Concrete Patio Cost: Plain and Stamped

A plain broom-finish concrete patio typically runs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed in most of the US, while stamped concrete usually lands around $12 to $20 or more per square foot, and stained or decorative finishes fall in between or above depending on complexity. For a common 12-by-16-foot patio (192 square feet), that works out to roughly $1,200 to $2,300 for plain concrete and $2,300 to $3,800 or more for stamped. Your final price depends on site prep, access, thickness, reinforcement, local labor rates and the finish you choose. This guide breaks down each factor so you can budget realistically and read contractor quotes with confidence.

Part of our Landscaping & Hardscaping guide →

In this guide

1. Concrete Patio Cost per Square Foot by Finish
2. Cost by Patio Size
3. What Drives the Cost
4. Sample Cost Breakdown
5. Common Add-Ons and Their Impact
6. Concrete vs Other Patio Materials
7. Ways to Save Without Cutting Corners
8. DIY vs Hiring a Pro
9. How to Compare Contractor Quotes
10. Maintenance and Lifespan
11. Frequently Asked Questions

Concrete Patio Cost per Square Foot by Finish

These are typical installed ranges for residential work, including labor, materials, basic site prep and finishing. Expect the low end in lower-cost regions with easy access, and the high end in major metros, on difficult sites or with complex patterns.

Finish	Typical installed cost per sq ft	Notes
Plain broom finish	About $6 to $12	Gray concrete, textured for traction
Exposed aggregate	About $9 to $16	Surface washed to reveal stones; very slip-resistant
Integral color	Add about $1 to $3	Pigment mixed into the whole batch
Acid or water-based stain	About $8 to $15	Applied to cured slab; mottled or solid look
Stamped, single pattern and color	About $12 to $18	Imitates stone, brick, slate or wood
Stamped, multi-color with borders	About $16 to $25+	Release color, accents, saw-cut borders
Resurfacing or overlay on existing slab	About $4 to $10	Only for sound slabs without heaving

Cost by Patio Size

Patio size	Area	Plain broom finish	Stamped
10 x 10 ft	100 sq ft	About $600 to $1,200	About $1,200 to $2,000
12 x 12 ft	144 sq ft	About $900 to $1,700	About $1,700 to $2,900
12 x 16 ft	192 sq ft	About $1,200 to $2,300	About $2,300 to $3,800
16 x 20 ft	320 sq ft	About $1,900 to $3,800	About $3,800 to $6,400
20 x 20 ft	400 sq ft	About $2,400 to $4,800	About $4,800 to $8,000

Small patios often cost more per square foot because contractors have minimum charges to cover mobilization, forming and a concrete delivery. Many ready-mix suppliers also charge a short-load fee for deliveries under a few cubic yards.

What Drives the Cost

Site preparation and excavation

A slab needs about 8 inches of depth for 4 inches of gravel base plus 4 inches of concrete. On a flat, open lawn, that means stripping sod and digging out soil. Slopes may need grading, retaining edges or additional fill. Removing an old patio, deck or tree roots adds demolition and hauling. Poorly draining clay may need a thicker base.

Access

If the ready-mix truck can back up to the forms, the pour is fast. If concrete must be wheelbarrowed through a side gate or pumped over the house, add labor or a pump truck fee, which can be a meaningful line item on small jobs.

Thickness and reinforcement

Four inches is standard for foot traffic and furniture. Go to 5 or 6 inches for a hot tub pad or an outdoor kitchen. Wire mesh, rebar or fiber-reinforced concrete helps control cracking; rebar on a grid is the most robust and costs the most.

Finish and design

Stamping takes a skilled crew working against the clock while the concrete sets, which is why it costs more. Each added color, border, pattern change or curve adds labor. Curved forms and steps cost more than a simple rectangle.

Region and season

Labor rates and concrete prices vary widely across the country. Spring and early summer are peak season for concrete contractors; booking in late summer or early fall in mild climates can give more scheduling flexibility.

Permits

Many municipalities do not require a permit for a ground-level patio, but some do, especially if it affects drainage, sits near a property line or is part of a larger project. HOA approval may also be needed. Ask your contractor who pulls any permit.

Sample Cost Breakdown

Here is how a typical 12-by-16-foot plain broom-finish patio on an accessible, flat site might break down. Your contractor will bundle these differently, but every quote includes these elements.

Line item	Share of total (typical)	What it covers
Excavation and sod removal	10 to 15 percent	Digging, hauling spoil
Gravel base	5 to 10 percent	About 2.5 cubic yards, compacted
Forms and reinforcement	10 to 15 percent	Lumber forms, mesh or rebar
Concrete	20 to 30 percent	About 2.5 cubic yards of ready-mix
Labor for placing and finishing	30 to 40 percent	Pouring, screeding, floating, broom, joints
Overhead, cleanup, curing	5 to 10 percent	Mobilization, curing compound, cleanup

To estimate concrete volume yourself: multiply length by width by thickness in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 12-by-16 patio at 4 inches (0.33 feet) is 12 x 16 x 0.33 = 64 cubic feet, or about 2.4 cubic yards. Contractors usually order 5 to 10 percent extra.

Common Add-Ons and Their Impact

• Old patio removal: concrete demolition and hauling is often priced per square foot.
• Steps down from a door: each step adds forming and finishing labor.
• Sealing: a penetrating or film-forming sealer on new concrete, especially stamped, adds a modest per-square-foot cost.
• Drainage: a channel drain or regrading to direct water away from the house.
• Seat walls and fire pit pads: priced separately, often per linear foot or per item.
• Lighting conduit: running conduit under the slab before the pour is far cheaper than retrofitting.

Concrete vs Other Patio Materials

Material	Relative cost	Pros	Cons
Plain concrete	Lowest durable option	Fast, strong, low maintenance	Plain look; cracks are hard to hide
Stamped concrete	Mid-range	Stone look at lower cost than stone	Needs resealing; repairs are hard to match
Concrete pavers	Mid to upper	Individual units replaceable, flexes with freeze-thaw	More labor; weeds in joints without polymeric sand
Flagstone	Upper	Natural, high-end look	Uneven surface; labor intensive
Gravel	Lowest overall	Cheap, drains well, DIY friendly	Loose, harder for furniture

For side-by-side numbers, see our guides to paver patio cost and flagstone patio cost. If you already have an old slab, laying pavers over concrete can be a cheaper upgrade than tearing it out.

Ways to Save Without Cutting Corners

• Keep the shape simple. A rectangle with square corners forms and finishes faster than curves and angles.
• Choose broom finish now, decorate later. A sound plain slab can be stained or overlaid in a few years if the budget allows.
• Do the demolition or sod removal yourself if the contractor will credit it, and confirm that in writing.
• Combine projects. Pouring a walkway or shed pad on the same day as the patio spreads mobilization and delivery costs.
• Schedule outside peak season where your climate allows; contractors may be more flexible in late summer or fall.
• Do not skimp on base, thickness, joints or reinforcement. Those are the items that decide whether the slab cracks and settles, and they cost little compared with tearing out a failed patio.

DIY vs Hiring a Pro

A small, plain slab is within reach of an experienced DIYer with helpers, and can save a large share of the labor cost. But concrete is unforgiving: once the truck arrives, you have a limited window to place, screed, float, edge, joint and broom before it sets, and mistakes are permanent. Stamped concrete is not a realistic DIY project for most homeowners because timing the stamping correctly takes practice. If you do DIY, rent a plate compactor for the base, have at least three people for a pour over 100 square feet, and plan on a cool, overcast morning rather than a hot afternoon.

How to Compare Contractor Quotes

1. Confirm the slab thickness and gravel base depth in writing.
2. Ask what reinforcement is included: wire mesh, rebar, fiber or none.
3. Ask the concrete strength (psi) specified; 3,000 to 4,000 psi is common for patios, and air-entrained concrete is important in freeze-thaw climates.
4. Check slope: the patio should fall about a quarter inch per foot away from the house.
5. Confirm joint spacing, typically every 8 to 10 feet for a 4-inch slab.
6. Ask whether sealing is included and what sealer is used.
7. Get warranty terms, a payment schedule and proof of insurance.

Maintenance and Lifespan

A well-built concrete patio can last 25 to 30 years or more. Plain concrete needs little beyond occasional cleaning and sealing every few years in freeze-thaw climates. Stamped and colored concrete should be cleaned and resealed every two to three years to keep the color rich and protect against stains and wear. Avoid deicing salts on concrete in its first winter, and never use ammonium-based deicers. For broader planning, see our landscaping and hardscaping guide and our collection of patio ideas.