Concrete Shed Base Cost Calculator
A concrete shed base costs $6–11 per square foot installed — $720–1,320 for a 10×12 shed foundation, or about $250–380 in DIY materials. A gravel pad is the budget option at $1–3 per square foot ($120–360 for 10×12), and pavers fall in between at $4–8. Enter your shed footprint below for the concrete volume and an installed-cost estimate.
Pro Tips
- →Concrete shed bases cost $6-11 per square foot installed
- →A 10x12 ft shed base (120 sq ft) typically costs $720-$1,320 total
- →4 inches thick is standard for most sheds — increase to 6 inches for heavy machinery or vehicles
- →Gravel base underneath (4-6 inches) is essential for drainage and prevents frost heave
- →Small shed slabs (under 1 cubic yard) can often be poured with bagged concrete mix
Estimated concrete cost (materials + delivery) · For projects over 1 cubic yard, ready-mix is typically more economical and easier to work with.
74 bags × 80lb
1.63 cubic yards + delivery
120 sq ft × $3.00–$8.00/sq ft
Based on 2026 U.S. national pricing. Prices vary by location and time — contact local suppliers for accurate quotes.
Includes 10% waste factor
For general step-by-step instructions, read our complete Small Concrete Slab and Gravel Under Concrete.
How Much Does a Concrete Shed Base Cost?
A concrete shed base costs $6–11 per square foot installed for a standard 4-inch slab. The total depends mostly on size, but small pads carry a hidden surcharge: most contractors apply a minimum charge of $500–800 regardless of square footage, because mobilizing a crew, ordering a partial concrete load, and setting forms have fixed costs that don't scale down. That means an 8×8 base and a 10×10 base often cost nearly the same to install.
This page focuses on cost. If you need volume, bag counts, and thickness specs for your pour, use the concrete shed foundation calculator instead.
Concrete Shed Base Cost by Size
The table below uses the $6–11/sq ft installed range across the most common shed footprints. Read the low end as a simple broom-finish slab in a low-cost region and the high end as a slab needing extra gravel, reinforcement, or harder site access.
| Shed Size | Square Feet | Installed Cost ($6–11/sq ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×8 ft | 64 | $500–800 | Usually hits contractor minimum |
| 8×10 ft | 80 | $500–880 | Often at or near minimum |
| 10×12 ft | 120 | $720–1,320 | Most common garden shed size |
| 12×16 ft | 192 | $1,152–2,112 | Large storage / small workshop |
| 12×20 ft | 240 | $1,440–2,640 | Workshop or equipment storage |
For bases under roughly 100 sq ft, expect the $500–800 minimum to set your floor price rather than the per-square-foot rate.
Shed Foundation Cost by Type and Size
Shed foundation cost depends first on the base type and then on size. A 10×12 shed foundation costs $120–360 as a gravel pad, $480–960 as pavers, and $720–1,320 as a concrete slab, installed. The table prices the most common shed sizes across all three.
| Shed Size | Area | Gravel Pad ($1-3/sq ft) | Paver Base ($4-8/sq ft) | Concrete Slab ($6-11/sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8×8 ft | 64 sq ft | $64-192 | $256-512 | $500-800 (minimum) |
| 8×10 ft | 80 sq ft | $80-240 | $320-640 | $500-880 |
| 10×12 ft | 120 sq ft | $120-360 | $480-960 | $720-1,320 |
| 12×16 ft | 192 sq ft | $192-576 | $768-1,536 | $1,152-2,112 |
| 12×20 ft | 240 sq ft | $240-720 | $960-1,920 | $1,440-2,640 |
Gravel and pavers suit lighter plastic, resin, and wood sheds; a concrete slab is the choice for heavy storage, workshops, and anything with a vehicle or ride-on mower inside. Site leveling is part of every installed price above - a sloped lot that needs cut-and-fill or a retaining edge costs extra regardless of base type.
DIY Materials vs. Pro Install
The single biggest cost on a shed base is labor, which is exactly what a DIY pour eliminates. A small rectangular slab is among the most beginner-friendly concrete projects — the form is simple to square up, and the finish is hidden under the shed.
| Shed Size | DIY Materials | Pro Installed | DIY Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×10 ft | $180–280 | $500–880 | ~50–60% |
| 10×12 ft | $250–380 | $720–1,320 | ~50–60% |
| 12×16 ft | $400–600 | $1,152–2,112 | ~45–55% |
| 12×20 ft | $500–750 | $1,440–2,640 | ~45–55% |
DIY material totals include concrete (bagged or a small ready-mix load), 4–6 inches of compacted gravel, and forming lumber. Bases under about 1.5 cubic yards can be poured with bagged mix if you have a mixer; above that, a ready-mix truck is usually cheaper and far less labor. See our DIY vs. contractor cost guide for a full breakdown of where the savings come from.
Base Type Comparison: Concrete vs. Gravel vs. Pavers vs. Grid
Concrete is not the only shed base option, and it is not the cheapest. Here is how the four common base types compare on cost and suitability.
| Base Type | Installed Cost | Best For | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | $6–11/sq ft | Permanent sheds, workshops, heavy storage | Highest cost; permit may apply |
| Gravel pad | $1–3/sq ft | Lightweight plastic/resin sheds | Less stable; pests can enter |
| Paver base | $4–8/sq ft | Mid-weight wood sheds | Labor-intensive to level |
| Plastic grid + gravel | $3–6/sq ft | DIY kits, lighter sheds | Not for heavy loads |
A gravel pad for a 10×12 shed runs roughly $120–360 versus $720–1,320 for concrete. Gravel drains well and installs fast, but concrete is the most durable, rodent-resistant choice and is typically required by code for permanent structures. Whatever you choose, a compacted gravel layer matters — see why gravel under concrete is essential.
Gravel Pad for a Shed: Cost and How Much Gravel
A gravel pad for a shed costs $1–3 per square foot installed, about $120–360 for a 10×12. It is a 4–6 inch layer of compacted 3/4-inch crushed stone inside a timber or composite frame, usually over landscape fabric. DIY, the gravel is the main cost at $15–60 per ton delivered.
| Shed Size | Gravel at 4 in | Gravel at 6 in | Installed Pad ($1-3/sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×10 ft | 1.0 cu yd (~1.4 tons) | 1.5 cu yd (~2.1 tons) | $80-240 |
| 10×12 ft | 1.5 cu yd (~2.1 tons) | 2.2 cu yd (~3.1 tons) | $120-360 |
| 12×16 ft | 2.4 cu yd (~3.3 tons) | 3.6 cu yd (~5.0 tons) | $192-576 |
| 12×20 ft | 3.0 cu yd (~4.1 tons) | 4.4 cu yd (~6.2 tons) | $240-720 |
Tonnage uses about 1.4 tons per cubic yard of gravel; order slightly more to allow for compaction, and extend the pad about 1 foot past the shed walls so roof runoff drains away. The gravel calculator gives exact tons and delivered cost for your footprint, and the same gravel layer is what goes under a concrete slab - see why gravel under concrete matters.
What's Included in a Shed Base Quote
A complete installed-base quote should cover: site excavation and grading, a 4–6 inch compacted gravel sub-base, forms (set and stripped), the concrete itself, placement and a broom finish, and cleanup. For a $900 quote on a 10×12 base, the rough split looks like this:
| Component | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Concrete materials | $180–220 |
| Gravel sub-base | $60–100 |
| Forming lumber and stakes | $40–80 |
| Labor (excavate, pour, finish) | $300–400 |
| Overhead and margin | $140–520 |
Items often not included by default: permits, removal of an existing slab ($2–4/sq ft), reinforcement upgrades (rebar grid adds $0.50–1/sq ft), and significant grading on a sloped site. Confirm inclusions in writing before signing.
Do You Need a Permit?
Many jurisdictions exempt small sheds from a building permit — common thresholds are 120 sq ft or 200 sq ft of floor area (the model IRC, section R105.2, exempts one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft, and many localities adopt a lower 120 sq ft cutoff) — but the cutoff varies widely by city and county, and a permanent concrete slab can trigger its own requirement even when the shed itself is exempt. Setback, zoning, and lot-coverage rules apply regardless of size. Permit fees for residential pours typically run $50–200. Always check with your local building department first; our permit requirements guide explains what to ask.
Thickness and the Bottom Line
4 inches is standard for garden sheds and general storage and is the right choice for the vast majority of projects. Step up to 5–6 inches only if you'll park a vehicle, store a tractor, or run heavy workshop equipment; each extra inch adds roughly $0.30–0.50/sq ft. Don't skimp on the gravel sub-base to save money — a thin or missing gravel layer is the most common cause of slab settling and cracking.
For most homeowners, a 10×12 concrete shed base lands in the $720–1,320 installed range, or about $250–380 in DIY materials. Run your exact footprint through the calculator above, then compare project types with our full concrete cost calculator before you request quotes.