Concrete Costs: What to Budget for Any Project
How much does concrete actually cost? These guides break down pricing by the yard, by the square foot, and by project type — plus what to expect when hiring a contractor and how to compare quotes.
Pricing Guides
How Much Does Concrete Cost Per Yard? (2026 Prices)
Ready-mix concrete costs $145-195 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, but that base price rarely tells the whole story. Between minimum order requirements, short-load fees, and Saturday delivery surcharges, your actual cost can vary significantly from the quoted per-yard rate.
Read Guide →Concrete Cost Per Square Foot (Materials + Installation)
Concrete costs $1-2 per square foot for materials alone, but $6-15 per square foot when professionally installed. The massive gap between those numbers comes down to labor, site preparation, and whether you want a basic gray slab or a decorative finish.
Read Guide →Concrete Labor Cost: 2026 Rates Per Square Foot, Yard & Hour
Concrete labor costs $3–8 per square foot nationally (about $5 typical), which is $243–648 per cubic yard placed as a 4-inch slab. With materials, prep, and forms, installed concrete flatwork runs $6–12 per square foot, so a 20×20 slab costs $2,400–4,800 installed, of which $1,200–3,200 is labor. Local wages move the number most: cement mason pay ranges from $22.88/hour in San Antonio to $40.55/hour in San Francisco.
Read Guide →Concrete Delivery Cost: 1–20 Yards Delivered (2026 Prices)
Delivered ready-mix concrete costs $145–195 per cubic yard in 2026, plus a $50–100 short-load fee on orders under about 4 yards. That puts 1 yard at $195–295, 6 yards at $870–1,170, and 10 yards (a full truck) at $1,450–1,950 before fuel surcharges, weekend fees, or a pump truck. The table below prices every common order size from 1 to 20 yards.
Read Guide →Backyard Concrete Cost: How Much to Concrete a Backyard (2026)
Putting concrete in a backyard costs $6–12 per square foot installed for a standard 4-inch broom-finish slab. A 10×10 pad runs $600–1,200, a 20×20 backyard slab $2,400–4,800, and a 1,200 sq ft yard (30×40) $7,200–14,400. Stamped or decorative finishes run $8–18 per square foot, and tearing out old concrete adds $2–6.
Read Guide →Hiring & Planning
DIY Concrete vs Hiring a Contractor (Honest Cost Comparison)
Pouring concrete yourself saves roughly 20-60% compared to hiring a contractor (about 40% on a typical patio), but those savings come with significant labor, time pressure, and risk. A 12×12 patio might cost $690-880 DIY versus $900-1,700 professional—real savings, but you're trading money for 8-12 hours of hard physical work and the possibility of expensive mistakes.
How to Hire a Concrete Contractor (Step-by-Step)
Hiring the right concrete contractor makes the difference between a project you're proud of and years of regret. Get at least 3-5 quotes, verify licenses and insurance, insist on a written contract, and never pay more than 30% upfront. Rush this process, and you risk hiring someone who'll disappear mid-project or deliver poor work.
15 Questions to Ask a Concrete Contractor Before Hiring
These questions separate professional contractors from those who'll deliver headaches. Ask every candidate the same questions and compare answers. Good contractors answer confidently with specifics. Concerning contractors give vague responses, dodge questions, or pressure you to decide quickly.
Are Contractor Quotes Fair? What 291 Homeowner Discussions Reveal (2026 Study)
We analyzed 291 home-improvement discussions posted between September 2016 and March 2026, and found that 43% raised doubts about whether a contractor's quote was fair — but for most of them the real issue was not the price. It was distrust of the process: surprise fees, no itemization, and no way to tell a fair number from a bad one. The median quote people openly questioned was $1,500, with a middle range of $400 to $5,000. This study breaks down who worries, what they pay, and the four emotions that show up in every thread.
Do You Need a Permit for Concrete Work?
Often not a building permit. The model IRC 2021 (R105.2) exempts sidewalks and driveways, and Seattle exempts patios and slabs poured on grade. Cities can still require a zoning permit, such as the $49 one Shoreview, MN charges for a new or rebuilt driveway, and in Denver a new curb cut triggers right-of-way review. Before you pour a concrete slab, ask your building department.
Concrete Inspection Checklist (What Inspectors Look For)
Building inspectors verify that your concrete work meets local codes before you pour (pre-pour inspection) and sometimes after completion (final inspection). They're checking for proper dimensions, adequate base preparation, correct reinforcement placement, and compliance with approved plans. Knowing what they look for helps you prepare for a successful concrete pour.
Comparing Products
Quikrete vs Sakrete vs Generic Concrete: Which Bag Should You Buy?
Quikrete and Sakrete are equal - buy whichever is cheaper or more available. Generic and store-brand concrete is acceptable for non-structural fill (topping off a post hole, patching a low spot), but skip it for any structural pour - driveways, slabs, footings - where consistent PSI and code compliance matter.
Ready-Mix vs Bagged Concrete: Which Should You Use?
The decision comes down to project size: use bagged concrete for projects under 1 cubic yard (about 45 bags), and ready-mix delivery for anything larger. The break-even point is roughly 1-1.5 cubic yards, where the convenience of ready-mix starts to outweigh the cost savings of bags.
Cost Comparisons & Decision Guides
Bagged vs Ready-Mix Concrete Cost Comparison by Project Size
Bagged concrete is cheaper for anything under 1.5 cubic yards. Ready-mix wins above 2 yards. The crossover is lower than most people expect — a 12×16 patio at 4 inches sits right at the break-even point. For small slabs and footings, skip the truck entirely. For anything driveway-sized, mixing bags yourself costs more in materials and takes a full day of labor.
Concrete Finish Cost Comparison: Stamped vs Stained vs Plain vs Exposed Aggregate
For a shed pad or utility walk, broom finish. For a patio you'll entertain on, exposed aggregate. For a pool deck or front entry you want to look like stone, stamped — if you'll actually reseal it every 2–3 years. Exposed aggregate hits the strongest middle ground: decorative, slip-resistant, lower maintenance than stamped. This guide tells you which finish to choose for your project — not just what things cost.
DIY vs Contractor Concrete Cost: Real Numbers by Project Type
DIY concrete saves 45–80% on every project type — but the dollar amount and the risk level are not the same across the board. A 10×10 shed pad saves $275–700 with minimal risk. A full driveway saves $4,300–8,490 but is expert territory where a botched pour costs more than the savings. Know your project size before deciding. This guide gives real DIY and contractor costs side-by-side for every common residential concrete project, with honest risk assessments.
Lifetime Cost of Concrete Slab Thickness: Is 6 Inches Worth It?
For a patio or shed pad, 4 inches is right and 6 inches is wasted money. For a garage floor or driveway, 4 inches is inadequate and 6 inches pays back in avoided repairs over 30 years. The answer depends entirely on what the slab carries. Upgrading a 20×20 slab from 4 to 6 inches costs $400–700 more upfront. Whether that money comes back depends on use case — this guide builds the full lifetime cost model for every major slab type.
Concrete Tool Cost Guide: What to Buy vs Rent for a DIY Slab
Rent the drum mixer, the power trowel, and the concrete pump. Buy the finishing tools — trowels, edgers, floats, a bull float. The rule is simple: anything over $40 that you'll use once belongs on the rental list. A first DIY slab typically needs $200–330 total in tool costs — not the $800+ some lists suggest. This guide covers every tool in the workflow with an exact rent/buy call for each.
Get an Instant Cost Estimate
Use our free concrete calculator to estimate materials, bag counts, and costs for your project — before you call a contractor.