Mudjacking: What It Is, What It Costs, and How Long It Lasts
Mudjacking, also called slab jacking or concrete jacking, raises a sunken slab by pumping a cement-and-sand slurry underneath it through 1.5–2 inch holes. It costs $4–9 per square foot, with most contractors charging a $300–700 minimum, and the slab can be used again after about 24 hours. On stable soil a mudjacked slab can hold for 5–10 years or more; if water keeps washing soil out, it sinks again.
Mudjacking raises a sunken concrete slab by pumping cement slurry underneath it, and it costs $4–9 per square foot with a $300–700 job minimum. The slurry fills the void that caused the slab to drop, then lifts the slab back to grade. It is the cheapest way to fix a sunken driveway, sidewalk, patio, or garage floor that is still in one piece. Price your slab, and compare it with foam lifting and with replacement, in the concrete lifting cost calculator.
Mudjacking Cost by Project
| Project | Typical size | Mudjacking cost |
|---|---|---|
| Steps or stoop | 40 sq ft | $300–500 |
| Sidewalk | 100 sq ft | $400–900 |
| Garage floor, partial | 125 sq ft | $500–1,100 |
| Patio or porch | 150 sq ft | $600–1,400 |
| Driveway section | 200 sq ft | $800–1,800 |
| Garage floor | 360 sq ft | $1,400–3,200 |
| Pool deck | 400 sq ft | $1,600–3,600 |
| Full driveway | 450 sq ft | $1,800–4,100 |
Source: HomeGuide 2026 mudjacking price tables. National lifting franchise A-1 Concrete Leveling quotes a similar $3–8 per sq ft average.
Because of the job minimum, a single sunken sidewalk square or a small stoop usually costs $300–500 on its own. Have every sunken slab on the property done in the same visit.
What Drives the Price
- Area lifted: the main cost driver. Contractors price the slabs they actually lift.
- Size of the void: a slab that dropped 3 inches needs far more slurry than one that dropped half an inch.
- Access: long hose runs behind fences or across landscaping add labor.
- Extras: joint caulking, crack sealing, and drainage corrections are usually priced separately; budget $200–1,500 for drainage fixes.
Mudjacking vs Replacement
| Metro | Mudjack 200 sq ft | Replace 200 sq ft (incl. removal) | Mudjacking share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $800–1,800 | $2,560–6,000 | 30% |
| Denver, CO | $800–1,800 | $1,838–3,676 | 47% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $800–1,800 | $1,750–3,412 | 50% |
| Miami, FL | $800–1,800 | $1,534–3,016 | 57% |
| Dallas, TX | $800–1,800 | $1,342–2,802 | 63% |
Replacement uses each metro's new-driveway price from the SlabCalc Concrete Cost Index plus $2–6 per sq ft for removal. The share compares midpoints. Mudjacking is clearly cheaper where concrete is expensive; in low-cost markets it is close enough that a new slab, with a properly compacted base, deserves a quote.
When Mudjacking Is the Wrong Fix
- The slab is broken into loose pieces. Each piece lifts separately and the surface will not come back flat.
- It dropped more than about 4 inches. A void that large usually means active washout.
- The soil is soft, wet, or expansive. About 100 lb per cubic foot of slurry adds load to soil that already failed; polyjacking weighs about 2–4 lb per cubic foot.
- Water is still running under the slab. Fix downspouts and grading first; see driveway drainage.
Mudjacking vs Foam
Foam lifting costs $8–25 per square foot, roughly two to three times mudjacking at list prices, but cures in about 15 minutes, uses holes about 5/8 inch wide, and does not wash out. The full comparison, with a decision checklist, is in mudjacking vs polyjacking.
Key Takeaways
- Mudjacking (slab jacking) costs $4–9 per sq ft, with a $300–700 minimum
- A 200 sq ft driveway section runs $800–1,800
- Drive on it after about 24 hours
- Works on intact slabs that sank less than about 4 inches, on stable soil
- Fix the water problem first, or the slab will sink again