If you’ve ever searched “concrete slab cost” and gotten a range so wide it was useless, you’re not alone. Seeing “$4 to $28 per square foot” doesn’t help you plan a budget or write a bid.

After pouring and pricing slabs for over 20 years, I can tell you the real answer depends on three things: thickness, reinforcement, and finish. Once you nail down those three variables, the math gets predictable.

This guide breaks down actual costs by slab thickness, explains when rebar beats wire mesh, and walks through finish options from basic broom to decorative stamped. If you want to skip straight to the numbers, plug your dimensions into our concrete calculator and it’ll handle the volume math for you.

Concrete Slab Cost by Thickness

Thickness is the single biggest driver of material cost. More concrete per square foot means more yards to order.

Here’s what you’re looking at for material cost alone (concrete at $130-$150 per cubic yard delivered):

4-Inch Slab (Standard Residential)

Coverage: 81 square feet per cubic yard
Material cost: $1.60-$1.85 per square foot
Best for: Patios, walkways, garage floors, light-duty shed pads

A 4-inch slab is the default for most residential work. It handles foot traffic, patio furniture, and normal garage use without issue, as long as you’ve got a proper compacted base underneath.

6-Inch Slab (Heavy Duty)

Coverage: 54 square feet per cubic yard
Material cost: $2.40-$2.80 per square foot
Best for: Driveways, heavy equipment pads, poor soil conditions, RV parking

You’re using 50% more concrete than a 4-inch slab, and you’ll feel it in the budget. But for anything that carries vehicle weight or sits on clay soil, this is where you want to be. Skimping on thickness to save money is the kind of shortcut that cracks in year two.

8-Inch Slab (Commercial/Structural)

Coverage: 40.5 square feet per cubic yard
Material cost: $3.20-$3.70 per square foot
Best for: Commercial floors, heavy equipment, structural foundations, loading docks

Most residential projects don’t need 8 inches. If your engineer is specifying it, you’re dealing with serious loads or challenging soil. The material cost is roughly double a 4-inch slab.

Quick volume check: Use our concrete cost per yard calculator to see exactly how many yards your project needs before you start pricing.

Rebar vs Wire Mesh: Cost and When Each Makes Sense

Reinforcement is the second major cost variable. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Wire Mesh (Welded Wire Fabric)

Material cost: $0.15-$0.35 per square foot
Install time: Fast, rolls out in sheets
Best for: Standard 4-inch residential slabs on stable, compacted soil

Wire mesh prevents small cracks from spreading. It’s fine for patios and walkways where the loads are predictable and the ground is solid. I’ve used it on hundreds of residential pours without issues.

The catch: wire mesh doesn’t add structural strength. If the ground shifts, the slab still cracks. The mesh just keeps the pieces together.

Rebar (#3 and #4 Bar)

Material cost: $0.50-$1.25 per square foot (depends on spacing)
Install time: Slower, needs to be tied and chaired
Best for: Driveways, 6”+ slabs, expansive soils, any slab carrying vehicle weight

Rebar adds real structural strength. A rebar grid on 18-inch centers with proper chairs (to keep it centered in the slab) gives you a slab that can handle ground movement without cracking apart.

My rule of thumb: If the slab is 6 inches or thicker, use rebar. If it’s carrying vehicles, use rebar. If the soil is clay or has any history of settling, use rebar. The extra $0.50-$1.00 per square foot is cheap insurance compared to tearing out and replacing a cracked slab.

Fiber Mesh (Additive)

Material cost: $5-$7 per cubic yard (added at the plant)
Best for: Supplemental crack control on any slab

Fiber mesh isn’t a replacement for rebar, but it’s a great addition. The small fibers distributed throughout the mix reduce surface cracking during curing. I add it to almost every pour now because the cost is minimal and the results are measurable.

Finishing Options and What They Cost

The finish is where the per-square-foot price can jump significantly. Here are the most common options.

Broom Finish

Added cost: $0.00-$0.50 per square foot (included in most bids)
What it is: A broom dragged across wet concrete for traction
Best for: Driveways, walkways, pool decks, any surface that needs grip

This is the standard. It’s practical, it looks clean, and it costs nothing extra in most markets. If someone just says “concrete slab,” this is what they’re getting.

Smooth/Trowel Finish

Added cost: $0.50-$1.00 per square foot
What it is: Power-troweled to a smooth, flat surface
Best for: Garage floors, indoor slabs, surfaces that will be coated or painted

Requires more labor and timing. The finisher needs to hit it at exactly the right stage of curing. Get it wrong and you’ve got a weak surface layer.

Exposed Aggregate

Added cost: $2.00-$4.00 per square foot
What it is: Top layer washed away to expose decorative stone in the mix
Best for: Patios, driveways, decorative walkways

Popular in the Pacific Northwest. Looks great, holds up well, and provides natural traction. The catch is you need an aggregate mix (custom order from the plant) and the wash timing is critical.

Stamped Concrete

Added cost: $4.00-$10.00 per square foot
What it is: Patterns stamped into wet concrete with color added
Best for: Patios, pool surrounds, decorative driveways

This is where concrete starts competing with pavers on price. A stamped patio can look like flagstone, brick, or tile at a fraction of the cost. But the labor is significantly more, and you need an experienced finisher. Bad stamped concrete looks worse than plain broom finish.

Polished Concrete

Added cost: $3.00-$8.00 per square foot
What it is: Ground, honed, and sealed for a high-gloss look
Best for: Interior floors, showrooms, modern patios

Polishing is typically done after the concrete has cured, not during the pour. It’s a separate process and often a separate contractor.

Total Installed Cost: Putting It All Together

Here’s what a complete installed concrete slab typically costs when you add materials, labor, base prep, forms, and finishing.

Slab Type	Thickness	Installed Cost/SF	400 SF Slab Total
Basic broom finish	4”	$6-$10	$2,400-$4,000
Broom with rebar	6”	$8-$14	$3,200-$5,600
Exposed aggregate	4”	$10-$16	$4,000-$6,400
Stamped concrete	4”	$12-$22	$4,800-$8,800
Polished interior	4”	$10-$18	$4,000-$7,200

These numbers include concrete, labor, forming, base prep (4” compacted gravel), and the specified finish. They don’t include excavation for new work, demolition of existing slabs, or unusual site access issues like pumping.

Regional Cost Differences

Concrete pricing varies more by region than most people realize.

Southeast US: Lowest costs. Labor is cheaper, aggregate is plentiful. Expect the low end of ranges above.
Midwest: Mid-range pricing. Freeze-thaw requirements often mean air-entrained mix, which adds $5-$10 per yard.
Pacific Northwest: Mid to high range. Rain delays, higher labor rates, and shorter pouring seasons push costs up.
Northeast: Higher labor rates and shorter seasons. Expect 15-25% above national averages.
West Coast (CA): Highest. Labor, permits, and material costs are all premium.

Pro tip: Always get quotes from 2-3 local ready-mix suppliers. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive can be $20-$30 per yard in the same metro area.

How to Estimate Your Concrete Slab Cost

Here’s the fastest way to ballpark your project:

Calculate your volume. Use our concrete calculator with your length, width, and thickness.
Pick your reinforcement. Wire mesh for standard 4” residential, rebar for 6”+ or vehicle traffic.
Choose your finish. Broom is standard. Add $2-$10/SF for decorative options.
Add labor and prep. Figure $3-$6/SF for forming, base prep, pour, and finish labor.
Add 10% for waste and overages. This is non-negotiable. Running short mid-pour is the most expensive mistake you can make.

For a deeper look at concrete patio pricing specifically, including labor breakdowns and material costs by component, check out our guide on concrete patio cost per square foot. And if you’re calculating volume for a patio project, our step-by-step walkthrough on how to calculate concrete for a patio covers rectangular, L-shaped, and curved layouts. For a full slab cost breakdown across all common types including garage floors, driveways, and warehouse slabs, the concrete slab cost per square foot guide includes a quick-reference pricing table and regional cost factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 20x20 concrete slab cost?

A 20x20 slab (400 square feet) at 4 inches thick needs about 2.5 cubic yards of concrete. With a basic broom finish, expect $2,400-$4,000 installed. Stamped or decorative finishes push that to $4,800-$8,800.

Is a 4-inch slab thick enough for a garage?

For standard passenger vehicles, yes. A 4-inch slab with wire mesh on a compacted gravel base handles cars and light trucks fine. If you’re parking heavy equipment or an RV, go to 6 inches with rebar.

How much does it cost to pour a 10x10 concrete slab?

A 10x10 slab (100 square feet) at 4 inches thick is a small pour, about 0.37 cubic yards. Material cost is minimal, but most ready-mix companies charge a short-load fee for anything under 3 yards. Budget $800-$1,500 installed for a basic finish, or consider bagged concrete for a slab this small.

Should I use concrete or pavers?

Concrete wins on cost for large flat areas. Pavers win on repairability (you can replace individual units) and don’t crack from ground movement. For a standard patio or driveway, concrete is typically 30-50% cheaper installed. Stamped concrete closes that gap but still usually comes in under pavers.

How long does a concrete slab last?

A properly poured and finished concrete slab on a good base lasts 25-50 years with minimal maintenance. Sealing every 2-3 years extends the life and appearance. The biggest enemy is water getting under the slab and eroding the base, which causes settling and cracking.

Bottom Line

Concrete slab cost comes down to thickness, reinforcement, and finish. A basic 4-inch broom-finished slab on a good base runs $6-$10 per square foot installed. Decorative options push that to $12-$22 per square foot. Know your soil conditions, choose the right thickness for your loads, and don’t skip the reinforcement.

If you’re estimating a driveway slab specifically, our guide on how much concrete do I need for a driveway covers the thickness recommendations, apron calculations, and waste factors unique to driveways. And for the full estimating process that turns these numbers into a profitable bid, see how to estimate construction jobs.

Ready to price your slab? Run your dimensions through our concrete calculator to get volume and material estimates, then use the concrete cost per yard tool to dial in your local pricing.

Brad is a third-generation contractor with over 20 years of experience in residential concrete and remodeling. He’s the founder of EstimationPro.AI, helping contractors and homeowners estimate projects accurately.

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