True Cost Guide Outdoor Living Stain Concrete

How Much Do Stained Concrete Floors Cost in 2024?

Typical Range:

$1,000 - $25,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated September 16, 2024

Written by HomeAdvisor.

Highlights

Staining concrete floors costs $1,000 to $25,000, with most homeowners spending $11,000 on average.
Room size and design complexity impact the total cost.
Resurfacing or cleaning floors in advance helps ensure the best stain results.
Stained concrete floors can last 20 years or longer with proper maintenance.
Concrete floors can increase home value because they’re fire-resistant and may reduce heating and cooling costs.

Staining a concrete floor costs anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000, with most homeowners spending an average of $11,000. The cost to stain a concrete floor depends primarily on the floor’s size and the complexity of the stain design. Larger and more complex spaces require more materials and labor. Staining a concrete floor can be a great way to improve the visual appeal of your space while creating a durable, long-lasting floor.

Average Cost of Stained Concrete Floors

Average Cost	High Cost	Low Cost
$11,000	$25,000	$1,000

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Stained Concrete Floors Cost Factors

The size of your floors, the intricacy of the stain design, and the type of stain you choose impact the total cost of stained concrete.

Surface Area

The size of your home is a major cost factor because larger spaces require more time, labor, and materials.

Floor Size in Square Feet	Average Total Cost Range
100	$200–$1,500
200	$400–$2,900
500	$1,000–$7,300
1,000	$2,000–$14,500
1,200	$2,400–$17,400
1,500	$3,000–$21,800
2,000	$4,000–$29,000

Type of Stain

Two types of stain are used on concrete floors—acid-based and water-based. Acid-based stains typically cost $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot, not including labor. This type of stain causes a chemical reaction, creating a unique, non-uniform effect. Acid-based stains are popular for their earthy colors, which lend a more natural look to the space.

Water-based stains add a layer of color on top of the concrete but don’t react chemically. These deliver a more uniform effect and come in a wide range of colors. Water-based stains typically cost $0.20 to $0.25 per square foot without labor.

Labor

Staining concrete floors is a labor-intensive process, so labor costs often make up the bulk of the total cost. Depending on the complexity of your design, expect to pay between $2 and $15 per square foot in labor costs.

Stain Design

Staining a concrete floor offers various design options, from a basic color wash to intricate swirls and details. The design can significantly impact your total cost since complex designs require more time and labor. A basic single-color wash may cost as little as $2 per square foot for labor, while high-end work with stencils may reach $12 to $25 per square foot.

Design	Average Total Cost per Square Foot
Single stain color	$2–$4
Multiple colors or slightly more complex design	$4–$10
Several colors or moderate pattern details	$8–$15
Intricate designs with stencil work, saw cuts, or hand-finishing	$12–$25

Location

If you live in an area with a high cost of labor, like New York City or Los Angeles, you’ll likely pay more for concrete staining. For example, the average cost to stain a concrete floor in Los Angeles is $13,700, compared to $11,800 in Oklahoma City.

Additional Stained Concrete Floors Cost Factors

In addition to the materials and labor required to stain a concrete floor, you may also need to budget for prep work, sealers, and removing old floors.

Prep Work

Before staining a concrete floor, it’s important to prepare the surface. Imperfections in the concrete may become more visible after the stain is applied, so conducting repairs beforehand helps deliver the best final product.

If your concrete currently has paint or sealers, you may want to strip it before applying a stain. It’s also important to fix imperfections, such as scuffs and scrapes, that can disrupt the stain. Stripping old paint typically costs $4 to $8 per square foot, while floor resurfacing costs $4 to $20 per square foot.

In some cases, damage to floors may be too extensive to repair with resurfacing. Larger cracks or problems can be addressed by repairing the concrete, which typically costs $3 to $5 per square foot.

After imperfections are repaired, a thorough clean ensures no dust or debris will be trapped by the stain. Professional floor cleaning averages $75 to $200 per hour.

Sealers

Sealers improve the durability of a stained concrete floor, helping to preserve the color while reducing wear and tear. Different types of sealers come with different price points—acrylic sealers are the most affordable at $0.85 to $1.15 per square foot, while polyurethane sealers average $0.95 to $1.10 per square foot. Both types are waterproof and simple to apply, but polyurethane sealers are thicker and deliver slightly more durability.

Epoxy sealer comes at a higher price point, averaging $3 to $7 per square foot. Although the upfront cost is higher, epoxy sealers are extremely durable and abrasion-resistant, which can increase the lifespan of your stained concrete. Epoxy is especially popular for high-traffic areas like garages.

Outdoor Concrete

Creating an outdoor stained concrete space like a patio can add beauty and function to your yard, but it requires some extra steps to protect it from the weather. Penetrating sealers are used on outdoor stained concrete to create a clear coat, enabling moisture to escape without damaging the concrete. Most penetrating sealers cost $0.20 to $0.75 per square foot and can be applied onto pre-stained concrete without damaging the existing stain.

Flooring Removal

If you plan to replace your floor completely, you may have to budget for floor removal costs before the concrete staining. Concrete removal costs an average of $2 to $6 per square foot. Other types of flooring may only require a surface-level change. For example, carpet removal costs as little as $1 to $1.50 per square foot.

Stained Concrete Floor Replacement or Repair?

If your stained concrete floor is showing signs of wear, it may be time to consider repairs or replacement. Whether it’s better to repair or replace depends on the extent of the damage, the age of the floor, and your overall design goals.

Stained Concrete Floor Repair

Newer floors with just a few scuffs and scratches can usually be fixed with a professional repair. In many cases, surficial scratches are solved by applying a new coat of sealer. If the scratches reach down to the concrete, you may have to grind and polish a section of the floor before a new seal and finish can be applied. Grinding a concrete floor typically costs $1 to $4 per square foot, while concrete floor polishing costs $2 to $16 per square foot.

Major floor repairs are more costly, particularly if there’s structural damage or damage to the subfloor. Subfloor replacement costs anywhere from $1.30 to $12 per square foot but may be necessary to preserve the structural integrity of your concrete floor.

Stained Concrete Floor Replacement

If your stained concrete floor has major damage, such as extensive cracks, or if it’s older than 20 years and has already been repaired multiple times, replacing it may be more cost-effective. Replacement is also a good option if you want to dramatically change the look of your floor.

Layering a new stain over an old concrete floor that’s previously been stained may not yield the expected color. If you want to significantly change the floor color or design, replacement typically delivers more reliable results.

Do Stained Concrete Floors Increase Home Value?

Stained concrete floors may add value to your home, depending on location and buyer preferences. Stained concrete is popular because of its durability, attractive look, and easy maintenance. For homes vulnerable to fire, stained concrete has the added benefit of being highly fire-resistant, which may mean lower insurance premiums compared to other flooring types, like wood.

Concrete floors can also add value by reducing heating and cooling costs. Concrete naturally absorbs and releases heat in a slow cycle during the day and night, which helps to balance your home's temperature and reduce energy bills.

Budgeting for Stained Concrete Floors

Staining a concrete floor is best left to the pros, especially if you’re using complex products like acid-based stains. However, there are still plenty of steps you can take to ensure your concrete floor staining stays budget-friendly:

Opt for a single stain color rather than layering multiple shades since costs increase as you add more stain colors.
Choose a simple design instead of complex details. Intricate work that requires stenciling or hand-finishing increases time and labor, significantly increasing the cost of concrete floor staining.
Use an acrylic or polyurethane sealer for most indoor spaces. These are much more affordable than epoxy sealers and offer sufficient coverage for regular-traffic spaces. However, if you’re staining and sealing a garage floor or other space that sees major wear and tear, an epoxy sealer may be worth the extra upfront cost.
To maintain your concrete floors, apply a fresh coat of sealer every two to four years. This helps extend the lifespan of your stained concrete and reduce the likelihood of costly repairs.
Ask about bulk discounts. If you plan to polish, repair, or stain several concrete floors in your home, consider doing them all at once.
Contact several concrete finishing professionals in your area to compare quotes.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.

Still Have Questions About Concrete Floor Staining?

FAQs

How long does a stained concrete floor last?

With good maintenance, stained concrete can last for 20 years or more. Seal your concrete floors every two to four years to keep them in ideal condition and protect them from moisture, scratches, and wear.

Are there any drawbacks to stained concrete floors?

Concrete floors have a long lifespan but can still crack, particularly in humid environments. Repairing a stained concrete floor may not result in a uniform finish, which can be a drawback for some homeowners.

Is concrete staining permanent?

Whether your concrete stain is permanent depends on the type of finish used. Water-based stain typically results in a semi-permanent color, while acid-based stain permanently alters the color of the concrete through a chemical reaction. When deciding which type of stain is best, consider whether you’ll want to change the color someday or if you’d prefer a permanent shade.

Should you stain or paint a concrete floor?

If you’re looking to change the color of a concrete floor, it’s generally recommended to stain rather than paint. Stains last longer and resist chipping and fading, while paint can flake and show signs of wear quickly when used on a concrete floor.