How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost?
A concrete slab costs about $5 to $9 per square foot installed in 2026, with most standard 4-inch residential slabs landing near $7 per square foot. That price covers the concrete, labor, forms, and basic finishing for a poured-in-place slab on prepared ground. If you only buy the concrete and pour it yourself, the material runs closer to $2 per square foot, but the labor is where most of the money goes.
Here is what actually goes into that number, what real slab sizes cost, and how to get an accurate figure for your own project.
Cost per square foot
Slab pricing is easiest to think about per square foot, because that is how contractors quote it. The range reflects thickness, finish, site prep, and your local labor market.
| Cost tier | What you get | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 4-inch slab, broom finish, simple prep | $5 to $6 |
| Standard | 4-inch slab, wire mesh or rebar, level grade | $6 to $8 |
| Upgraded | 5 to 6-inch slab, thicker edges, smooth or colored finish | $8 to $12 |
Most homeowners pour a standard 4-inch slab, so a mid-range number is the safest planning figure. Thicker slabs, decorative finishes, and difficult access all push you toward the top of the range.
Cost by slab size
Here is what common slab sizes work out to at the installed rate. These figures assume a standard 4-inch slab and include labor.
| Slab size | Area | Estimated installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 100 sq ft | $500 to $900 |
| 12 x 12 ft | 144 sq ft | $720 to $1,300 |
| 20 x 20 ft | 400 sq ft | $2,000 to $3,600 |
| 24 x 24 ft | 576 sq ft | $2,900 to $5,200 |
| 30 x 30 ft | 900 sq ft | $4,500 to $8,100 |
| 30 x 40 ft | 1,200 sq ft | $6,000 to $10,800 |
| 40 x 60 ft | 2,400 sq ft | $12,000 to $21,600 |
Bigger pours cost less per square foot because the fixed costs of mobilizing a crew and a concrete truck get spread across more area. A tiny slab carries the same setup overhead as a large one, so it feels expensive by the foot.
What drives the price up
Two slabs of the same size can be quoted hundreds of dollars apart. The usual reasons are:
- Thickness. Going from 4 inches to 6 inches adds 50 percent more concrete. That raises both the material cost and the load on the truck.
- Site prep. A flat, accessible, well-drained pad is cheap. Sloped ground, poor soil, tree roots, or the need to haul in fill and gravel all add labor and material.
- Reinforcement. Wire mesh, rebar, and a thicker gravel base add a little to the material bill but a lot to a slab's lifespan.
- Finish. A plain broom finish is standard. Stamped, colored, or polished finishes can double the surface cost.
- Short-load fees. Ordering less than a full truck of ready-mix adds a small-load charge, which hits small slabs hardest.
Doing it yourself
Pouring your own slab can cut the cost roughly in half, since labor is most of the bill. For a small pad the math often works. You buy or rent forms, order ready-mix or mix bags, and finish it yourself. The catch is that concrete is unforgiving. It sets on its own schedule, a bad pour is expensive to fix, and anything over a few hundred square feet is hard to place and finish before it stiffens. Under about 100 square feet, DIY is reasonable. Above that, hiring a crew is usually worth it.
Estimate your own slab
Prices swing by region, season, and how far you are from the ready-mix plant, so the smartest move is to price your exact slab. Work out the volume, then get quotes against that number. Run your length, width, and thickness through the concrete slab cost calculator to see a dollar estimate, or use the concrete slab calculator to get the yards and bags first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete slab cost per square foot?
About $5 to $9 per square foot installed for a standard 4-inch slab in 2026, with most jobs near $7. Concrete-only, if you pour it yourself, is closer to $2 per square foot.
How much does it cost to pour a 20x20 concrete slab?
A 20 x 20 slab is 400 square feet, so figure roughly $2,000 to $3,600 installed. Doing it yourself can bring the concrete cost down to around $800.
Why is a small concrete slab so expensive?
Fixed costs. Crew mobilization, forms, and short-load delivery fees are the same whether the slab is small or large, so they weigh heavily on tiny pours.
Is it cheaper to pour a slab yourself?
Yes, because labor is most of the cost. DIY makes sense under about 100 square feet. Larger slabs are hard to place and finish in time, so a crew is usually worth the money.