How Much Does A Concrete Patio Cost? (2024)

So how much does a concrete patio cost for the average homeowner? Somewhere between $4 and $21 per square foot. Why such a large range? The final cost to pour a concrete patio depends entirely on the size of the patio and any special design touches you might add, as well as who’s doing the work.

By Patio Size

The table below breaks down the typical poured concrete patio cost by size, using an average of $12.50 per square foot, including labor and concrete materials. It also includes an additional (estimated) $500 for related materials, such as screws, lumber, gravel, stakes, sealer and other supplies.

By Concrete Patio Type

A basic concrete slab patio is the most affordable type of concrete patio. You’ll spend $4 to $7 per square foot on the cost of concrete slabs and $2 to $4 per square foot in labor costs.

You can, however, enhance your poured concrete with special techniques for the finishes. Such finishes can increase the labor cost, anywhere from $1 to $10 per square foot.

Alternatively, you can forego the poured concrete slab route altogether and opt for concrete pavers. In materials alone, concrete paver patios cost between $10 and $15 per square foot. With labor costs added, that’s about $12 to $19 per square foot.

Concrete Slab

Basic concrete slabs are the easiest and most affordable to install, at $6 to $11 per square foot, including labor. The best concrete companies may even offer to use a broom or trowel to give it a nice textured finish, as an alternative to the smooth finish.

Concrete Pavers

If you’d prefer, you can purchase and install concrete pavers. The total cost for professional installation is roughly $12 to $19 per square foot.

Though pavers are on the more expensive side, you don’t have to wait for any poured concrete to dry, so you can start decorating your new patio right away.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete

For an additional $2 to $3 per square foot, you can add an elegant aggregate material finish to the top layer of the concrete. Quartz pebbles and river rock are popular choices—both for their aesthetic appeal and their built-in slip resistance.

Painted Concrete

You can spend an additional $2 to $6 per square foot to have your contractor paint the concrete after it’s dried. Alternatively, you can paint the concrete yourself to save some money.

If going the do-it-yourself route, just familiarize yourself with the best types of exterior paint so you choose a suitable option.

Polished Concrete

A pro can polish your concrete upon completion to give it a glossy finish and make it more resistant to stains. This process adds about $3 to $10 per square foot to the total cost.

Stenciled Concrete

Stenciled concrete patios cost an additional $1 to $10 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the stencil design you choose.

Stained Concrete

You might spend an additional $1 to $10 per square foot on the cost to stain your backyard concrete patio. The price varies depending on the type and quality of stain you choose. Acid-based stains are a common choice, but you can speak with a pro to find the best stain for your specific needs.

Stamped Concrete

The cost of a concrete patio is significantly more if you choose a stamped aesthetic. Stamping concrete adds $1 to $10 per square foot to your total project cost.

The stamping technique can really enhance the overall design of your concrete patio. Common stamp designs mimic brick, flagstone or cobblestone.

Labor costs for building a concrete patio range from $2 to $4 per square foot for a straightforward installation. However, more elaborate patios—like polished, stenciled or stamped patios—increase your overall labor costs per square foot.

Many contractors calculate projects using an hourly rate and bake it into their total project estimate when you get quotes, so you may not see a per-square-foot labor breakdown.

Cost of living can also impact labor costs. Request quotes from multiple patio and deck builders near you to get a better idea of rates in your area.

Material Costs

In addition to the poured concrete or concrete paver costs, you’ll need to budget for related materials, like the lumber for the forms and the gravel for the sub-base. If you’re DIYing the install, you may even need to buy special tools like a sod cutter, spade, hand tamper and more.

These costs can vary considerably. To simplify our calculations, we’ve estimated an additional $500 in associated material costs for every project, but it may cost you less if you already have some of these tools, or more if you’re totally starting from scratch.

How does the cost of a concrete patio stack up against other patios? The average cost to build a patio falls between $3,000 and $5,500, which makes concrete patios slightly more affordable than the average patio.

• Gravel patios are the most affordable, at $1.50 to $4 per square foot for materials.
• Concrete patios cost between $4 and $7 per square foot for materials.
• Flagstone patios cost between $15 and $27 per square foot for materials.
• Brick pavers may cost between $0.50 and $10 per square foot for materials — and they’re easy to DIY install.
• Other patio materials, including sand, slate and tile, can vary tremendously in material costs, usually between $0.50 and $10 per square foot.

While the size and finish of the patio have the largest bearing on the overall cost to pour a concrete patio, additional factors can also affect the final price, including:

• Thickness: The thicker the concrete needs to be, the more you’ll spend on materials costs.
• Shape: Straightforward square and rectangular patios are more affordable than unique shapes, which may require more lumber to assemble the form and more labor time to prepare the space.
• Site preparation: If you have a flat yard with nothing in the current space, site preparation will be minimal. But if you need to flatten the area before installation, you’ll encounter some landscaping costs. For instance, leveling a yard costs $1,600 on average.
• Concrete removal: If you already have an existing patio or deck, you’ll need to budget for demolition and disposal of the old materials. Concrete removal costs $2 to $6 per square foot.
• Permits: You may have to obtain a building permit before construction can begin. When getting quotes from contractors, ask about the permit process. Some contractors may handle this process for you, and their quote might even include the cost already.

Pouring concrete is difficult work that requires precision, special tools and patience. While it’s possible to pour your own concrete patio or even build a paver patio by yourself, we highly recommend hiring a professional.

Labor costs make up a small portion of the overall cost to build a concrete patio, and professionals can more accurately estimate material needs to keep related costs down. Plus, a professionally installed patio will likely have a nicer finish, which will boost the resale value of your home when you’re ready to sell.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, editorial team members surveyed three retailers, two finance experts and six cost databases on national and local levels. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.