How much does concrete removal cost?
How much does concrete removal cost?
$3 – $8 cost per square foot
$300 – $800 average cost to remove 10’x10’ concrete slab
$1,200 – $4,500 average cost to remove driveway (200 – 600 SF)
Concrete removal cost per square foot
Concrete removal costs $3 to $8 per square foot, including disposal. A 10’x10’ concrete slab removal costs $300 to $800. The cost to remove a concrete driveway is $1,200 to $4,500. The total cost to demo concrete depends on the project type, size, and how much rebar is inside.
| Size in square feet (3" – 6" thick) | Average cost to remove |
|---|---|
| 50 | $150 – $400 |
| 100 | $300 – $800 |
| 200 | $600 – $1,600 |
| 300 | $900 – $2,400 |
| 400 | $1,200 – $3,200 |
| 500 | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| 600 | $1,800 – $4,800 |
| 700 | $2,100 – $5,600 |
| 800 | $2,400 – $6,400 |
| 900 | $2,700 – $7,200 |
| 1,000 | $3,000 – $8,000 |
*Removal cost from unreinforced to reinforced concrete.
Concrete demolition cost by project
The cost to demo concrete depends on the project type, size, thickness, and whether it’s reinforced.
| Concrete demolition project | Average cost to remove |
|---|---|
| Concrete driveway (single- to double-car width) | $1,200 – $4,500 |
| Concrete slab (10’x10’) | $300 – $800 |
| Concrete patio (20’x20’) | $1,200 – $3,000 |
| Concrete wall (50’ long) | $250 – $800 |
| Concrete sidewalk (50’ long) | $750 – $1,250 |
| Concrete steps or stairs | $250 – $500 |
| Concrete garage floor (2-car garage) | $1,000 – $3,500 |
Cost to remove a concrete driveway
Concrete driveway removal costs $1,200 to $4,500 on average. Driveway demolition costs vary by the size and level of reinforcements. The cost to break up a concrete driveway is higher than slab demolition due to the excavator needed for the job.
Alternatively, driveway repair costs $100 to $400 for minor repairs.
Concrete slab removal cost
The average cost to remove a 10’x10’ concrete slab is $300 to $800, depending on the type of reinforcements inside. The cost to demo a concrete slab is cheapest for slabs less than 4” thick without reinforcements. Slab removal typically requires both a jackhammer and concrete saw.
Cost to remove a concrete patio
The cost to remove a 20’x20’ concrete patio is $1,200 to $3,000. Concrete patio removal cost increases if it’s attached to the home or has other masonry built into it. Demolishing walls or railings around the patio also raise the price.
Concrete wall demolition cost
A 50’ long concrete wall removal costs $250 to $800 on average or $5 to $16 per linear foot, depending on the type, height, and thickness. Removing a concrete retaining wall costs the most due to the extra backfill dirt that also needs hauling away.
Concrete sidewalk removal cost
The cost to remove a 50’ long concrete sidewalk is $750 to $1,250, depending on the width, depth, and accessibility. Prices increase for sidewalks more than 6” thick. Most sidewalks aren’t reinforced, which reduces labor time.
Cost to remove concrete stairs or steps
The cost to remove concrete stairs or steps is $250 to $500 on average for steps at a home or deck entrance. The total cost depends on if a tractor, bobcat, skid steer, or other heavy lifting equipment is necessary.
Concrete stairs are much heavier if they’re solid concrete rather than hollow forms, which increases the total project cost.
Cost to remove a concrete garage floor
The cost to remove a 2-car concrete garage floor is $1,000 to $3,500. The job typically requires a bobcat, breaker equipment, and up to 2 dumpsters. Concrete garage floor demolition solves structural problems like large cracks and settling.
Cost calculator to remove concrete
The following cost factors apply for removing concrete:
Project size – Smaller concrete removal jobs cost more per square foot than large projects.
Reinforced vs. unreinforced – Removing reinforced concrete costs $1 to $3 per square foot more due to cutting and disposing of rebar.
Digging – Excavation costs $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard.
Thickness – Concrete slabs thicker than 4” require more heavy-lifting equipment and take longer to remove, increasing the overall costs.
Labor – Hourly rates are $50 to $100 per person, with lower rates for a general hauler and higher fees for concrete saw and lifting equipment operators.
Accessibility – Some companies charge extra for removing concrete when they need to climb up and down 2 to 3 flights of stairs.
Location – Extra fees apply for mileage when disposing of concrete over longer distances. Some businesses only work within their local service area.
Permits – A concrete removal permit costs $50 to $400, depending on the location and project type.
Dump fees – Costs to haul and dump concrete are $30 to $65 per pickup truck load on average for up to 6 cubic yards of debris. Dump fees are $90 to $160 per ton according to local landfill policies.
Concrete cutting cost
Concrete cutting costs $5 to $15 per linear foot, depending on the length, depth, and whether it’s reinforced. Most concrete cutting contractors have minimum service fees of $125 to $400. These average prices are only for the labor and equipment, excluding disposal.
Wall concrete sawing costs $15 to $35 per linear foot at 1” to 12” depths.
Costs to cut a basement concrete floor for plumbing are $25 to $65 per linear foot at depths of 8” to 18”.
Concrete removal and replacement cost
The average price to tear out and replace a concrete slab is $8 to $18 per square foot. Alternatively, the cost to replace concrete with grass is $4 to $10 per square foot.
New concrete prices are $120 to $170 per cubic yard delivered and poured on average.
Common project costs include:
A standard concrete slab costs $5 to $10 per square foot.
A 2-car concrete driveway costs $1,600 to $6,400.
A concrete patio costs $4 to $12 per square foot.
A 6’ to 8’ tall concrete wall costs $90 to $320 per linear foot.
A 3’ to 6’ tall concrete retaining wall costs $45 to $270 per linear foot.
A concrete sidewalk or walkway costs $7 to $17 per square foot.
Sod installation costs $1 to $2 per square foot.
The average cost to seed a new lawn is $0.25 to $0.70 per square foot.
Concrete removal FAQs
How do you remove concrete?
Contractors typically remove concrete by breaking it up with a jackhammer or excavator depending on the size and thickness. After that, they haul the debris to a local dump or recycling center.
How long does it take to remove concrete?
Removing concrete takes 2 to 4 hours for 100 to 200 square feet of sidewalk or less than 100 square feet of an unreinforced concrete slab.
Most concrete slabs take 1 to 2 days to remove.
Removing a 4’ tall concrete retaining wall and its foundation takes 5 to 7 days for an average length of 100 feet. The total time depends on the concrete size, thickness, reinforcements, and accessibility.
When should I remove concrete vs. doing an overlay?
An overlay is best for concrete with minor cracks less than 1/4" wide. Remove concrete with large cracks, crumbling edges, spiraling, or structural problems.
To avoid more cracks, contractors typically don’t resurface old pavement twice unless they installed the first overlay. Concrete resurfacing costs $3 to $7 per square foot.
Do you need a permit to remove concrete?
You need a permit to remove concrete if it’s in the public right of way. If you’re removing a large amount of concrete with a dumpster, the city may also require a dumpster permit. A construction permit pulled when replacing pavement may include concrete removal permit fees.
Getting estimates from a concrete demolition contractor
When hiring a concrete removal service near you, be sure to:
Collect at least 3 bids from different demolition contractors.
Check customer reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
For big jobs, select experienced companies with demolition contractor licenses or a specialty C-21 certification in California.
Choose a bonded and insured company with modern power tools for greater demolition safety.
Review the company’s safety record on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s website.
Get copies of the contract and detailed estimate before work starts.
Negotiate a fee schedule for partial payments at project milestones.
Don’t give the final payment until after the work is complete.
Questions to ask
How long have you been in the demolition business?
Can you show me a list of your past references?
Does the estimate include all equipment, labor, cleanup, and disposal fees?
Will you mark any buried utility lines before work begins?
What other costs should I expect?
How do I contact the project supervisor?
Will I need permits for work near the street, and will you obtain them?
How do you handle unexpected weather delays?
What’s your plan to contain dust and prevent damage to neighboring properties?
How long will the job take?