
Broom finish is standard for sidewalks - a drag perpendicular to travel direction gives enough traction and is fast. It is included in base labor. Decorative options add cost:
| Finish Type | Added Cost Per LF (4-ft walk) |
|---|---|
| Broom finish (standard) | Included |
| Salt finish (light texture, salt pressed in) | +$2 to $4 |
| Exposed aggregate | +$4 to $8 |
| Stamped/textured (brick pattern, slate) | +$8 to $16 |
| Colored concrete (integral pigment) | +$3 to $6 |
Sidewalks take abuse. Salt and deicing chemicals wreck exposed aggregate and stamped finishes faster than most homeowners expect. If a client wants a decorative finish on a walk that sees winter ice-melt, have that conversation before the pour, not after.
Demolition and Removal of Old Concrete
Replacing an existing sidewalk means demo first. This line item gets dropped from bids more than it should.
Concrete demolition and removal runs $3 to $8 per square foot, or $10 to $25 per linear foot on a 4-foot-wide walk. What moves that number:
- Slab thickness: A 4-inch walk breaks faster than an old 6-inch commercial slab.
- Rebar in the old slab: Cutting out embedded rebar adds time and blade cost.
- Haul-off: Broken concrete is heavy. Disposal fees at a concrete recycler run $50 to $100 per load. Know where yours is.
- Tree roots: Roots that lifted the old walk are still there after it comes out. Root cutting and grinding adds hours.
On a 40-foot by 4-foot sidewalk replacement (160 sf), plan on $500 to $1,200 for demo and disposal before a single yard of new concrete goes in.
Permitting: The Question Every Client Asks
It depends entirely on where the sidewalk is located.
Private property walkways (front door to driveway, around the house): No permit required in most jurisdictions. A simple residential on-grade walkway on private property usually clears with no permit.
Public right-of-way work (the strip between the curb and the property line): Almost always requires a municipal permit, and many cities require contractors to hold a separate right-of-way license to work there. Permit cost runs $50 to $500 depending on the city.
Curb cuts and ADA: If the project connects to a public sidewalk or involves a curb cut, ADA requirements apply: 2% max cross slope and truncated dome detectable warnings at transitions. That means dome panels (materials cost) and precision slope work (more labor).
Always pull the permit when it is required. Unpermitted work in the right-of-way is a code violation. Have the conversation with the client before the job starts, not after.
Worked Example 1: Front Entry Walkway (Replacement Job)
A homeowner in the Pacific Northwest wants to replace their cracked front walkway. The existing concrete is heaving from a nearby maple root and cracked in three places. The walk runs from the front steps to the driveway.
Scope: Remove and replace 38 linear feet of 4-foot-wide walkway, 4-inch slab, broom finish, minor root trimming.
| Line Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Demo and haul-off (160 sf at $5/sf) | 152 sf x $5.00 | $760 |
| Root grinding (minor) | Flat rate | $200 |
| Excavation and 4-inch gravel base | 152 sf x $2.25 | $342 |
| Ready-mix concrete (2.1 yd + 10%) | 2.3 yd at $155 | $357 |
| Short-load fee | 1 delivery under 5 yd | $125 |
| Forms (straight run) | 38 LF x $0.75 | $29 |
| Rebar #3 on 18-inch grid | ~300 LF at $0.55 | $165 |
| Control joints (tooled, every 8 ft) | Included in labor | — |
| Pour and broom finish labor | 152 sf x $8.50 | $1,292 |
| Cleanup and disposal | Flat | $100 |
Total: approximately $3,370, or $88.69 per linear foot
That number is above the typical range because of demo and disposal. Strip those out and the new-pour cost is $2,410, or $63.42 per linear foot. Demo accounted for nearly $1,000 of the total. This is why replacement jobs always cost more than first-time pours.
Worked Example 2: New Sidewalk Along Long Property Edge (No Demo)
A homeowner wants a new 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk along the side yard of their property, connecting the backyard gate to the driveway. No existing concrete to remove. The run is 60 linear feet.
Scope: New 60-linear-foot, 5-foot-wide sidewalk, 4-inch slab, broom finish, straight run, no permit required.
| Line Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation and 4-inch gravel base | 300 sf x $2.00 | $600 |
| Ready-mix concrete (4.0 yd + 10%) | 4.4 yd at $150 | $660 |
| Short-load fee (borderline - check plant) | 4.4 yd, may apply | $0 - $125 |
| Forms (straight lumber, 2x4) | 60 LF x $0.60 | $36 |
| Wire mesh reinforcement | 300 sf x $0.20 | $60 |
| Control joints (every 5 ft, tooled at pour) | Included in labor | — |
| Pour, screed, and broom finish labor | 300 sf x $8.00 | $2,400 |
| Cleanup | Flat | $75 |
Total: approximately $3,831, or $63.85 per linear foot
Clean, straightforward new pour. Lower per-foot cost than the replacement example even though the walk is wider, because there is no demo in the number.
Regional Pricing Variation
Labor rates and concrete prices swing significantly by region. Markets like Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, and New York run 25 to 50 percent higher on labor. Southern and Midwest markets often run 15 to 25 percent below the averages shown. Rural areas with longer haul times from the batch plant pay more per yard.
Seasonal demand adds to this. Concrete work in northern climates peaks hard in spring, and peak-season bids reflect that competition for crew time.
Common Mistakes on Sidewalk Estimates
Forgetting the short-load fee. A short walk might only need 1.5 to 2 yards. The truck still rolls, and the plant still charges a minimum. Ask before you price.
Not pricing curves separately. Any radius or bend in the walk means flexible forming, more stakes, and more labor. A curved walk easily adds $200 to $500 in forming cost versus a straight run.
Leaving demo out of the bid. Ask upfront if there is existing concrete. Demo and disposal can add 25 to 40 percent to the total on a replacement job.
Ignoring control joints. Concrete shrinks as it cures. Tooled joints every 5 to 8 feet give it a place to crack that you control. Skip them and the slab cracks randomly.
Underpricing access difficulty. Narrow gates, slopes, overhead obstacles - if the truck cannot get the chute close to the pour, someone is moving concrete by hand. Price it that way.
Try EstimationPro free to build concrete sidewalk estimates from site photos and project notes, with AI-generated material quantities and line-item pricing you can review and adjust before sending to clients.
FAQ
How much does it cost to pour a concrete sidewalk per foot?
Standard 4-foot-wide, 4-inch residential sidewalk: $35 to $55 per linear foot installed. Narrower 3-foot walks: $25 to $40. Wider 5-foot walks: $45 to $65. All new pours, no demo included.
What does it cost to replace an existing concrete sidewalk?
Add $10 to $25 per linear foot for demo and disposal. A job that is $40 per foot as a new pour will run $50 to $65 per foot on a replacement once haul-off is included. Tree roots push that higher.
How thick should a residential concrete sidewalk be?
4 inches is standard for light-traffic residential walkways. Go to 5 inches in freeze-thaw climates, on soft soil, or anywhere a vehicle might cut the corner. Thickness is one of the cheapest upgrades in concrete. A few extra dollars per yard beats the cost of replacing a failed slab.
Do I need a permit to pour a concrete sidewalk?
Private property walkways usually do not require a permit. Work in the public right-of-way almost always does, sometimes with a separate right-of-way contractor license requirement. Always check with the local building or public works department first.
How long does it take to pour a concrete sidewalk?
A 50-to-60-foot walk can be poured and finished in a single day by a two-person crew. Demo is usually done the day before. Concrete reaches walking strength in 24 to 48 hours and full strength at 28 days.
What is a control joint and why does it matter?
Control joints are shallow tooled lines placed every 5 to 8 feet. They create intentional weak points so the concrete cracks there instead of randomly across the face. Skip them and you get random cracking. Include them and you control where it happens.
How many cubic yards of concrete does a sidewalk need?
A 4-inch slab uses about 1.23 cubic yards per 100 square feet, plus 10% waste. A 4x50-foot walk needs about 2.7 yards. A 5x60-foot walk needs about 4.1 yards. Use the Concrete Calculator for exact dimensions and Concrete Cost Per Yard to price the materials.
Try EstimationPro free and stop rebuilding your sidewalk estimates from scratch on every job.
Pricing in this guide reflects national average ranges as of early 2026. Local labor rates, concrete plant pricing, and permit fee schedules vary significantly by region. Markets in the Pacific Northwest, Northeast, and California typically run 25-50% above these averages. Southern and Midwest markets often run 10-25% below. Always get current local quotes before finalizing a bid.
Get Free Estimating Tips
Enter your email and we'll send you pro tips, cost data, and useful resources for contractors.
We'll send helpful resources and occasional tips. Unsubscribe anytime.
EstimationPro AI For Contractors, By Contractors Price Every Job With Confidence
Stop second-guessing your numbers. EstimationPro AI builds accurate estimates from real cost data.