How Much Does A Concrete Patio Cost?

Other than a swimming pool or an additional garage, chances are that putting in a patio will be one of the most significant outdoor investments on your property. While there is a broad range of options available within each of the alternative patio construction choices, of the most common options available, the stone patio option will generally rank as the highest cost project, and a concrete patio is usually the least expensive choice.

Concrete Patio Costs

The average cost to pour a concrete patio is $2,433, with most homeowners paying between $1,212 and $4,318 for professional installation. Labor costs can run between $3 and $10 per square foot and materials cost $1 to $2 per square foot. The total price depends on the size of your patio, if your patio is going to have curves or a complicated pattern, and if you choose a unique design finish.

This pricing guide covers:

Concrete Patio Installation Costs

The size of your desired patio will obviously determine the baseline cost for the project. Some homeowners prioritize size over design while others choose design over size. Overall, you can expect to pay $5+ per square foot on average for concrete patio installation, not including curves, designs, or finishes.

The lower prices will be for straightforward concrete, and the higher cost will include additions like color treatment and stamping—to create textures and designs, including the look of tile grooves.

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Concrete Patio Cost Per Square Foot

Concrete is one of the most durable materials you can use for your patio. It’s especially suitable for warmer climates because it doesn’t absorb heat well, and it can last for up to fifty years without needing to be resurfaced or resealed. You can even install concrete pavers by hand and avoid the cost of pouring concrete.

An entry-level concrete patio can typically cost around $5/sqft and a more elaborate concrete patio that is stamped, designed, or given color treatments can cost up to $18/sqft.

Concrete Patio Materials Cost

The following table details some average costs for plain patios:

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Concrete Patio Vs. Pavers

While concrete pavers cost around $5 to $10 per square foot, it is a very manually intensive task resulting in more than 50% of the project cost coming from the labor costs. While both concrete and pavers need a good sub base, without correct impaction procedures, pavers can drift apart.

While costing more initially, your concrete pavers are likely to last between 25 to 50 years. Just like a concrete slab, it does pose the risk of cracking, but replacement is a lot cheaper than repairing a concrete patio because you only need to replace the cracked individual pavers.

Concrete Patio Vs. Brick

The materials for a brick patio will typically cost around $7 per square foot and another $10 to $12 per square foot for installation since they need to be laid by hand. However, a well-made paving brick can last for one hundred years or more.

• Bricks are a possible alternative for a patio—they come in a variety of colors, and you can get creative in your designs with them.
• They are more likely to crack, break, and shift.
• You have to power wash and reseal the surface every year.

Concrete Patio Vs. Wood Deck

The average cost to build a deck is $25 per square foot with most homeowners spending around $4,380 to $10,080. For an entry level deck it costs around $15/sq.ft., and for a deck built with premium materials costs $35/sq.ft.

• You won’t have to deal with mold, rot, or termites.
• A deck’s wood fades if not treated,
• It might not be able to hold the weight of a hot tub or BBQ grill and kitchen area either.
• Usually needs to be power washed, stained, and resealed every few years.

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Concrete Patio Designs

The most significant factor to impact the cost of a patio is the intricacy of the design. If your patio is going to have lots of curves or a complicated paving pattern, expect to pay considerably more. This price increase is due to the additional time and effort it will take to install the patio. Anytime a contractor has to make individual cuts or spend time laying pavers in an exact pattern, the labor costs are going to go up.

Your contractor can create a finish on the concrete to replicate the more expensive options by adding color treatment and through a process called stamping and/or scoring.

Below is a more comprehensive list of potential finish options for your concrete patio.

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Stained Concrete Patio Cost

This is the most sought-after permanent color treatment for cement and concrete patio surfaces. Typically used to create a range of earth tones, these stains are naturally variegated, colorfast, and have a high-end appearance. The cost of stained concrete for a single stain color with sealer will cost between $2 and $4 per square foot. As the complexity and detail rise, the cost will follow.

Colored Concrete Patio Cost

If you want to change the actual color of the concrete, colored concrete costs about $30–53/cu. yd., and more if a separate mixer needs to be delivered and cleaned after for each color.

• Appearance: A surface that yields a range of rich, rusty, or patina tones. Has a naturally earthy, variegated shade.
• Pros: When treated with acid stain, the concrete will not fade, flake, or peel because of the chemical bonding process to adhere it permanently to the concrete surface.
• Upkeep: Because sealing is not necessary, it won’t need to be resealed every few years, but do a gentle power wash if needed.
• Summary: Allows for the creation of a unique, random finish with natural colors without needing any sealant.

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Stamped Concrete Patio Cost

Stamped concrete is a leader in versatility, colors, and uniqueness. In addition to blending color in during the mixing process, installers can also add another color while placing the cement, and a further set of surface color and patterns to the finish. Stamped concrete costs around $1.50–$1.70 more per square foot. Choose a contractor who has a portfolio of front-line stamping work.

• Appearance: Replicates the look of natural rock tile, and stone patterns like slate, brick, flagstone, and natural stone.
• Pros: Looks incredible. Because it is a continuous block of concrete, it prevents weeds from growing, and cleaning it is an easy task.
• Upkeep: Depending on wear, climate, and usage, occasional power washing and resealing every couple of years is typically required.
• Summary: The widest variety of patterns, colors, and textures available.

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Painted Concrete Patio Cost

For an estimated $2 to $6 per square foot, either painting or coating concrete is a great way to add design and/or color to your patio concrete with professional quality products.

• Pros: Depending on your concrete contractor’s skill, you should have the choice of literally any color.
• Upkeep: Standard cleaning methods and resealing every couple of years.
• Summary: A straightforward, inexpensive way to add designs or color to your concrete slab.

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Broom Finished Concrete Patio Cost

This is a concrete surface finish that is broomed before it dries. An easy and cheap way to add a decorative edge that is slip resistant. Add on $0.40 to $1 per square foot.

• Appearance: With this finish, you can see the brushstrokes left behind when a stiff yard brush is dragged across the almost set concrete. The resulting finish is safe in all conditions because it is very difficult to slip on.
• Pros: Affordable, fast to complete for the installer, slip resistant
• Upkeep: Gentle pressure washing, and, like most sealed patio surfaces, should be resealed every couple of years to keep it in top condition.
• Summary: Great way to add an interesting and safer finish to concrete slag. Fast to complete and very affordable.

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Decorative Stencil Masking Cost

Concrete stencils can be used by your installer. Stenciling will cost $1–$10 more per square foot depending on the intricacies of the design.

• Appearance: This process allows for both layering and colors to be used, delivering an old-world craftsman’s look.
• Pros: Perfect for the homeowner who wants a unique look for the patio.
• Upkeep: Pressure wash to clean, and if sealed, then reseal every few years.
• Summary: With the right design input, this is an excellent way for homeowners to take some grey concrete slab and apply their individuality to it.

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Engraved Concrete Patio Cost

Are you are looking for decorative concrete that looks and feels like flagstone at half the price? Engraved Concrete produces realistic paving or brick design as the result of hand carving and/or the use of a diamond blade cutting wheel to cut or score a decorative pattern. The engraved texture can be applied right over the existing concrete, whether you have textured or aggregate types of concrete. Scoring costs about $1 to $2/linear foot extra.

• Appearance: The finished product is clean looking and feels extremely realistic.
• Pros: While appearing to be a surface created from stone or bricks, grout cracking or separation is not an issue and weeds will not grow up through the concrete.
• Upkeep: Reseal the concrete every few years and clean with a gentle power washer.
• Summary: Scored grout lines give a patio the appearance of having real brick, tile, or stone.

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Aggregate Concrete Patio Cost

Your choice of pebbles or aggregate added to the concrete mix is what creates the range of different styles and adds to the durability. Will last a very long time. $0.90–$1.80/sqft extra.

• Appearance: The exposed aggregate gives a surface of small stones or pebbles. When walking on it, you experience something similar to acupressure on your feet.
• Pros: Adds a higher surface of exposed aggregate in the form of pebbles. It is quite difficult to damage when compared to just concrete on its own.
• Upkeep: In addition to resealing every few years, pressure wash on a low setting so as not to dislodge any of the pebbles yet clean out the accumulated dirt and grit.
• Summary: A durable finish with a timeless style that compliments many outdoor design choices.

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Concrete Patio Ideas

Living Room Patio

• The average size for a living room patio is 16’ x 18’.
• Mirrors the functionality of a living room except that it is outdoors.
• Features larger, more comfortable lounge chairs, a coffee table, and an outdoor sofa.
• Might feature either a firepit or an outdoor fireplace, lighting, and possibly some form of water features like a waterfall or fountain.
• A common feature is the addition of a pergola.

Outdoor Dining Patio

• Average size of 12’ x 14’.
• You can seat between 6–8 people around a round table with a diameter of 48”.
• Allow enough room to walk around the table and pull out chairs.

Sundeck Patio

• Average size of 5’ x 9’.
• Enough space for a few lounge chairs and an additional 3’ around the chairs, plus enough room for a small cocktail table.
• A nice resting spot near an outdoor pool, or outside the master bedroom with access through sliding glass doors.

Bistro Patio

• The smallest patio, with an average size of 5’ x 7’.
• Room for a small table and a few chairs.
• In the autumn and winter months, swap out the table for a firepit.

It is a standard rule of thumb to add 3’–5’ around any furniture to allow people to move freely behind chairs.

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Concrete Patio Installation Process

Concrete Patio Removal Costs

You can use hand tools to break up or dig up an old patio or drive in large equipment to dig the soil to a uniform depth. The cost will include preparation of the area, protective measures set up for the home and surrounding trees, and removal of debris.

Concrete can be crushed and then reprocessed or recycled as a granular refill, course base material for new pavement, or as aggregate in new concrete. This saves you the transportation and disposal fees ($100 per ton for disposal) because recycling companies will pick it up, and you’ll avoid adding to landfills.

Sub Base & Grading

Subgrade is the earth underneath the patio structure. If this is not professionally prepared, there is a high chance that the concrete will crack as it settles. Make sure that the subgrade soil is prepared so that it gives adequate, firm support and will not move or wash away.

1. Take care of drainage issues that direct water away from the structure, so it doesn’t pool around the patio and erode the underlying subgrade.
2. The earth will need to be compacted to ensure there is a solid base for the concrete. This ensures it has a consistent ability to bear the weight for the entire surface area. This is achieved by excavating the area and removing rocks, saturated or soft soils (known as cutting), and either working with suitable dirt from the area or bringing in an alternative fill like crushed stone of a uniform size, or well-graded gravel.
3. Alternatively, if you are planning for the construction of a paver patio or dry-laid stone, then the existing soil will need to have a layer of sand and gravel compacted over it.
4. Typically, compacting the soil base to a height of 6” will provide a solid subgrade, which will then be ready to pour the concrete on top of.
5. Regulations for residential patio construction typically won’t include compaction testing to ensure a uniform strength.
6. In regions where the soil freezes for many of the winter months, the subgrade foundation for the patio must go below the frost line to ensure it remains when the soil thaws out and causes movement in the soil. Local building departments specific to each area will have their own designated frost depth for the local microclimate. The deeper the frost line, the more expensive it will be to strengthen the subgrade. Factor in an additional $1 to $2 per square foot to cover those costs.

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Concrete Patio Sealer

While you don’t have to seal concrete, you should probably seal it if you plan on eating a lot on your patio—to avoid stains, as they can be difficult to get out due to the porous nature of concrete.

Virgin or pure acrylic sealer won’t yellow in sunlight whereas epoxies will. An acrylic spray-on cure and seal will cost approx. $0.53 per square foot. Two applications of a nonmetallic color and concrete hardener cost about $2.40 per square foot.

Solvent-based sealers are of a higher quality and highlight the concrete’s colors better. Look for a penetrating sealer that provides a chemical barrier to oil and freeze-thaw conditions, is breathable, won’t yellow, isn’t slippery, enhances the color of the concrete if you want it to, and provides invisible protection. High-gloss sealers are no longer popular and can be slippery. They block in the moisture, which can cause fracturing, white hazing, or fogging.

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Concrete Patio Repair

Concrete can crack if the sub base is poorly prepared, the concrete is of poor quality, badly mixed, or the patio undergoes severe thaw-refreeze weather.

• Sub-base – additives and aggregate can be pumped beneath the slab to fill sinking spots and prop the concrete back up.
• Cracks – Individual cracks can be filled for about $300. The patio can be resurfaced with overlay. The surface is scraped and a new concrete layer applied. Costs $1–$3/sqft. A third option; the patio can be stained and cut to make the cracks look like part of the design.

Additional Patio Cost Estimates

• Materials – The cost is usually lower when building materials are sourced locally because you can reduce shipping costs and reduce or eliminate interstate commerce fees.
• Permits – Before you begin, find out what permits, if any, are required by local governing authorities, or by your homeowner’s association. If you do need permits, expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $300. Because you are changing the amount of permeable ground around your home, this will affect water runoff, which could cause problems for your next-door neighbors, or neighbors’ yards farther down the street. Even if a building permit isn’t required, there is still a potential that the patio installer might need an excavation permit.
• Warranty – When getting bids, ask what kind of warranty they offer on both labor and the concrete used. Look up warranties offered by your state concrete associations on certain concrete producers, and see which contractors have agreed to follow their installation procedures and quality control standards.
• Patio Site Access – If you live in a terraced house without a side gate, and the cement is being delivered in a large cement truck, the installation team could be restricted to bringing the concrete through the house in pails.
  
  Alternatively, if there is only a side gate, and no way to get the concrete truck close enough to use a remote-controlled articulating robotic boom arm, or a trailer-mounted concrete line pump, then extra time and effort needs to be taken to transport the concrete by hand using wheelbarrows. Typically, an installation team would require a space wider than 8’ to position a cement truck to give direct access to the patio site.
  
  Your contractor may deliver the raw materials to the backyard and use a cement mixer there. Average costs related to access:
  
  
  • $25 per square foot for concrete piped in from a truck
  • $22.50 per square foot for interlocking concrete pavers
  • $14.50 per square foot for poured concrete

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Before you hire your contractor

Narrow your choices down to three who have extensive experience pouring concrete patios and adding the decorative effects you’ve chosen.

Pick from contractors who check off some or all of the following.

• See their portfolios of previous work.
• Make sure they are bonded and insured.
• Make sure cleanup is included in their quotes.
• Have an exact starting date and finishing date.
• Ask about warranties on the concrete and labor.
• Check their Better Business Bureau rating.
• Check their HomeGuide and Google rating

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