How Much Does It Cost to Build a Concrete Patio?

Concrete Patio Costs Per Square Foot

On average, you’ll spend $10 per square foot on a poured concrete patio. Although you’ll average somewhere between $6 and $15 per square foot, you can pay anywhere from $4 to $30 per square foot. To find the square feet, multiply the length times the width of your patio design or use our square foot calculator.

Cost depends on how simple, complex, or artistic you want your patio to look. On the low end, you’re looking at a simple, uncolored slab of concrete. On the high end, you might have built-in seating or a fire pit with stamped designs and multiple colors. 

• Concrete slab with no design: $4–$7 per sq. ft.

• Simple coloring or stamping: $9–$17 per sq. ft.

• Custom design with multiple colors: $15–$30 per sq. ft.

Cost Factors

Different factors affect your project’s overall price by as much as $25 per square foot. A small, standard gray patio pad may cost only $5 per square foot, while a decoratively stamped and stained one with multiple styles and colors can hit $30 per square foot.

Size and Shape

Labor

Labor runs $50 to $100 per hour for most patios or about $5 to $15 per square foot. Most of the price range comes from the area of the country you live in. Areas with a higher cost of living usually pay higher hourly rates. However, you won’t have to pay any hourly rates as the project is almost always bid out as one total price.

Material Choice

For a 200-square-foot patio, material costs typically run between $500 and $1,000. Concrete pavers run $8 to $25 per square foot, more than a poured patio, but make for an easier DIY option. For poured installs, you’ll use grades C10 through C25, depending on the load-bearing needs, but it won’t affect the price noticeably. Material pricing includes:

• Screws and stakes: $5 each

• 2"x4" lumber for forms: $40–$150

• Gravel for sub-base: $0.50–$1.50 per sq. ft.

• Trowels and floats: $10–$500 total

• Concrete sealer: $0.10–$1 per sq. ft.

Thickness

You’ll pay an average of $10 per square foot for a 3.5- to 4- inch thick patio. Most patios aren’t any thicker than 4 inches since they do not support any weight, but no less than 3.5 inches due to building code requirements. If you’re putting a roof on it, you’ll often pour footings separately for the roof supports. 

Finish

Finishes for most patios include plain, staining, and stamping. Polishing is also an option, but due to how slippery polished concrete becomes when wet, it’s not a great outdoor option. 

• Brushed: No added cost. Smooth or brushed are considered standard finishes.

• Polished: $3–$12 per sq. ft. in addition to pouring. 

• Stamped: $8–$30 per sq. ft. total price. You’ll do this during the installation.

• Stained: $2–25 per sq. ft. in addition to pouring.

Existing Property

You’ll pay about twice as much in labor if the site isn’t accessible to a truck for the pour. In that case, your contractor will need to use a smaller mixer that can access the site. In extreme cases, you may need to remove a fence or use manual hauling methods, like a wheelbarrow. 

Concrete Removal

Concrete removal costs $550 to $1,650. If you’re replacing your old concrete patio with a new one, you’ll need to remove the concrete first. 

Reinforcements

Almost all concrete slabs come with reinforcements as part of the price. It’s unusual for any slab not to have rebar or mesh laid before the pour or fiber mixed into the cement.

Customization

You can add built-in customization to enhance your outdoor living space, but it’ll increase the price. Some options to consider include:

• Outdoor kitchen costs: $5,500–$23,000

• Pool costs: $18,500–$47,000

• Hot tub costs: $2,000–$35,000

• Sauna costs: $3,000–$6,000

Types of Concrete Patios

Various types and styles of concrete patios fall within the $5 to $30 per square foot range. One the low end is basic gray slab with high-end installs including various patterns, colors, and built-in amenities. 

Concrete Slab

Standard gray concrete slabs cost $5 to $12 per square foot. It’s the basic pour and finish you’ll get in almost any project. They typically come finished either smooth or brushed for added traction and appeal.

Stained Concrete

Stained concrete patios cost $3,000 to $18,500. This treatment gives the space a more distinctive and attractive look. Manufacturers can color the concrete either before pouring or adding it after. This changes the surface color from the traditional gray hue to something more unique. Some homeowners may even choose to use more than one stain color to create a pattern on their concrete patio.

Engraved or Stamped Concrete

Stamping concrete costs $2,800 to $6,500 on average. While completing a stamped concrete patio can cost more, you can select from many patterns. Mimicking the look of stone or pavers creates a richer-looking finished space. It’s often done together with staining your concrete.

Painted Concrete

Concrete patio painting costs $500 to $3,000 depending on both the type of paint or sealer you’re using and the size of the project.

Polished Concrete

Polished concrete costs $1,600 to $3,900. It’s not recommended for outdoor patios since it can create a slick surface. However, when used in decorative areas with mats or textured spots, it can create a striking design counterpoint. 

Broom-Finished Concrete

Broom-finished doesn’t add anything to your cost. It’s standard to include this in basic projects. As the concrete dries, the contractor pulls a standard broom across the top to give it a slightly textured finish. This makes it more attractive and adds traction. 

Decorative Stencil Concrete

Adding a decorative stencil to your concrete patio costs $2,000 to $4,500. It’s a simple process that involves a stencil and colored hardening powder spread over the surface. It’s a very similar process to staining. 

Aggregate Concrete

Exposed aggregate finish adds $2 to $3 per square foot to your total price. You can use almost any type of aggregate material, from quartz pebbles to river rock. 

Concrete Alternatives

If you decide concrete isn’t right for you, look into a few other options, including:

• Asphalt

• Gravel

• Composite decking

• Flagstones

Should You DIY Your Concrete Patio?

For a durable finish that will last decades, it’s important to have professional installation. DIY installs are often failure-prone, premature spalling and cracking, and often aren’t level or installed with drainage in mind. 

To select the right local patio contractor, research expected costs and gather quotes from a minimum of three professionals. Perform some research online or talk to previous customers. That ensures you hire a concrete contractor with a good reputation and qualified to complete your project.

Ways to Save Money Instead

The digging and prep work are the best places to save money on installing a concrete patio. You’ll likely save some money by doing all the excavation yourself, but be sure to call the dig line before you start. Unless you have significant experience in mixing and pouring concrete, finding concrete patio contractors near you tends to be the better choice.

To save even more money, consider:

• A smaller patio

• Different materials

• DIY installation of a wooden patio

• Hiring in the offseason

• Including it in a larger project, such as landscaping your backyard.

Cost to Pour a Concrete Patio Near You

The cost of pouring a concrete patio changes regionally. You’ll tend to spend more in urban areas with higher costs of living indexes and less in rural areas.