How Much Does a Concrete Patio or Slab Cost in 2026?
Concrete pricing confuses people because there are really three different products: bagged mix from the store, ready-mix from a truck, and a contractor's installed price. They relate to each other, but they're not interchangeable. Here's the full picture.
Concrete slab cost (2026, installed)
| Finish | Cost per sq ft (installed) | 10×10 patio estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Plain broom finish | $6–$12 | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Exposed aggregate | $9–$15 | $2,200–$3,800 |
| Stamped/patterned | $12–$20 | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Stained | $8–$15 | $2,000–$3,800 |
| Polished (interior) | $5–$12 | n/a (interior floors) |
These assume 4-inch thick slabs on prepared ground. Thicker slabs (6 inches for driveways or hot tubs) add roughly 30–50% in material.
The three ways to buy concrete
1. Bagged mix ($5–$8 per 80-lb bag). Fine for fence posts and tiny pads. A 10×10×4" patio needs about 56 eighty-pound bags — that's $280–$450 in bags plus the most backbreaking weekend of your life. Bags make sense under ~0.5 cubic yards. Beyond that, stop.
2. Ready-mix truck ($145–$195 per cubic yard in 2026). The standard for patios, driveways, and slabs. One truck carries up to ~10 yards; most companies have a 3–4 yard minimum or charge a short-load fee ($100–$200). A 10×10×4" patio is about 1.24 cubic yards — expect to pay the minimum plus short-load fee, roughly $400–$600 for the concrete.
3. Contractor installed ($6–$12/sq ft). Concrete + forming + base prep + finishing + their expertise. The finishing is the skilled part — screeding, floating, edging, and brooming have to happen in a tight time window before the concrete sets. Bad finishing is permanent.
What a 10×10 patio really costs
Let's price the classic 10×10 foot patio, 4 inches thick (1.24 yd³ of concrete):
DIY with ready-mix:
- Concrete (with short-load fee): $400–$600
- Gravel base (2–3 inches): $50–$100
- Lumber for forms + stakes: $40–$80
- Rebar or wire mesh: $30–$60
- Tool rental (if needed): $50–$100
- Total: $570–$940 + one very long day
DIY with bags:
- 56 bags × $6: ~$340
- Same base/forms/rebar: ~$150
- Total: ~$500 + mixing 56 bags by hand (don't — rent a mixer for $60/day)
Pro installed:
- $1,500–$3,000 all-in, done in 1–2 days
Stamped pro:
- $3,000–$5,000 — the pattern work and coloring double the labor.
What drives the price
Thickness. 4 inches is standard for patios and walkways; 6 inches for driveways. Every extra inch is ~25% more concrete.
Base prep. Good contractors excavate 6–8 inches, lay compacted gravel, and form carefully. On clay soil or unlevel ground, prep can be 20–30% of the job. Skipping base prep is how patios crack in year two.
Reinforcement. Wire mesh ($0.30–$0.50/sq ft installed) or rebar grid for driveways. Fiber mesh mixed into the concrete is a cheap upgrade ($10–$15/yd) that controls hairline cracks.
Access. If the truck can't reach the site, concrete gets wheelbarrowed or pumped — a pump truck adds $500–$1,000. Mention access when getting quotes.
Finish. Broom finish is standard and included. Exposed aggregate, stamping, staining, or integral color each add $2–$8/sq ft.
Removal. Tearing out an old patio adds $2–$4/sq ft for demolition and hauling.
DIY vs. pro: the honest version
Concrete is the least forgiving DIY material in home improvement. Paint can be redone; a bad slab is jackhammered out. That said, a small, simple pad (shed base, AC pad, small walkway section) is very DIY-able.
DIY if: the pad is under 100 sq ft, rectangular, 4 inches thick, and you have 2–3 helpers for the pour day. The pour itself takes 2–4 hours; everything must be ready before the truck arrives.
Hire if: it's a patio over 150 sq ft, a driveway, anything stamped or exposed-aggregate, or the site has drainage/grading issues. Finishing large slabs takes a crew — concrete waits for no one.
Saving money
- Keep the shape simple. Rectangles are cheap to form; curves cost 20–40% more in labor.
- Schedule with the truck in mind. Combine projects (patio + walkway) to hit the truck minimum once instead of paying two short-load fees.
- Do your own prep. Excavation, gravel base, and forming are unskilled labor — save $500–$1,000 doing them yourself, then hire finishers for pour day.
- Plain finish, nice borders. A broom-finish patio with a tooled border looks sharp for standard price; full stamping doubles it.
- Get the quantity right. Order 5–10% extra (running short mid-pour is a disaster), but don't order 20% extra at $175/yard. Our free concrete calculator nails the yardage for slabs, footings, columns, walls, and steps — in yards or cubic metres.
- Pour in mild weather. Extreme heat speeds setting (harder to finish); freezing ruins fresh concrete. Spring and fall pours go smoothest.
International notes
US prices above. UK: £100–£150 per cubic metre for ready-mix, £80–£120/sq m installed for a basic slab. Australia: AU$300–$450/m³, AU$100–$180/sq m installed. Canada: CAD $200–$280/yd³. Bag sizes differ too — 20 kg and 25 kg bags are standard outside the US, and our calculator handles both.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 10×10 concrete slab cost?
$570–$940 DIY with ready-mix (including base and forms), or $1,500–$3,000 professionally installed with a broom finish. Stamped: $3,000–$5,000.
How much is concrete per square foot?
$6–$12/sq ft installed for plain 4-inch concrete in 2026. That covers concrete, base, forms, and finishing labor. Decorative finishes run $12–$20/sq ft.
How much does ready-mix concrete cost per yard?
$145–$195 per cubic yard in 2026, with most suppliers enforcing a 3–4 yard minimum or a $100–$200 short-load fee for smaller orders.
How many bags of concrete for a 10×10 slab 4 inches thick?
About 56 eighty-pound bags (or 75 sixty-pound bags). At that quantity, ready-mix from a truck is cheaper and far less work — bags only make sense under half a cubic yard.
How thick should a concrete patio be?
4 inches for patios and walkways, 6 inches for driveways or anything supporting vehicles. Thicker isn't automatically better — proper base prep and control joints matter more than an extra inch.
How long before I can walk or drive on new concrete?
Walk: 24–48 hours. Light vehicles: 7 days. Full strength (and heavy trucks): 28 days. Keep it damp for the first week in hot weather — concrete cures, it doesn't "dry," and curing needs moisture.