How Much Does a New Concrete Slab Cost? [2025 Data]
A concrete slab costs an average of $5,400, and most projects total between $3,600 and $7,200, depending on size, thickness, and reinforcement needed.
Pouring a concrete slab costs $5,400, on average, or $6 per square foot. You could pay as little as $600 for a small, 10-foot-by-10-foot slab that will act as a shed foundation or as much as $36,900 for a 2,000-foot slab to act as a home foundation. Prices will vary based on slab area, thickness, and add-ons, like reinforcement.
How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost Per Square Foot?
On average, a new concrete slab will cost $6 per square foot or $110 per cubic yard. You could pay as little as $4 per square foot for thin slabs for a concrete walkway or sidewalk or as much as $18 per square foot for a thicker and more complicated home foundation. The mixture’s design, plus the slab’s size and thickness, determines the cost. Factors affect the cost of a concrete slab as well, such as subbase preparation, forms, finishing, reinforcements, and the local price of concrete.
| Slab Size (Sq. Ft.) | Square Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10x10 | 100 | $600 |
| 20x20 | 400 | $2,400 |
| 30x30 | 900 | $5,400 |
Concrete Slab Cost Factors
Many things affect the cost to pour a concrete slab, including labor, type of slab, size, and any extra add-ons or enhancements you opt for.
Type of Concrete
There are a few types of concrete professionals use for residential slab construction, and they vary slightly in price per square foot. The type of concrete that’s best for your project will depend on the load the slab needs to support, as well as soil conditions and climate in your area. Speak with a concrete professional to determine which type is right for you, and then use the pricing below to get an estimate for your total.
| Type of Concrete | Cost per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Standard | $6 |
| Rebar reinforced | $7 |
| High-strength | $8 |
| Fiber mesh | $10 |
Labor
Labor costs between $2 and $3 per square foot to pour a concrete slab, which includes the cost of building or setting concrete forms, delivering and mixing concrete, and pouring the slab. On average, labor makes up between one-third and a half of the total cost of your concrete slab.
Pre-Cast Slabs or Poured On-Site
Pre-cast concrete slabs cost between $20 and $30 per square foot, making them a more expensive option in most cases. Pre-cast slabs require minimal labor, which helps reduce labor costs for standard designs. However, delivery costs add to your total. For designs with a high level of precision or repetitive designs, like home foundations or sidewalk squares, pre-cast slabs may be more affordable, costing as low as $5 per square foot in some cases.
Accessibility
Locations that are difficult to access, like build sites on steep slopes or with numerous trees surrounding it, can drive up your costs. The most affordable way to deliver and pour concrete to your home is to have a professional use a concrete mixer. If that’s not an option, they’ll need to move and pour the concrete manually, which will drive up labor costs significantly.
Thickness
The thickness of your slab will affect pricing because thicker slabs use more concrete per square foot, requiring more materials and labor to pour. How you intend to use the slab will determine the ideal thickness, which you can then use to estimate your project total.
| Project | Average Thickness (In.) | Cost per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|---|
| Patio | 4–6 | $6–$9 |
| Walkway | 4 | $6 |
| Sidewalk | 4–6 | $6–$9 |
| Driveway | 4–8 | $6–$12 |
| Foundation | 8–10 | $12–$18 |
Reinforcements
Most concrete slabs benefit from reinforcement to prevent cracking. There are two primary types of reinforcement: fiber mesh and rebar reinforcement. Fiber mesh concrete gets its strength from embedded pieces of carbon fiber, while rebar reinforcement—the standard option—uses steel rebar in a grid pattern inside the slab for strength. The option you choose will affect your pricing.
| Reinforcement Type | Added Cost per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Fiber mesh | $2–$3 |
| Rebar | $0.50–$1 |
Repair vs. Replacement
If your previous concrete slab is on the cusp between repair and replacement, consider the cost of concrete repairs overall. Fixing minor cracks and resealing concrete costs less than $0.20 per linear foot, and full concrete resurfacing costs just $3 to $5 per square foot. In other words, if either approach is an option, you can save money over the $6 per square foot you’d pay to pour a new slab, plus the cost to demolish and haul away the old one.
When costs build up for more complex damage—such as unlevel concrete or structural issues—you'll cut costs in the long run with replacement.
Location
Concrete slab pricing fluctuates by region. A concrete slab can cost around $5.35 per square foot in the middle of the country or be as high as $8.50 per square foot in coastal states, including California and New York.
| Location | Cost per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| California | $7.67–$8.53 |
| Montana | $5.78–$6.43 |
| Kansas | $5.46–$6.13 |
| Maine | $6.73–$7.49 |
| Texas | $5.31–$5.90 |
| New Mexico | $5.81–$6.46 |
| Florida | $5.89–$6.56 |
| Kentucky | $5.16–$5.74 |
| New York | $6.67–$8.53 |
Type of Project
What type of concrete slab you need depends on how you’ll be using it. That is, whether it’s being used as a foundation for your home, to support an RV, or to define a backyard patio. Keep in mind that even with these categories, the prices will vary.
The cost of a concrete patio, for example, will total between $2 and $15 per square foot, depending on the type of finish. If you need additional drainage below your concrete, be sure to calculate the cost of adding sand or gravel under the slab.
Here's the average concrete slab cost by type of project:
| Project Type | Slab Size (Sq. Ft.) | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shed foundation | 80 sq. ft. | $480 |
| Parking pad | 200 sq. ft. | $1,200 |
| Patio | 450 | $2,700 |
| Garage floor | 350 | $2,100 |
| Driveway (1-car) | 240 | $1,440 |
| Driveway (2-car) | 500 | $3,000 |
| RV pad | 640 | $3,840 |
| Mobile home foundation | 1,620 | $22,680 |
| Home foundation | 2,050 | $36,900 |
Cost of Common Concrete Slab Add-Ons
While you’re budgeting for your concrete slab, you should consider any add-ons you want included in your price to get the most accurate budget possible. The following add-ons can help you get the most out of your new concrete project.
Stamped concrete finish: $2–$22 per sq. ft. (in addition to slab costs)
Concrete stain cost: $2–$25 per sq. ft. (in addition to slab costs)
Landscape lighting costs: $3,000–$6,000
Concrete sealant: $1.35–$2.50 per sq. ft.
Drainage system cost: $500–$18,000
Heated driveway cost: $3,000–$8,700
Landscape curbing cost: $780–$2,125
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
You can expect to save between $2 and $3 per square foot on labor if you choose to tackle your concrete project yourself. You’ll need to learn how to make concrete and build forms, but for larger projects, the savings could be well worth the effort.
However, pouring concrete is no easy task. Before you begin pouring, you have to make sure you have the right materials—and they’re likely not already in your toolshed. You’ll need specialty tools, including a concrete mixer, grading equipment, and concrete forms, along with shovels, rakes, trowels, and fine brooms.
Working with concrete is also a lengthy process involving site preparation, forming, mixing, and pouring the concrete, troweling, finishing, and curing. A professional job can take between 24 and 48 hours of work, while going the DIY route is likely much longer. You also should consider whether you want to start from scratch or pour new concrete over old concrete.
And lastly, always consider the legality of pouring concrete yourself for different projects. You will need a permit, for example, for installing a foundation, and will almost need to hire a local concrete foundation specialist for the job.
How to Save Money on Concrete Slab Costs
If you're concerned about breaking your budget, begin by comparing concrete prices with other popular materials. Asphalt vs. concrete, for example, is a common dilemma, and you can save some upfront costs by opting for asphalt, depending on the climate in your area. Your local concrete foundation contractor will also have suggestions for concrete variations depending on its application, such as recycled concrete.
As for concrete slab cost savings, here are some ways to lower the price:
Stain, seal, and repair the concrete slabs yourself over time.
Research local concrete delivery costs before you begin, and consider buying bags of concrete and mixing yourself as an alternative for smaller jobs.
Speak with at least three different local concrete installation companies to compare estimates.
Consider the best thickness and measurements for the slab, and be careful not to over-order the concrete.
Keep the design simple and traditional. Forego special finishes and customization options to keep costs down.
Handle prep and post-project work yourself, such as landscaping, grading, and learning how to finish concrete yourself.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on 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.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether or not you need reinforcements for your concrete slab depends on the thickness, what you’ll use the slab for, and the climate and soil conditions in your area. Adding reinforcements increases the strength and durability of your concrete slab, so it’s ideal for load-bearing slabs like driveways and home foundations. It can also help reduce the risk of cracking in extreme climates and areas that see excessive soil movement. Speak with your professional to determine if your project requires reinforcement.
When pouring a new concrete slab, you should consider how additional costs will affect your total, including reinforcements, decorative enhancements, finishing, and curing. It's also important to consider local laws regarding the grade, drainage, and permits for installing concrete on your property. Speak with your professional about the ideal thickness for your slab, and also consider whether you’ll need drainage for slab longevity.
A concrete floor is just an indoor finished surface on a concrete slab, which a local concrete flooring company will polish or coat for aesthetics and stain resistance. A concrete slab is more often an unfinished slab of concrete that serves as a foundation for a structure, like a shed or home. However, they can also be finished for outdoor use, as in the case of a decorative concrete patio or walkway.
