How Much Does Concrete Cost Per Square Foot?
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A concrete slab is composed of wet cement and additional materials such as gravel. The mix is poured onto a gravel bed framed with standard 2x4 or 2x6 pieces of lumber. After the concrete has cured, the formwork is removed, leaving behind a fully formed slab of concrete.
Despite being used interchangeably with cement, the two are different construction materials. Concrete is a mixture of different substances, including cement, and is more durable and flexible. It can offer multiple shapes, textures, and colors to your structure, and if maintained well could even last for more than a hundred years.
Pouring a concrete slab typically costs between $4 and $8 per square foot. However, many factors can impact its total costs, such as the size of the concrete slab, the thickness of the slab, reinforcements, labor costs, type of finishing, and type of project. In this guide, learn what the cost is of concrete per square foot and the different factors that impact it.
Disclaimer: The pricing stated here is based on average data from third-party research. Prices may still vary due to differences in seasonality and supplier.
Slab of Concrete Prices Per Square Foot
On the low end, a concrete slab costs around $4 per square foot. On the high-end, it costs up to $8 per square foot. The national average is around $6.60 per square foot including materials and labor, but the final price can be influenced by many factors such as the size and thickness of the slab or the presence of reinforcements. Reinforced concrete cost between $9.29 to $10.04 per square foot.
Average Concrete Cost Per Square Foot
The bar chart below shows the low-end, high-end, and national average costs of concrete slabs per square foot.
Cost To Install Concrete Slab
Installing a concrete slab with a 4” thickness costs around $5.35 per square foot. For a 6” slab with thicker edges, it costs as high as $10.55 per square foot, especially if it has styrofoam beneath the slab and wire mesh.
Labor Cost For Concrete Slabs
It takes a lot of time and effort to lay a concrete slab or pour the concrete. In addition, jobs like demolition, reinforcement, and edging require specialized expertise and equipment. The average labor cost for pouring concrete is about $45 per hour or $2.50 per square foot. Labor costs for specifically removing forms and bracing, cleaning, and stacking on the job site range from $0.30 - $0.60 per square foot. Typically, labor makes up half to a third of the total average cost.
The concrete slabs are poured either off-site or on-site depending on the project size. For example, smaller slabs for a hot tub base can be poured off-site and then delivered to the job site. However, large slabs, such as those used for driveways, must be poured onsite.
Other Factors Impacting the Price of Concrete Per Square Foot
While the size of the concrete slab can significantly influence the concrete prices, multiple other factors can impact the final costs, including thickness, reinforcements, and concrete applications. Read further to learn more about each factor.
- Size of Concrete Slab
The size of the concrete slab will influence the total cost. A basic 64 square feet or 8 x 8 slab can cost $278 - $495. Meanwhile, a 3,200 square feet or 40 x 80 concrete slab cost a minimum of $13,888 and go as high as $24,736.
Average Concrete Prices Per Size
The table below shows the low-end, high-end, and average costs of concrete slabs depending on their size.
Source: Data taken from LawnStarter
Average Concrete Prices Per Size
The chart below shows the low-end (blue), high-end (yellow), and average costs (red) of concrete slabs depending on their size.
- The Thickness of the Concrete Slab
A standard concrete slab is typically 4 to 6 inches thick with a thicker six-inches slab costing around $0.50 to $1 more than a four-inches slab. This thickness is recommended for minimal traffic structures such as patios, walkways, garages, and driveways.
However, concrete slabs for driveways can be as thick as eight inches due to their need to withstand heavy vehicles. The average cost per square foot of a four inches slab is around $5.35. A five inches slab cost around $5.78, and a six inches slab cost around $6.19.
Average Concrete Prices Depending on the Thickness
The chart below shows the price of the concrete depending on its thickness. Thicker concrete slabs are more durable, making them more expensive compared to their thinner counterparts.
- Reinforcements
Reinforcements increase the durability, strength, and quality of a concrete slab, and can increase the overall cost. The cost per square foot of reinforced concrete slabs ranges from $9.29 to $10.04, which is $2.69 to $3.44 higher than the average national cost for concrete slabs.
Here are some of the concrete reinforcement options and their advantages.
- Wire Mesh or Rebar Installation - This can improve the strength of the slab and prevents cracks from developing. This type of reinforcement is perfect for concrete driveways because it helps them withstand heavy vehicles. Adding this type of reinforcement can result in an additional $0.35 per square foot.
- Vapor Barrier - This provides a barrier between the concrete and any moist soil underneath. This type of reinforcement can add $0.50 per square foot to the total concrete costs.
- Insulation Installation - Reinforcing concrete floors with 2-inch styrofoam can provide insulation. Doing so can result in an additional cost of $1.25 per square foot.
- Thicker Slab Edges - Increasing the thickness of the concrete’s edges can improve durability and will incur additional costs between $1.00 - $1.75 per square foot.
- Type of Project
There are many ways concrete slabs are used in construction such as a shed’s foundation, a new driveway, or a backyard patio. Each type of project requires different concrete sizes and reinforcements, and will surely impact the final price. Read further to learn more about how the type of application can impact concrete price.
- Concrete Patio
Since a patio does not need to withstand heavy vehicles, it’s typically 4 inches thick and costs between $5.53 - $10.25 per square foot to install. A 10x10 patio with a total of 100 square feet costs between $440 - $1,600. Meanwhile, a patio as large as 20x10, or 200 square feet costs around $880 - $3,200.
Total costs can be impacted by design factors. For example, a simple square patio is more economical compared to those with curves. Despite being aesthetically pleasing, the mold needed to create the curves can add to the final price.
- Concrete Slab For Shed
Like patios, a shed doesn’t need to withstand heavy traffic. Thus, it’s often just 4 inches thick. Concrete slabs for a shed can cost between $670 and $2,690.
Average Concrete Prices Depending on Shed Size
The chart below shows concrete prices as influenced by shed size. The concrete for a smaller 10x10 shed costs $670; meanwhile, the concrete for a larger 20x20 shed can cost as high as $2,690.
- Concrete Slab For Garage
The price for a concrete garage floor is impacted by the size of the slab, thickness, and presence of reinforcement. A 24x24 garage with reinforcements can fit two cars and costs between $4,291 - $4,775 depending on the slab’s thickness.
Average Concrete Prices of a Reinforced 24x24 Garage Floor
The chart below shows concrete prices of a reinforced 24x24 garage floor as influenced by slab thickness.
- Concrete for Driveways
Because driveways need to withstand heavy vehicles, they need a lot of reinforcements to avoid cracking in the concrete. On average, prices for concrete driveways can cost between $8 - $18 per square foot depending on the presence of elaborate designs and finishing.
Average Concrete Prices of a Driveway
The table below shows how elaborate designs and concrete finishes can impact the cost of concrete driveways per square foot.
Source: Concrete Network
Concrete Finishes
The use of concrete has gone beyond functionality. Modern industrial design trends have led to a renewed interest in using concrete to fulfill aesthetic objectives. Adding elaborate concrete finishes and design can increase the final cost from $8 - $18 per square foot. Here are some of the commonly used types of concrete finishes
- Troweled Finish - A troweled finish is the most basic concrete finish that results in a smooth, level, and blemish-free surface. It’s perfect for indoor spaces, walls, and garages.
- Stamped Concrete Finish - Stamped concrete finishes are made by pressing plastic, wood, or metal panels on freshly leveled concrete. It’s perfect for patios, walkways, and recreational parks.
- Exposed Aggregate Finish - This is a popular type of textured concrete finish that’s produced by removing the top layer of freshly poured cement to reveal coarse decorative aggregate. This type of finish is perfect for swimming pools and patios.
- Stenciled finish - This type of finish makes use of paper stencils instead of specialty stamps. It’s perfect for indoor spaces, walkways, and landscaping.
- Colored Finish - Colored concrete can be achieved by adding pigments during the concrete mixing stage or by staining the concrete when it has cured. Colored concrete finishes are suitable for commercial, recreational, and sports facilities.
Speed-Up Cost Estimation for Concrete Projects with Technology
Mixtures of different substances, including cement, make concrete more durable and flexible. If properly maintained, it can last for more than a hundred years, offering a variety of shapes, textures, and colors to your structure. Because of its sturdy and robust design, concrete can also withstand many natural disasters, minimizing the cost of repairs.
Several factors can impact concrete prices per square foot such as labor costs, size, and thickness of the concrete slab, presence of reinforcements, type of finishing, and type of project. For example, a 50x100 concrete slab cost is inevitably higher than a 12x12 concrete slab. In addition, thicker concrete slabs required for driveways will naturally bump up the costs.
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