Concrete Patio Cost per Square Foot (2026 Prices)
What a concrete patio costs in 2026 by finish and by size, the prep work that changes a quote, the DIY material bill, and how concrete compares with pavers and flagstone.
A plain gray slab is still the cheapest way to get a hard, level place for a table and chairs. Most homeowners pay between $1,900 and $5,400 for one, according to Angi's 2026 project data, with a national average of $3,557. Your own concrete patio cost depends mostly on two things: how big the slab is and what you do to its surface.
That second part is where quotes drift apart. A broom-finished slab and a stamped "slate" patio of the same size can differ by $5,000 or more. Prep work you can't see in the finished patio, like grading, a gravel base or tearing out an old slab, moves the number too.
This guide gives you 2026 prices per square foot for each finish, a grid of costs for common patio sizes, the line items that change a quote, the DIY material bill, and how concrete stacks up against pavers and flagstone.
Quick answer: how much does a concrete patio cost?
A professionally installed concrete patio costs $4 to $12 per square foot for plain or broom-finished concrete and $9 to $30 per square foot for stamped concrete (HomeGuide, 2026). A typical 12x12 plain patio runs about $600 to $1,700, and a 20x20 runs $1,600 to $4,800. Site prep such as grading or removing an old slab can add $550 to $3,200 on top.
Concrete patio cost per square foot by finish
The finish is the biggest choice you make after size. Each step up adds labor, and decorative work also needs a crew that knows how to do it. To see the finishes before you price them, browse our concrete patio ideas.
| Finish | Installed cost per sq ft | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Plain (smooth trowel) | $4 to $12 | Flat gray surface, can be slick when wet |
| Broom finish | $6 to $13 | Fine ridges across the slab for grip |
| Exposed aggregate | $7 to $18 | Top layer washed off to show small stones |
| Stained | $8 to $25 | Plain slab colored with acid or water-based stain |
| Stamped | $9 to $30 | Pressed pattern that copies slate, brick or stone |
Prices from HomeGuide's 2026 concrete patio guide. Concrete Network's ranges are similar: $5 to $8 for plain, $8 to $11 with one decorative touch, $11 to $18 for custom work with two or three colors or a border, and $18 and up for elaborate designs.
A few things those ranges hide:
- Broom finish is the default. Most contractors quote a broom finish as their basic patio, because a smooth trowel finish gets slippery.
- Exposed aggregate is the cheapest "decorative" look. It adds texture and color from the stone itself without stamping tools or extra color layers.
- Stamped concrete has the widest range because a one-color stamp and a three-color pattern with a hand-cut border are very different jobs. Our stamped concrete patio cost guide covers it in detail.
- Stain can come later. You can pour a plain slab now and stain it in a few years for about $3 to $15 per square foot (HomeGuide).
What the finishes look like on the same patio
Prices per square foot are hard to judge without seeing the result. Here is the patio from the top of this post shown three more ways, each an AI concept made from that one photo. Only the surface changes:
On a 192-square-foot patio like this one, the jump from broom finish to stamped can mean roughly $1,150 to $2,500 versus $1,750 to $5,750. Seeing both on your own house makes it much easier to decide whether the stamped look is worth it to you. You can do that with any patio photo using AI patio design: upload the photo, pick a style, and compare surfaces before you call anyone for a quote.
Concrete patio cost by size
Here is the per-square-foot pricing turned into totals for the patio sizes people build most often. We multiplied HomeGuide's 2026 ranges by each size and rounded to the nearest $50.
| Patio size | Square feet | Plain | Broom finish | Exposed aggregate | Stamped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 | 100 | $400 to $1,200 | $600 to $1,300 | $700 to $1,800 | $900 to $3,000 |
| 12x12 | 144 | $600 to $1,750 | $850 to $1,850 | $1,000 to $2,600 | $1,300 to $4,300 |
| 12x16 | 192 | $750 to $2,300 | $1,150 to $2,500 | $1,350 to $3,450 | $1,750 to $5,750 |
| 16x20 | 320 | $1,300 to $3,850 | $1,900 to $4,150 | $2,250 to $5,750 | $2,900 to $9,600 |
| 20x20 | 400 | $1,600 to $4,800 | $2,400 to $5,200 | $2,800 to $7,200 | $3,600 to $12,000 |
These totals cover the slab itself. They don't include demolition, major grading, permits or anything built on top.
Two size effects are worth knowing before you settle on dimensions:
- Small patios cost more per square foot. Delivery, setup and forms cost about the same for 80 square feet as for 200. Many contractors set a job minimum, and SlabCalc puts small-pad minimums at $600 to $900. A 7x7 landing can cost nearly as much as a 10x10 patio.
- Big patios get cheaper per square foot. Concrete Network and HomeGuide both note that the rate drops as the slab grows, because setup is spread over more area.
Size the patio for the furniture, not the other way round. A round table for four needs roughly a 10x10 area to pull chairs out comfortably. A dining table for six plus a grill fits better on 12x16 or larger.
What raises the price of a concrete patio
Two patios with the same size and finish can still be quoted $2,000 apart. The difference is usually in the ground and the access, not the concrete.
| Cost factor | Typical added cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling and regrading | $1,000 to $3,200 | Sloped or uneven yards (Angi) |
| Removing an old slab | $550 to $1,700 | Replacing an existing patio (Angi) |
| Rebar or wire mesh | $1 to $3 per sq ft | Most quotes; strongly advised under heavy items (HomeGuide) |
| Thicker slab (6 inches) | Roughly $1 to $1.30 more per sq ft in concrete alone | Hot tubs, outdoor kitchens, heavy planters |
| Permit | $50 to $400 | Depends on your town and the patio size |
| Pumping or wheelbarrowing | Varies by quote | No truck access to the backyard |
| Curves, steps or multiple levels | Varies by quote | Custom forms and more finishing time |
| Sealing | $3 to $5 per sq ft, every 3 to 5 years | Recommended upkeep (Angi) |
The work in the photo above is the part of the price you never see again. Excavating, laying and compacting a gravel base, and setting forms take most of a day on a small patio. Homewyse's 2026 estimate leaves excavation and the gravel base out of its basic labor line, which is one reason quotes are hard to compare. Ask every contractor whether those are included.
Water matters too. A slab has to slope away from the house so rain doesn't run toward the foundation. If the yard already holds water near the patio area, you may need drainage work, such as a French drain, before anyone pours. On a steep yard, a small retaining wall can be the real cost of a level patio.
How thick should a concrete patio be?
Four inches is standard for a residential patio, and HomeGuide and Angi both describe it as the normal minimum. Go to 6 inches with reinforcement under a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen or anything else heavy. Extra thickness mostly costs concrete: going from 4 to 6 inches adds about half again as much material, which is why contractors only thicken the slab where the load needs it.
Concrete vs pavers vs flagstone: which costs less?
Plain concrete is the cheapest hard patio surface you can have installed. Once you add stamping and color, the gap with pavers narrows quickly. Natural stone usually costs more again; here is what flagstone costs dry-laid and mortared.
| Material | Installed cost per sq ft | 12x12 patio | 20x20 patio | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain or broom concrete | $4 to $13 | $600 to $1,850 | $1,600 to $5,200 | 30 to 50 years |
| Stamped concrete | $9 to $30 | $1,300 to $4,300 | $3,600 to $12,000 | 30 to 50 years |
| Concrete pavers | $10 to $17 | $1,400 to $2,500 | $3,800 to $6,800 | 25 to 75 years |
| Flagstone | $15 to $32 | $2,150 to $4,600 | $6,000 to $12,800 | 10 to 50 years |
| Wood deck | $25 to $50 | $3,600 to $7,200 | $10,000 to $20,000 | 10 to 25 years |
Concrete, paver and deck figures from HomeGuide's 2026 guides; flagstone from HomeGuide's stone patio guide; flagstone and deck totals are our math from those per-square-foot ranges.
What the table doesn't show:
- Cracks. Concrete will crack at some point; control joints decide where. A cracked slab is patched or replaced in sections. A paver patio flexes with the ground, and a broken paver lifts out and swaps for a new one.
- Repairs on stamped concrete are hard to hide, because matching the pattern and color is tricky.
- Pavers take longer to install but you can walk on them the same day. Concrete needs a few days before furniture goes on it.
- Looks. Stamped concrete copies stone in one continuous surface. Pavers and flagstone have real joints, which many people prefer.
If you're leaning toward pavers, the paver calculator works out how many pavers, how much base gravel and how much sand a patio needs. You can also try paver patterns and colors on a photo of your yard with a paver design tool before buying any.
Repair, resurface or replace?
If you already have a tired slab like the one above, you may not need a new patio. Concrete Network puts resurfacing at $3 to $10 per square foot, compared with $5 to $18 for a new pour. Resurfacing only works if the slab is structurally sound. Once corners have sunk or slabs have shifted, plan on removal ($550 to $1,700 per Angi) plus a new patio.
Should you pour a concrete patio yourself?
DIY saves most of the labor, which is about half the price of a patio. It also puts all of the risk on you. Concrete gives you one chance: once the truck arrives or the first bag is mixed, the clock is running.
Here is roughly what the materials alone cost for a 10x10 patio, 4 inches thick (about 1.25 cubic yards of concrete):
| Item | Bagged mix | Ready-mix delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | About 62 bags of 80 lb mix (with 10% extra) at about $6.50 each: around $400 | 1.25 cubic yards at about $180 per yard: around $225, plus any short-load or delivery fee |
| Gravel base, form boards, stakes, wire mesh (our estimate) | $150 to $300 | $150 to $300 |
| Tool and mixer rental | $145 to $220 | $145 to $220 |
| Rough total | $695 to $920 | $520 to $745 plus delivery fees |
Bag price from Home Depot's 80 lb Quikrete pallet price ($271.74 for 42 bags), checked October 2026. Ready-mix average of $179.95 per cubic yard from Concrete Network. Equipment allowance based on Homewyse's 2026 estimate. An 80 lb bag yields about 0.6 cubic feet.
Compare that with $400 to $1,300 for a pro-installed 10x10 and the savings look modest, especially on a small patio. Mixing 60 bags by hand is a long, heavy day, and two people usually can't place and finish that much before it starts to set. Ready-mix solves the mixing but not the finishing.
DIY makes sense when:
- The patio is small, flat and close to where a truck or mixer can reach
- You have at least two helpers on pour day
- You are fine with a plain or broom finish
Hire out when the yard slopes, the patio is bigger than about 150 square feet, or you want any decorative finish. A middle route works too: do the digging and the planting yourself and pay a crew to form, pour and finish. If you're planning more of the hard surfaces yourself, our guide to DIY hardscape design covers the planning side.
How to get accurate concrete patio quotes
A quote is only comparable if every contractor is pricing the same job. Before you call:
- Settle the size and shape. Mark the outline with string or spray paint and measure it.
- Pick the finish. Know whether you're asking about broom, exposed aggregate or stamped. If you're torn, ask for each as a separate line.
- Show them what you want. A photo or concept image of the finished patio prevents the classic mismatch between "stone look" in your head and in theirs.
- Get at least three written quotes that break out excavation, gravel base, thickness, reinforcement, finish, sealing and cleanup.
- Ask who pulls the permit and whether the price includes it.
- Check recent work. Ask for photos of patios with the same finish, and look at a real one if you can.
A quote far below the others usually means something is missing, most often the base, the reinforcement or the haul-away. If you're pricing a bigger project around the patio, our landscape design cost guide explains what designers and design tools charge before any concrete is poured.
Key takeaways
- Budget $4 to $13 per square foot for a plain or broom-finish slab and $9 to $30 for stamped. Most patios land between $1,900 and $5,400 all in.
- Size drives the total, finish drives the range. A 12x12 runs about $600 to $1,750 plain and up to $4,300 stamped.
- Ask about prep in writing. Grading, a gravel base and demolition can add $550 to $3,200 and are often left out of the cheapest quote.
- Compare finishes on your own patio before choosing. With OutdoorBrite you can see plain, stamped and paver versions of your patio side by side, which makes the stamped premium much easier to judge.
FAQ
How much is a 12x12 concrete patio? A 12x12 concrete patio (144 square feet) costs about $600 to $1,750 installed with a plain or broom finish, based on HomeGuide's 2026 rates. Exposed aggregate runs about $1,000 to $2,600, and stamped concrete about $1,300 to $4,300. Grading or removing an old slab is extra.
What is the concrete patio cost per square foot in 2026? Plain concrete costs $4 to $12 per square foot installed, broom finish $6 to $13, exposed aggregate $7 to $18, stained $8 to $25 and stamped $9 to $30. Labor is about half of that. Small patios often cost more per square foot because of contractor minimums.
Is concrete cheaper than pavers? Yes, plain concrete is cheaper. A plain or broom slab costs $4 to $13 per square foot installed, while pavers run $10 to $17. Stamped concrete can cost as much as pavers or more, so if you want a decorative look, price both.
How thick should a concrete patio be? Four inches is the standard thickness for a residential patio. Use 6 inches with rebar under hot tubs, outdoor kitchens or other heavy loads. Most of the patio slab doesn't need to be thicker than 4 inches.
How much does a 20x20 concrete patio cost? A 20x20 patio (400 square feet) costs about $1,600 to $4,800 plain, according to HomeGuide, and Angi's 2026 range is $2,400 to $6,400. Stamped finishes on the same size run $3,600 to $12,000.
Is it cheaper to pour your own concrete patio? Materials and rentals for a 10x10 patio run about $520 to $920, versus $400 to $1,300 for a pro-installed plain slab. The savings are real on paper but small, and a bad pour costs more to fix than the labor you saved. DIY works best for small, flat, plain patios.
How long does a concrete patio last? A properly installed and sealed concrete patio lasts 30 to 50 years, according to HomeGuide. Sealing every three to five years and fixing small cracks early helps it reach the long end of that range.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio? It depends on your town. Many places require a permit for a new patio, especially a large one or one attached to the house, and fees typically run $50 to $400. Call your building department before you dig, and call 811 to have utility lines marked.
Sources: HomeGuide: concrete patio cost, HomeGuide: paver patio cost, HomeGuide: stone patio cost, Angi: concrete patio cost, Concrete Network: concrete patio cost, Concrete Network: concrete prices, Homewyse: cost to install a concrete patio, SlabCalc: concrete slab cost calculator, Home Depot: Quikrete 80 lb concrete mix pallet, all checked October 20, 2026
