Concrete patio cost calculator

Work out what a concrete patio will cost from the square footage and a rate you set for the finish. A plain broom finish is inexpensive per foot; stamped and colored concrete costs far more, and the site prep, digging out and building a base, is a real line on top. The calculator adds it up.

§ 01 Your numbers

Change anything. The answer updates as you type.

Patio size (square feet)

The area of the patio. A common patio is 200 to 400 square feet; a small pad less, a large entertaining space more.

Rate per square foot (dollars)

The pour-and-finish rate. A plain broom or float finish is at the low end; a colored or exposed-aggregate finish is more; stamped concrete that mimics stone or brick is the priciest, often two to three times a plain slab.

Site prep: excavation, base & forms (dollars)

Digging out, grading, a compacted gravel base, forms, and any rebar or wire mesh. Bigger on a sloped or poorly-draining site. Zero if the base is already prepared.

Remove existing patio or slab (dollars)

Breaking up and hauling away an old concrete patio or deck before pouring. Zero for a fresh location.

Sealing, steps & permits (dollars)

A sealer (recommended on stamped and colored concrete), steps or a border, and any permit. Zero if none.

Estimated cost

$3,600

Typical range $2,880 – $4,860

Concrete (area × rate)$3,000
Site prep: excavation, base & forms$600
Remove existing patio or slab$0
Sealing, steps & permits$0
Total$3,600

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What this assumes, and where it could be wrong

Every one of these is a place the number could be off. They are here because you should be able to check our working, not because we are hedging.

THE FINISH IS THE BIG PRICE LEVER.

A plain broom or float finish is at the low end per foot, and it is a perfectly good patio. Coloring the concrete, exposing the aggregate, or stamping it to look like stone, brick, or slate multiplies the rate, often to two or three times a plain slab, because it is more material, more skilled labor, and more time. Decide the finish first, because it moves the price more than the size does

The base is what makes a patio last, and it is not the place to save. A concrete slab is only as good as the compacted gravel base and the drainage under it. Skimp on the excavation and base, and the slab cracks, heaves, or settles within a few years. The site-prep line is real and worth paying for, because redoing a failed slab means paying for the whole thing again.

Stamped and colored concrete should be sealed, and resealed. The color and pattern of decorative concrete are protected by a sealer that wears and needs reapplying every few years. That is a small recurring cost the plain slab does not have, so factor it in when comparing a cheap-looking plain patio to a stamped one.

Concrete cracks; control joints manage where. All concrete cracks a little as it cures and moves with temperature, and a good installer cuts control joints to steer the cracks into straight, hidden lines rather than random ones. Some hairline cracking is normal and not a defect; a slab with no control joints is the one to worry about.

The defaults on this patio estimate are ours and editable. The area, the finish rate, and the site prep are yours, and the estimate turns most on the finish you choose and what the site needs underneath.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a concrete patio cost?

It is priced by the square foot, and the finish is the big swing: a plain broom finish is inexpensive, while stamped and colored concrete costs two to three times as much per foot. On top of the pour, the site prep, digging out and building a compacted base, is a real line, and removing an old patio adds more. The calculator above estimates it from your size, finish rate, and prep.

Is stamped concrete worth the extra cost?

It depends on the look you want. Stamped concrete mimics stone, brick, or slate at a fraction of the cost of the real materials, so against natural stone it is good value; against a plain slab it costs two to three times as much and needs resealing every few years. If you want the decorative look, it is worth it; if function is all you need, a plain finish is far cheaper.

Why does the site prep cost so much for a patio?

Because the base is what keeps the slab from cracking and settling. Excavating to the right depth, grading for drainage, and compacting a gravel base is real earthwork, and it matters more than the concrete itself: a slab poured on a poor base fails within a few years. It is not a line to cut, because a failed patio means paying for the whole thing again.

How long does a concrete patio last?

Decades, if the base is done right and the concrete is sealed where needed. The finish is what wears: plain concrete is very durable, while the color and pattern of stamped concrete need resealing every few years to stay looking good. Some hairline cracking is normal as concrete cures and moves; a well-installed slab with proper control joints and a solid base lasts a very long time.

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