Outdoor estimator · Updated September 2026
Concrete Patio Cost Estimator
Get a free concrete patio cost estimate before calling a contractor. Select your patio size, concrete finish, thickness and US location to calculate concrete patio cost based on real 2026 contractor rates.
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- A standard 300 sq ft broom finish patio costs $2,400–$3,600
- Stamped concrete costs 2–3x more than plain concrete
- Demolishing an old patio adds about 28% to the slab cost
- Sealing the concrete extends its life and prevents staining
What affects concrete patio cost?
- Finish type — The biggest variable. Stamped concrete costs 2–3x more than a basic broom finish due to additional labor and materials.
- Size — Cost per square foot typically decreases on larger patios due to fixed mobilization and setup costs.
- Site preparation — Sloped or uneven sites require grading. Existing concrete demolition adds significant cost.
- Thickness — A 6-inch slab uses 50% more concrete than a 4-inch slab and adds 15–20% to material cost.
- Location — Labor rates vary up to 30% between rural areas and major metropolitan markets.
- Season — Concrete pours in freezing temperatures require additives and protection, adding cost in northern states.
How much does a concrete patio cost in 2026?
The average concrete patio cost in 2026 ranges from $6 to $28 per square foot installed, depending on finish type and location. A standard 300 sq ft broom finish concrete patio costs between $2,400 and $3,600. A stamped concrete patio of the same size costs $4,200 to $6,600. Use our free concrete patio cost estimator above to calculate your specific project cost by finish type, thickness, state and area type.
Concrete patio cost calculator
Our concrete patio cost calculator updates your estimate in real time as you select your finish type, slab thickness, site preparation needs and US location. The calculator applies state-specific labor multipliers and adjusts for rural, suburban and major metro markets — giving you a more accurate local estimate than a national average alone.
| Finish type | Cost per sq ft | 200 sq ft | 300 sq ft | 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain / Smooth | $6–$10 | $1,200–$2,000 | $1,800–$3,000 | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Broom Finish | $8–$12 | $1,600–$2,400 | $2,400–$3,600 | $4,000–$6,000 |
| Exposed Aggregate | $10–$16 | $2,000–$3,200 | $3,000–$4,800 | $5,000–$8,000 |
| Stained Concrete | $12–$18 | $2,400–$3,600 | $3,600–$5,400 | $6,000–$9,000 |
| Stamped Concrete | $14–$22 | $2,800–$4,400 | $4,200–$6,600 | $7,000–$11,000 |
| Stamped + Stained | $18–$28 | $3,600–$5,600 | $5,400–$8,400 | $9,000–$14,000 |
Stamped concrete patio cost estimate
The average stamped concrete patio cost in 2026 ranges from $14 to $22 per square foot installed, or $4,200 to $13,200 for a typical 300–600 sq ft patio. Stamped concrete uses textured mats pressed into fresh concrete to create the appearance of slate, brick, cobblestone, wood or natural stone. The additional cost over plain concrete comes from the pattern mats, release agents, additional coloring materials and the skilled labor required to achieve a clean finish.
Stamped concrete combined with an integral or acid stain — the stamped and stained finish — represents the premium end of decorative concrete work, typically costing $18 to $28 per square foot. This finish is comparable in cost to natural stone pavers but offers a seamless, lower-maintenance surface.
| Stamped pattern | Relative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ashlar slate | Standard | Most popular pattern, clean lines |
| Random stone | Standard | Natural irregular appearance |
| Brick / cobblestone | Standard to mid | Classic look, intricate pattern |
| Wood plank | Mid | Requires experienced finisher |
| Custom / complex pattern | High | Multiple mats, borders, inlays |
Cost of concrete patio calculator — by size
Most patios sit on a compacted gravel base. To work out how much gravel yours needs, use the gravel calculator on BucketMath.
The table below shows estimated concrete patio costs for common sizes at average US labor rates for a standard broom finish 4-inch slab with gravel base preparation:
| Patio size | Sq ft | Broom finish | Stamped | Stamped + stained |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×12 ft | 120 | $960–$1,440 | $1,680–$2,640 | $2,160–$3,360 |
| 12×16 ft | 192 | $1,536–$2,304 | $2,688–$4,224 | $3,456–$5,376 |
| 14×20 ft | 280 | $2,240–$3,360 | $3,920–$6,160 | $5,040–$7,840 |
| 16×20 ft | 320 | $2,560–$3,840 | $4,480–$7,040 | $5,760–$8,960 |
| 20×20 ft | 400 | $3,200–$4,800 | $5,600–$8,800 | $7,200–$11,200 |
| 20×30 ft | 600 | $4,800–$7,200 | $8,400–$13,200 | $10,800–$16,800 |
Every total above is the per-square-foot rate for that finish multiplied by the area, before demolition, steps, drainage or a permit, which the estimator adds separately.
Concrete patio cost estimate — what is included?
- Gravel base preparation — 4–6 inches of compacted gravel sub-base
- Forming — Wooden forms to define the patio shape and edge
- Concrete material — Ready-mix concrete delivered and poured
- Reinforcement — Wire mesh or rebar as appropriate for slab thickness
- Finishing — Your selected surface finish applied while concrete is workable
- Control joints — Saw-cut or tooled joints to control cracking
- Labor — All installation labor, typically 40–50% of total project cost
Slope is the detail that protects the house
A patio usually adjoins the building, which makes it part of how water behaves around the foundation. Poured flat, or worse pitched back toward the wall, it collects rain and delivers it exactly where you least want it.
Correct practice is a consistent fall away from the house — a slight slope, invisible underfoot but enough to move water off the surface. Two related details matter as much:
- Height relative to the siding. The finished surface has to sit low enough to preserve clearance between soil or concrete and the bottom of the wall cladding. A patio poured too high bridges that gap and traps moisture against the wall.
- Where the water goes next. Shedding water off the slab only helps if the ground beyond it keeps carrying it away. A patio that drains into a flat bed against the foundation has moved the problem three feet.
If drainage is already marginal around the house, deal with that before adding an impermeable surface to the equation — our french drain installation calculator covers the usual remedy.
Three ways to add color, and how each ages
Decorative concrete pricing is largely a function of how the color is applied, and the methods weather very differently:
| Method | How it works | How it ages |
|---|---|---|
| Integral color | Pigment mixed through the whole batch | Most forgiving — chips and wear expose the same color underneath |
| Color hardener | Broadcast onto the surface and worked in; commonly $0.50–$1.50 per sq ft | Richer color and a harder surface, but wear eventually reaches plain concrete |
| Stain applied later | Chemical or water-based color on cured concrete | Variable, layered appearance; needs re-application over time |
Stamped work adds a release agent at roughly $0.25 to $0.75 per square foot to stop the mats sticking, and sealer at about $0.30 to $0.50. Total decorative materials typically come to something like $3 to $5 per square foot inside an installed price of $14 to $22 for stamped work, or $18 to $28 once it is also stained, with premium multi-pattern work quoted higher still.
Stamped concrete has a maintenance bill
This is the part most often left out of the comparison. A stamped patio needs resealing roughly every two to three years at about $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot. On a 300 square foot patio that is a recurring few hundred dollars, indefinitely.
Skipping it does not cause immediate failure, but the surface dulls, the color fades unevenly, and the pattern loses the depth that justified the premium. Factored over twenty years, resealing can approach a meaningful fraction of what the decorative upgrade cost in the first place — which is worth knowing before choosing between stamped and a plain broom finish that asks nothing of you.
Resealing also requires the surface to be clean and completely dry first, so it pairs with a wash each time; our pressure washing cost calculator covers that side.
What pushes a patio quote up
- Removing what is there. Demolition and disposal of an existing patio commonly adds around $2 to $4 per square foot.
- Access. A back yard reached only through a narrow side gate means barrowing every yard of concrete by hand, or paying for a pump.
- Changes in level. Steps, seat walls and fire pit pads are separate structures with their own forming and pouring, not part of the slab rate.
- Slope on the site. A sloping yard needs fill, forming and sometimes a low wall to hold the pad — see our retaining wall cost calculator.
For the structural side of a pour — thickness, reinforcement and what goes underneath — our concrete slab cost calculator goes into that in detail, and if you are weighing a raised timber structure instead, the deck construction cost estimator is the direct comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete patio cost in 2026?
The average concrete patio cost in 2026 is $6 to $28 per square foot installed. A standard 300 sq ft broom finish patio costs $2,400 to $3,600. A stamped concrete patio of the same size costs $4,200 to $6,600. Costs vary by finish type, slab thickness, site conditions and your US state. Use our concrete patio cost estimator above for a personalized estimate.
What is the estimated cost of a stamped concrete patio?
The estimated cost of a stamped concrete patio in 2026 is $14 to $22 per square foot installed, or $4,200 to $13,200 for a typical 300–600 sq ft patio at average US labor rates. Adding a color stain brings this to $18 to $28 per square foot. Stamped concrete costs more than plain concrete due to specialized labor, pattern mats and coloring materials.
Is stamped concrete worth the extra cost?
Stamped concrete typically costs 70–120% more than a broom finish patio but delivers a dramatically more attractive result. It is significantly less expensive than natural stone pavers ($25–$50/sqft) while achieving a similar visual effect. For patios visible from the street or used for entertaining, most homeowners find stamped concrete worth the additional investment. For utilitarian side-yard or utility patios, a basic broom finish is usually the better value.
How long does a concrete patio last?
A properly installed concrete patio lasts 25 to 50 years with minimal maintenance. Sealing the concrete every 2–3 years significantly extends its life by preventing water infiltration, staining and surface deterioration. In freeze-thaw climates, sealing is particularly important as water infiltration and freezing is the primary cause of concrete spalling and cracking.
How do I calculate concrete patio cost?
To calculate concrete patio cost: measure your patio square footage, multiply by the per-square-foot rate for your chosen finish ($6–$28 per sq ft), then add site preparation, any features and labor adjusted for your state. Our concrete patio cost calculator above does this automatically — select your finish, thickness, site prep, state and area type for an instant estimate.
Sources & standards
Primary references behind the standards, code requirements and safety guidance cited on this page. Cost ranges shown here are HomeEstimatorHub estimates, not contractor quotes — see how these are calculated, and always confirm against written bids and your local building department.
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Disclaimer: All concrete patio cost estimates are for informational purposes only based on average 2026 US contractor rates. Actual costs vary based on site conditions, soil type, access, local material pricing and contractor availability. Always obtain multiple quotes from licensed concrete contractors before proceeding with any patio project.