Concrete Patio Cost in St. Louis, MO
Homeowner estimates · Updated 2026-11-03
Homeowners in St. Louis, MO typically pay $732–$3,312 total for a residential patio (200–400 sq ft) ($3.66–$8.28 per sq ft installed). Estimated from 33 MoDOT bid contracts, adjusted for residential market rates.
Typical Homeowner Cost
Low
$3.66
per sq ft
Mid
$6
per sq ft
High
$8.28
per sq ft
How this estimate is built ▾
Step 1 — DOT bid data
33 MoDOT bid tabulations, St. Louis District bid contracts (2023–25) → p25/p75 installed $/sq ft at prevailing wage rates.
Step 2 — Residential adjustment
BLS open-shop wage $33.35/hr ÷ MoDOT bid tabulations, St. Louis District prevailing wage $58.59/hr × 50% labor share → homeowner estimate is 62% of contractor rate.
Step 3 — Local indices
Labor index: 21% above national (BLS OES, cement masons). Material index: national average (USGS aggregate prices).
Step 4 — Project type
Patio complexity multiplier: 0.95×–1.25× applied to base flatwork rate.
Contractor / Professional Rate(government & commercial projects)▾
Low
$5.91
per sq ft
Mid
$10
per sq ft
High
$13.36
per sq ft
Sourced from 33 MoDOT bid tabulations, St. Louis District bid contracts (2023–25). These prices reflect government and commercial work where contractors are legally required to pay prevailing wages — typically 20–40% above open-shop residential rates.
DOT Verified — MoDOT bid tabulations, St. Louis District (2023–25)↗St. Louis's heavy freeze-thaw cycling makes the choice of finish and slab reinforcement critical for patios — trowel-finished surfaces scale faster than broom-finish under deicing salt, and air-entrained concrete is required for any exterior slab expected to survive more than a few winters. At $3.66–$8.28/SF, St. Louis is one of the most affordable markets for concrete patio in this dataset — ranking 2nd of 30 tracked metros, below the dataset median of $5.59/SF.
St. Louis has variable soils — stable loess deposits on the bluffs, while river-bottom alluvial areas near the Missouri and Mississippi require more careful assessment; clay content in most residential areas is moderate. Costs rise with decorative finishes — stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, or acid-stained surfaces typically add $3–8/sq ft over a plain pour. Site access, drainage slope, and any existing hardscape removal all factor into your final quote. St. Louis's affordable labor market keeps flatwork pricing 5–10% below the Midwest average; contractor supply is adequate with typical 2–3 week lead times for standard residential work.
Cost Breakdown
| Component | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete (per yd³) | $130–$200 |
| Labor, base, forms & overhead | $2.06–$4.58/sq ft |
| Total installed (materials + labor + site prep) | $3.66–$8.28/sq ft |
Total reflects typical homeowner pricing, estimated from 33 MoDOT bid tabulations, St. Louis District bid contracts (2023–25) adjusted for residential market rates. Ready-mix from national rates × local material index. Actual contractor quotes may vary.
The middle row is what local prices leave once the concrete is taken out, so besides crew labor it carries the gravel base, forms, reinforcement and contractor overhead. Crew labor alone, scaled from the national $3–8/sq ft by St. Louis, MO's cement mason wage ($33.35/hr, BLS May 2025), comes to about $3.60–$9.70/sq ft. How concrete labor is priced
St. Louis Market Conditions
Data source
33 public contracts
MoDOT bid tabulations, St. Louis District (2023–25)
↗ sourceresidential: −38%
Climate
cold humid
Labor market
21% above avg
Best pour season
May through October
Dataset rank
2 of 30 markets
- —St.
- —Louis occupies a geographic crossroads position in the concrete cost landscape: below the Frost Belt pricing of Chicago and Detroit, above the warm-climate efficiency of the Sun Belt.
- —The metro records 80–100 freeze-thaw cycles per year — enough to require air-entrained concrete (4–6% air) for outdoor flatwork, but a milder freeze exposure than Minneapolis or Detroit.
- —The Missouri River valley soils include silty clay in floodplain areas and well-graded loam in the upland suburbs, with moderate expansion potential that requires proper compaction but no special engineering provisions in most residential contexts.
- —The construction market in St.
- —Louis is stable but not booming; contractor availability is generally good, and the competitive non-union residential market in St.
- —Louis County, Jefferson County, and St.
- —Charles County keeps pricing reasonable.
- —Ready-mix pricing benefits from Mississippi River aggregate availability and a well-distributed plant network.
- —The working season runs April through November; late fall and early spring work requires cold-weather provisions but is feasible.
- —St.
- —Louis represents a good value proposition for homeowners: skilled contractor base, moderate material costs, and a labor market that hasn't seen the tech-sector inflation affecting Austin or Seattle.
- —Pricing sits at roughly the national median, making it a reliable baseline comparison point.
St. Louis Site Conditions for Concrete
Freeze-thaw exposure
74.8 cycles/yr · High
Specify air-entrained concrete (5.5-7.5% air) for exterior work.
SlabCalc Freeze-Thaw Index →Expansive soil risk
38/100 · Low
Standard slab-on-grade detailing is usually adequate. Confirm drainage moves water away from the slab edge.
SlabCalc Soil Risk Index →How St. Louis prices compare nationally: SlabCalc Concrete Cost Index.
Concrete vs. Alternatives — Patio Cost Comparison
| Material (local estimates) | Installed Cost | Lifespan | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (this market) | $3.66–$8.28/sq ft | 30–50 years | Seal every 3–5 yrs |
| Concrete pavers | $5–$17/sq ft | 30–50 years | Repoint joints every 5–10 yrs |
| Natural stone (flagstone) | $7–$25/sq ft | 50+ years | Seal periodically |
| Composite decking | $5–$18/sq ft | 25–30 years | Annual cleaning |
Alternative costs are St. Louis-market estimates derived from typical cost relationships to local concrete prices.
Hiring Tips — St. Louis Concrete Patio
- →Specify air-entrained concrete (5–8% air content) — mandatory for any exterior slab exposed to freeze-thaw cycles.
- →Schedule pours between May and September; cold-weather provisions (heated enclosures, curing blankets) add $1–3/sq ft outside this window.
- →Specify air-entrained concrete and seal the surface within the first year — St. Louis uses heavy road salts in winter, and the combination of 80+ freeze-thaw cycles and salt exposure destroys non-air-entrained, unsealed surfaces within three to five years.
- →Get at least 3 bids and cross-check contractor reviews against local permit records, not just review platforms.
- →Stamped or colored concrete adds $3–8/sq ft over a plain broom finish; request it as a separate line item so quotes are comparable.
Related Guides
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Estimated concrete cost (materials + delivery) · For projects over 1 cubic yard, ready-mix is typically more economical and easier to work with.
157 bags × 80lb
3.48 cubic yards + delivery
256 sq ft × $2.06–$4.58/sq ft
Based on 2023–26 public bid data for this market. Actual contractor quotes may vary.
Hiring a contractor for this pour? See volume ↓
Includes 10% waste factor
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