It costs an average of $2,300 to have a 400 square-foot concrete slab poured. While the typical cost of concrete delivery and installation can vary from about $1,650 to $3,100, large-scale projects can cost much more. The total cost of your project will depend on how much concrete you need, how you have it delivered and costs in your area.

• How much does concrete cost?
• How much does concrete cost per cubic yard?
• How much does concrete delivery cost?
• How much does it cost to pour concrete?

Whether you’re in need of a new driveway or you want to install a patio in the backyard, concrete is a durable and versatile option. Installing concrete, however, can present a bit of a challenge to the average homeowner. It’s a heavy material that requires careful handling to ensure it sets correctly. To ensure all goes smoothly, you’ll want to have concrete delivered by a professional for most medium- to large-scale projects. Besides the cost of delivery, you will also have to factor in the labor costs of leveling the land, adding in gravel or supports and pouring the concrete. Hiring concrete contractors for your project will help protect against costly mistakes and ensure it’s an investment made to last.

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To get an accurate cost estimate for your project, you’ll need to calculate beforehand how much concrete you need. Concrete prices are an average of $125 per cubic yard, which is the unit concrete is commonly measured in. You’ll find this cost typically ranging from $110 to $210 per cubic yard depending on your location. To calculate how much concrete you need, take the square footage (length x width) of the project area and multiply it by the depth or height. Then divide this number by 27 (the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard).

For example, if you need a concrete slab for a driveway that is 20 by 20 feet and six inches deep, you would need 7.41 cubic yards of concrete.

Concrete Calculation:

(20 x 20) x 0.5 = 200

200 ÷ 27 = 7.41 cubic yards

Patios typically need to be about four inches deep, while concrete driveways should be about six inches deep to accommodate the extra weight they’ll bear. It’s also a good idea to round up when ordering concrete, in case you need extra due to any mistakes along the way. For this project in the example above, it would be wise to order about eight cubic yards of concrete, which would cost about $1,000.

Once you’ve determined how much concrete you need, you can decide how to transport it to the job site. There are a few different ways of getting concrete to your home. The best choice for you will depend on the amount of concrete you need and the location of your home. If you live far from the concrete company or in an area that’s difficult to reach, this could cost you extra. You should expect to pay a delivery fee on top of the cost of the concrete itself, and said fee will depend on the method of delivery you choose.

• Mix separate dry ingredients on-site
• Add water to a premixed bag on-site
• Have a professional truck in concrete that’s already mixed
• Have a professional mix concrete on-site with a freestanding mixer

For very small projects, like making repairs or putting in a step or flagpole, adding water to a ready-mix bag often makes the most sense, plus you skip the delivery fee altogether. While you can mix ingredients together yourself, concrete mix bags are more convenient. For any project larger than that, like adding a path, patio or driveway, it’s easiest to hire a professional to transport the concrete to you. You can either have the concrete delivered in a truck or, for a smaller amount, have the ingredients transported and prepared with a freestanding mixer on-site. If you live far away from the concrete company, it’s probably best to have the concrete mixed on-site. A concrete truck keeps the wet material rotating, but it can do this for only about 90 minutes.

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The biggest factor in the cost of your project will be labor. You should expect to pay about $2 to $5 per square foot in labor cost, although you should always confirm rates with your concrete company beforehand. Average labor cost for a typical 400 square-foot concrete project will be about $1,400.

Pouring concrete is an intensive job that requires skill, timeliness and heavy lifting. There are also multiple stages in the process of installing a concrete patio or stairway. First, the ground will need to be leveled, and sand or gravel may need to be laid down. Reinforcements can help the concrete stay in place and prevent cracks down the road. Finally, the concrete will be poured and any patterning set in. This process can take a few days or more, and often requires the work of multiple contractors. If you want any special finishes, like staining or stamping, expect to pay anywhere from $1 to $2.70 per square foot on top of the cost of the concrete itself.

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Note: Costs are estimated at the U.S. national level. Variations depend on factors such as the quality of materials, type of products installed and labor costs. The typical range is assumed to be between the 20th and 80th percentiles. The high-end and low-end costs are the maximum and minimum, respectively. Costs assume that the homeowner manages the project and hires subcontractors as needed. They include a subcontractor markup of 10% for materials and labor. Costs can be higher if a general contractor is managing the project. All numbers are rounded.

Source: 2019 Houzz Remodel Costs Database