Concrete cost guide
Compare published installed ranges by slab depth and common use, plus a ready-mix price per cubic yard.
HomeGuide installed estimates by intended use, with the ready-mix benchmark and a 40 × 60 example.
| Scenario | Installed $ / sq ft | Ready-mix $ / cu yd | 40 × 60 total | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-inch driveway | $6–$15 / sq ft | $119–$147 / cu yd | $14,400–$36,000 | Standard residential driveway; decorative finishes and heavier-duty work can cost more. |
| 4-inch walkway | $7–$17 / sq ft | $119–$147 / cu yd | $16,800–$40,800 | Basic to average installed sidewalk range; excludes variable base preparation. |
| 4-inch patio | $4–$12 / sq ft | $119–$147 / cu yd | $9,600–$28,800 | Plain concrete patio; decorative finishes, reinforcement, and site work may add cost. |
| 6-inch garage slab | $8–$10 / sq ft | $119–$147 / cu yd | $19,200–$24,000 | General 6-inch slab installed range; garage slabs commonly use 4–6 inches. |
This table groups prices by use scenario. Construction, reinforcement, and base requirements differ among scenarios, so prices should not be compared across scenarios. Prices last verified: 2026-10-20. The 40 × 60 example uses 2,400 sq ft multiplied by each cited installed range. Ready-mix pricing is a delivered material benchmark, not an installed rate.
AllBetter estimates for plain slab placement across thicknesses.
| Thickness | Installed $ / sq ft | Ready-mix material $ / sq ft | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4" | $6.50–$10.50 / sq ft | $2.00–$2.40 / sq ft | Patios, walkways, and shed bases |
| 5" | $7.00–$11.00 / sq ft | $2.45–$3.00 / sq ft | Garage floors and light vehicle pads |
| 6" | $7.50–$11.70 / sq ft | $2.95–$3.60 / sq ft | Driveway pads and heavier loads |
Estimated by AllBetter from Concrete Network ready-mix pricing, not measured market pricing. The estimate uses plain concrete slab pricing and does not include scenario-specific reinforcement. This is why these estimates may be lower than the driveway range in the scenario table; do not compare prices across the two tables. Table 1 lists HomeGuide ready-mix at $119–$147 per cu yd. At 4 inches (81 sq ft per cu yd), that implies $1.47–$1.81 per sq ft; at 6 inches (54 sq ft per cu yd), it implies $2.20–$2.72 per sq ft. This table lists $2.00–$2.40 at 4 inches and $2.95–$3.60 at 6 inches, about 32%–36% higher overall because the ready-mix prices come from different sources (this table is based on Concrete Network); do not convert the tables into each other by thickness.
This table breaks installed prices out by thickness: $6.50–$10.50 per sq ft at 4 inches to $7.50–$11.70 at 6 inches (the upper end rises about 11%, from $10.50 to $11.70; the lower end rises from $6.50 to $7.50). The site's size pages, such as /40x60, use HomeGuide's single $6–$12 per sq ft installed baseline without thickness splits, so their three installed-baseline rows stay the same. The tables use different levels of detail, not conflicting calculations: use this table to compare prices by thickness, and the size pages to estimate material quantity and total for a specific footprint.
Prices last verified: 2026-10-20.
Thickness depends on the intended load, soil and base conditions, local requirements, and the project design. A general cost chart cannot specify structural requirements; confirm the thickness with a qualified contractor or designer.
The per-cubic-yard figure is a ready-mix delivery benchmark. A thicker slab needs more cubic yards per square foot, so the material quantity and the total project cost rise even when the price per yard is similar.
Yes. Ask whether the estimate includes reinforcement, excavation, grading, compacted base, forms, delivery, pumping, and finishing. The published installed ranges do not guarantee that every one of those items is included.
Estimate cubic yards from your slab dimensions and thickness.
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Scenario table: each installed range below is from HomeGuide. Ready-mix benchmark: HomeGuide concrete pricing.
All three thickness ranges use AllBetter’s estimate derived from Concrete Network July 2026 pricing. Estimated from Concrete Network ready-mix pricing, not measured market pricing.