Homeowners and contractors both ask me this: “What does a concrete slab cost per square foot?” And my honest answer is always the same: it depends, but I can give you numbers that are actually useful instead of the useless “it varies” answer you get from most websites.
I’ve poured concrete in the Pacific Northwest and across the country, from backyard patios to warehouse floors. I’ve bought ready-mix in markets ranging from $95 a yard to $175 a yard. I know what drives these costs and where you have room to move on the numbers.
Here’s the real breakdown for 2026.
Concrete Slab Cost Per Square Foot: Quick Reference
Installed cost (materials + labor):
| Slab Type | Thickness | Cost Per Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|
| Patio | 4 inches | $6 - $12 |
| Garage floor | 4-6 inches | $7 - $14 |
| Driveway | 4-6 inches | $8 - $15 |
| Warehouse / industrial | 6-8 inches | $10 - $20 |
| Pool deck | 4 inches | $8 - $16 |
| Basement floor | 4 inches | $5 - $10 |
These are total installed costs including site prep, forming, pouring, finishing, and basic reinforcement. They do not include demolition, drainage work, or decorative finishes.
What Drives Concrete Slab Cost
Before you get a quote, understand what you’re actually paying for. A concrete job has four real cost components.
1. Material Cost (Concrete)
Concrete is priced by the cubic yard, delivered. In 2026, that runs $110 to $165 per yard depending on your region, the mix spec, and how much you’re ordering.
For a 4-inch slab, you need roughly 1.23 cubic yards per 100 square feet (before waste). A 20x24 garage floor (480 sq ft) needs about 6.5 to 7 yards. At $130/yard, that’s $845 to $910 in concrete alone.
To figure out your specific yardage, use the concrete calculator. To check current ready-mix pricing in your area, the concrete cost per yard calculator has regional data.
2. Labor Cost
Labor is where the biggest variation happens. In high cost-of-living markets like Seattle, San Francisco, or New York, expect $5-8 per square foot for labor. In mid-range markets, $3-5 is typical. Rural areas might come in around $2.50-4.
What’s included in labor:
- Site prep and grading (sometimes bid separately)
- Form building and setting
- Placing and screeding the concrete
- Finishing (troweling, broom finish, edging)
- Curing and sealing (sometimes separate)
3. Reinforcement
Most residential slabs use either wire mesh or rebar. There’s a real debate about which is better. My take: rebar is stronger, especially for anything over 4 inches thick or anywhere that sees vehicle traffic.
Wire mesh (welded wire fabric): $0.15 - $0.30 per sq ft Rebar (typical residential grid): $0.50 - $1.25 per sq ft
For a garage floor, I always recommend rebar over mesh. Mesh can shift during the pour and end up at the bottom of the slab where it does almost nothing. Rebar on chairs stays in position.
Use the rebar spacing calculator to figure out how much rebar you need and at what spacing for your specific slab.
4. Site Prep and Sub-Base
This is where jobs get more expensive than people expect. A proper sub-base is 4-6 inches of compacted gravel. If your site needs significant grading or excavation, that cost is separate and can run $500 to $2,000+ depending on scope.
Skipping the sub-base to save money is the wrong call. A slab poured on unstable or poorly prepared ground will crack and settle, no matter how good the concrete is. The sub-base is what holds it.
Cost by Slab Type
Patio Slab: $6 to $12 Per Square Foot
A standard 4-inch patio slab is the most budget-friendly option. At $6-12 installed, a 400 sq ft patio runs $2,400 to $4,800 total.
What affects patio cost most:
- Shape: Rectangular is cheapest. Curved edges, angles, and custom shapes add form-building time.
- Finish: Basic broom finish is standard. Exposed aggregate, stamped patterns, or colored concrete add $3-8 per sq ft.
- Drainage requirements: If the site doesn’t drain naturally, you may need additional grading or a drain system.
For complete patio cost details including labor and materials broken out, see the guide on concrete patio cost per square foot with labor and materials.
Garage Floor: $7 to $14 Per Square Foot
Garage floors are one of the most common pours I see on residential jobs. They need to be thicker than a patio (5-6 inches is standard if you’re parking vehicles on it) and they need better reinforcement.
A standard 2-car garage is 20x20 to 20x24 feet (400 to 480 sq ft). At $7-14 per sq ft, that’s $2,800 to $6,720 installed.
Key cost factors for garage floors:
- Thickness: 4 inches is the minimum. 5 inches if you’re storing anything heavy. 6 inches for trucks or larger equipment.
- Control joints: Properly spaced control joints prevent random cracking. They should be cut within 24 hours of pour. This is included in a professional job.
- Surface finish: Bare concrete is fine for most garages. Epoxy coating adds $3-5 per sq ft on top of the slab cost.
Driveway: $8 to $15 Per Square Foot
Driveways take more abuse than any other residential slab. Vehicle weight, freeze-thaw cycles, deicing chemicals, all of it works against the concrete over time.
A standard single-car driveway is about 10-12 feet wide and 20-25 feet long (200-300 sq ft). A double-wide is 18-20 feet wide. At $8-15 per sq ft, a 250 sq ft driveway runs $2,000 to $3,750.
What increases driveway cost:
- Thicker concrete: I always recommend 5-6 inches minimum for driveways. Heavy trucks and SUVs add up.
- Rebar vs. mesh: Go with rebar on driveways, period.
- Slope and drainage: A driveway needs to drain away from the house. If your site doesn’t cooperate with that naturally, it costs more to engineer it.
- Tear-out of existing concrete: Add $1-3 per sq ft for demolition and hauling.
Warehouse and Industrial Slab: $10 to $20 Per Square Foot
Commercial and industrial floors are a different world. Thicker, higher-strength concrete, more rebar, sometimes post-tension cables or fiber reinforcement, and much tighter tolerances on flatness.
A basic warehouse floor at 6 inches thick with #4 rebar on 12-inch centers costs $10-14 per sq ft. Add polishing or surface hardeners and you’re at $14-20.
For large commercial jobs, the material and labor costs start to look more favorable per square foot because of volume efficiencies. But spec compliance, inspection requirements, and contractor overhead all factor in.
How Thickness Affects Cost
Every extra inch of thickness adds concrete volume and cost. Here’s how the math works on a 1,000 sq ft slab.
| Thickness | Cubic Yards | Material Cost (at $130/yd) | Added Cost vs. 4” |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 inches | 12.3 yards | $1,599 | - |
| 5 inches | 15.4 yards | $2,002 | +$403 |
| 6 inches | 18.5 yards | $2,405 | +$806 |
| 8 inches | 24.7 yards | $3,211 | +$1,612 |
Add proportional labor increases for thicker pours, typically 10-20% more per inch of additional thickness, because you’re moving more material, screeding takes longer, and finishing takes more passes.
Rebar and Wire Mesh Costs
Reinforcement adds to upfront cost but extends slab life significantly. Skipping it to save a few hundred dollars on a 20-year investment is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Wire mesh (6x6, 10/10 gauge):
- Material: $0.10-0.20/sq ft
- Installation: $0.05-0.15/sq ft
- Total: $0.15-0.35/sq ft
Rebar (#3 bar at 18” on center):
- Material: $0.30-0.50/sq ft
- Installation: $0.20-0.40/sq ft
- Total: $0.50-0.90/sq ft
Rebar (#4 bar at 12” on center, garage or driveway spec):
- Material: $0.45-0.75/sq ft
- Installation: $0.30-0.50/sq ft
- Total: $0.75-1.25/sq ft
Use the rebar spacing calculator to find the exact bar count and total linear feet for your project dimensions and spacing.
Regional Pricing Factors
The biggest variable in concrete cost is where you’re building. Labor rates drive more of the price difference than material costs, though concrete prices vary regionally too.
High-cost markets (California, Pacific Northwest, Northeast):
- Ready-mix: $140-165/yard
- Labor: $5-8/sq ft
- Installed total: often 30-50% above national average
Mid-range markets (Midwest, Mountain West, South):
- Ready-mix: $110-140/yard
- Labor: $3-5/sq ft
- Close to the national averages quoted above
Lower-cost markets (rural areas, lower labor markets):
- Ready-mix: $95-120/yard
- Labor: $2.50-4/sq ft
- Installed total: 15-25% below national average
Always get quotes from local contractors. The numbers above are guides, not guarantees. A local contractor who knows the market, the soil conditions, and the local suppliers will give you a more accurate number than any national average.
When to Hire a Contractor vs. DIY
I’ll be straight with you: pouring concrete is hard physical work with a very short window to get it right. Once you call for a pour, the clock is running. You can’t pause it.
DIY Makes Sense When:
- Project is under 200 sq ft
- It’s a low-stakes pad (utility shed, small patio, stepping stones)
- You have experience or a very experienced helper
- You have easy truck access
- Weather is perfect and you have a clear schedule
Hire a Professional When:
- Slab is for a garage, driveway, or anything structural
- Project is over 200 sq ft
- Drainage, slope, or site conditions are complicated
- You need it done right the first time
- You don’t have the crew, tools, or physical stamina for the work
A bad concrete pour is expensive to fix. The slab has to be broken up, hauled away, and started over. There’s no patching a major mistake. When in doubt, hire someone who does this every week.
For estimating the full cost of your project including permits, labor, and materials, the construction cost estimator can help you build a complete budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 20x20 concrete slab cost?
A 20x20 slab is 400 sq ft. At $7-12 per sq ft installed, expect $2,800 to $4,800 for a standard 4-inch patio or shed pad. A garage floor spec (5 inches, rebar) runs $3,500 to $5,600.
How much does a 12x12 concrete slab cost?
At 144 sq ft and $6-12 per sq ft, a 12x12 patio or utility pad runs $864 to $1,728 installed. Small jobs often carry a minimum charge from contractors, so the per-square-foot cost may be higher for small pads.
Is concrete or asphalt cheaper for a driveway?
Asphalt runs $3-7 per sq ft installed vs. $8-15 for concrete. Asphalt is cheaper upfront but needs resealing every 3-5 years and full replacement in 20 years. Concrete lasts 30-50 years with minimal maintenance. Over time, concrete is usually the better investment.
Does a concrete slab need rebar?
Technically, small patios and walkways can skip rebar with wire mesh as a substitute. But for anything structural, anything with vehicle traffic, or anything in a freeze-thaw climate, rebar is the right call. The extra cost is minor compared to the cost of a cracked slab in five years.
How long does a concrete slab take to cure?
Concrete is typically safe for foot traffic in 24-48 hours and vehicle traffic in 7 days. It reaches full design strength (usually 3,000-4,000 PSI) at 28 days. Don’t put heavy loads on it before that point.
Concrete is one of those materials where accurate estimating upfront saves you from real financial pain later. Know your slab type, thickness, reinforcement requirements, and local labor rates before you start getting bids. The numbers in this guide will help you walk into that conversation with realistic expectations on both sides.
For a deeper look at how all the cost variables stack up by thickness and finish type, see the concrete slab cost calculator guide. And if you want to compare the free tools contractors actually use to run these numbers, the best concrete calculators comparison for 2026 covers five tested options side by side.
Brad is a licensed contractor with 20+ years of experience in residential remodeling and concrete work. He’s the founder of EstimationPro.AI, built to help contractors produce accurate estimates without the guesswork.
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