ConcretePricing

Concrete Slab Cost

A concrete slab costs about $4 to $8 per square foot installed according to This Old House, or $6 to $12 according to HomeGuide. A 20 × 20 ft slab comes to roughly $1,600 to $4,800.

Updated How we price

On this page
  1. Slab cost by size
  2. What makes up the price
  3. Thickness
  4. Getting a fair quote
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

    Prices are US national ranges from published sources, checked September 23, 2026. Where the numbers come from.

    Slab cost by size

    Installed, 4 inches thick. The first column uses This Old House’s $4–$8 per sq ft [1], the second HomeGuide’s $6–$12 [2].

    SlabAreaAt $4–$8/sq ftAt $6–$12/sq ftConcrete at 4 in
    10 × 10 ft100 sq ft$400–$800$600–$1,2001.23 cu yd
    12 × 12 ft144 sq ft$580–$1,150$860–$1,7301.78 cu yd
    20 × 20 ft400 sq ft$1,600–$3,200$2,400–$4,8004.94 cu yd
    24 × 24 ft576 sq ft$2,300–$4,610$3,460–$6,9107.11 cu yd
    30 × 40 ft1,200 sq ft$4,800–$9,600$7,200–$14,40014.81 cu yd

    These are area × published per-square-foot ranges. Small slabs often cost more per square foot, because setup, delivery and minimum charges don’t shrink with the job.

    What makes up the price

    • Concrete. Ready-mix costs $160–$195 per cubic yard [3]. At 4 inches, that’s $1.98–$2.41 per sq ft. This Old House gives $113–$126 for a yard covering 81 sq ft [1].
    • Reinforcement. Homewyse puts wire mesh at $1.05–$1.22 per sq ft installed (May 2026) [4].
    • Site prep, base and forms. Excavation, compacted gravel and formwork. Poor soil or a slope adds to all three.
    • Labor and finishing. Placing, leveling, finishing, jointing and curing.

    Thickness

    Going from 4 to 6 inches adds 50% more concrete. Concrete Network sets 4 inches as the minimum for a residential driveway carrying cars, and 5 to 6 inches for trucks or RVs [5]. Use the slab calculator to see how thickness changes the yards and bags.

    Getting a fair quote

    Ask each contractor to list thickness, base depth, reinforcement, finish and who removes the spoil. Two quotes at the same price can describe very different slabs.

    Frequently asked questions

    How much does a 20x20 concrete slab cost?

    About $1,600–$3,200 at This Old House's $4–$8 per sq ft, or $2,400–$4,800 at HomeGuide's $6–$12. It needs 4.94 cubic yards of concrete at 4 inches thick, before waste.

    How much does a 10x10 slab cost?

    $400–$800 at $4–$8 per sq ft, or $600–$1,200 at $6–$12. It takes 1.23 cubic yards at 4 inches, or 56 bags of 80 lb concrete before waste.

    How much does a 30x40 slab cost?

    1,200 sq ft comes to $4,800–$9,600 at $4–$8 per sq ft, or $7,200–$14,400 at $6–$12. It needs 14.81 cubic yards at 4 inches.

    Is it cheaper to pour a slab yourself?

    You save the labor, but you still pay for concrete, base, forms and tools. The concrete alone is about $1.98–$2.41 per sq ft at 4 inches with ready-mix. Past a small pad, finishing a slab well is skilled work.

    Sources

    1. This Old House, Concrete slab cost, updated 2026-03-17. Checked September 23, 2026.
    2. HomeGuide, Concrete slab cost. Figure as shown in the page's search listing; checked September 23, 2026.
    3. Concrete Network, Concrete prices, updated 2026-07-14. Checked September 23, 2026.
    4. Homewyse, Cost to install wire mesh for concrete, updated 2026-05. Checked September 23, 2026.
    5. Concrete Network, How thick should a concrete driveway be?. Figure as shown in the page's search listing; checked September 23, 2026.