Concrete Patio Cost

By Muhammad Awais. Prices reviewed October 2026.

Concrete patio cost for a plain broom or smooth finish runs $4 to $9.50 per square foot installed nationally, with $6.75 as the midpoint. Most homeowners spend $1,780 to $4,790 on the whole project, and $3,165 is the typical total, the mean of the averages published by Angi and HomeAdvisor. Decorative finishes cost more: stamped concrete runs $8.50 to $30 per square foot.

Patio size	Plain, Low	Plain, Typical	Plain, High	Stamped, Typical
10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft)	$400	$675	$950	$1,930
12 x 12 ft (144 sq ft)	$576	$972	$1,370	$2,770
12 x 16 ft (192 sq ft)	$768	$1,300	$1,820	$3,700
16 x 20 ft (320 sq ft)	$1,280	$2,160	$3,040	$6,160
20 x 20 ft (400 sq ft)	$1,600	$2,700	$3,800	$7,700

Price per square foot by finish

The finish is the biggest single choice after size. A broom finish gives grip for wet feet and costs the least. Exposed aggregate washes the top paste away to show the stones in the mix. Stain adds color after the slab cures, and stamping presses a stone, brick or wood pattern into the surface while it is still plastic, which takes a larger crew working fast.

Finish, installed per sq ft	Low	Typical	High
Plain, broom or smooth	$4	$6.75	$9.50
Stamped	$8.50	$19.25	$30
Stained	$8	$16.50	$25
Exposed aggregate	$7	$12.50	$18

The stamped row averages HomeGuide and Fixr. The stained and exposed aggregate rows rest on HomeGuide alone, and each Typical sits at the midpoint of its range.

How much concrete a patio needs

A 4 inch slab is standard for a patio that carries people and furniture. The concrete slab calculator below turns length, width and thickness into cubic yards and bags, with a waste allowance.

A 12 by 16 foot patio at 4 inches holds 2.37 cubic yards, or 2.61 with 10 percent waste. The calculator’s installed figure, $1,150 to $2,690 with $1,920 typical, uses the site’s slab rate of $6 to $14 per square foot, which also covers thicker slabs and regional pricing. The plain patio rate on this page is narrower because it describes a simple 4 inch patio at national prices, so the same patio comes to $768 to $1,820 here, with $1,300 typical.

Worked example: plain or stamped on 192 square feet

A family adds a 12 by 16 foot patio off the back door on a level, accessible lot.

• Plain broom finish: $768 to $1,820, typical $1,300.
• Stamped finish: $1,630 to $5,760, typical $3,700.
• Removing an old patio first, if one is in the way: $1,000 to $2,000, priced in the concrete removal guide.

Stamping roughly triples the typical bill on this patio. A common middle path is a plain field with a stamped or colored border, which keeps most of the area at the plain rate.

Factors behind the quote

• Site preparation. Removing sod, grading a slope and adding compacted gravel take time before any concrete arrives.
• Thickness and reinforcement. A patio that will hold a hot tub or an outdoor kitchen needs more thickness, rebar or both.
• Access for the truck. A ready mix truck that reaches the forms pours directly; otherwise the crew pumps the concrete or moves it by wheelbarrow.
• Shape. Curves and multiple levels need more form work than a plain rectangle.
• Minimum charges. Small patios carry fixed costs for the truck, the crew and the forms, so their price per square foot runs high.
• Region. A 300 square foot plain patio at $2,030 typical nationally comes to about $2,530 where prices run 25 percent over the national figure and about $1,720 where they run 15 percent under it.

Cracks, joints and the life of a patio

Concrete shrinks as it cures and moves with temperature, so every slab cracks somewhere. Control joints, the straight grooves cut or tooled across a patio, give those cracks a planned place to form. Joints spaced too far apart, or cut too late, let random cracks wander across the surface instead. Soil preparation matters just as much: a slab poured on loose fill settles unevenly, while one on compacted gravel stays flat. Water is the other enemy. A patio needs a gentle fall away from the house, and in cold climates an air entrained mix resists the freeze and thaw damage that flakes the top layer. Sealing every few years helps decorative finishes keep their color and slows that surface wear. With a sound base, good joints and sensible drainage, a plain patio lasts for decades, and small cracks can be routed and filled rather than replaced.

Pouring a patio without a contractor

Small pads can be poured by an owner with helpers, forms, a bull float and a broom, especially when bagged concrete is mixed on site. Anything that needs a ready mix truck is harder: the truck sets the pace, and a crew of three or four must place, screed and finish the slab before it stiffens. Mistakes such as poor slope, missing control joints or overworked surfaces show up as puddles, random cracks and flaking. Most patios larger than a small landing go to a concrete contractor for that reason.

Costs not in the patio rate

• Removal of an existing patio, lawn or deck.
• Steps, footings for a roof cover and seat walls.
• Drainage work beyond the normal slope away from the house.
• Sealing, which protects decorative finishes and needs repeating.
• Permits, where the city requires them for slabs near property lines.
• Lawn and bed repair along the edges after the forms come off.

Concrete patio quote checklist

• Patio dimensions, thickness and the slope away from the house.
• Gravel base depth and compaction.
• Reinforcement: wire mesh, rebar or fiber in the mix.
• Concrete strength and any color or additives.
• Finish, pattern and the sealer used on decorative work.
• Control joint layout and spacing.
• Removal and haul away of old material.
• Curing method and the warranty on cracking and scaling.

Cost data note

The plain patio rate averages HomeGuide and Angi, the stamped rate averages HomeGuide and Fixr, and the project total averages Angi and HomeAdvisor. Angi and HomeAdvisor share a parent company but publish different patio figures from different member samples, so both totals are shown. The method behind each range is on the methodology page. The figures were set in October 2026, with a scheduled recheck once 3 months pass.

Frequently asked questions

Per square foot, what does a concrete patio cost installed?

A plain broom or smooth patio costs $4 to $9.50 per square foot installed, with $6.75 as the midpoint. Stamped patios cost $8.50 to $30.

What does a 12 by 16 foot concrete patio cost?

A plain 192 square foot patio costs $768 to $1,820 installed, with $1,300 typical. Stamped, the same patio runs $1,630 to $5,760.

Is a concrete patio cheaper than pavers?

Plain concrete usually costs less per square foot than pavers. Stamped concrete can match or pass the cost of standard pavers.

How thick should a concrete patio be?

Four inches suits most patios. Areas that carry a hot tub, a heavy grill station or vehicles need a thicker slab or added reinforcement.

How long does a concrete patio take to install?

Forming and pouring usually take one to three days. The slab can take foot traffic within a day or two and furniture after about a week.

More concrete and patio guides

The concrete calculators cover volume and cost for any pour. The pavers versus concrete guide weighs the two patio surfaces, the concrete removal guide prices taking out an old slab, and the concrete steps guide covers the steps that often lead down to a patio. Every guide is listed in the guide collection.