Concrete patio cost calculator
Estimate what a poured concrete patio will cost from the size, your installed price per square foot, the sub-base prep, any add-ons and a contingency buffer — using the numbers from your own quotes.
Calculator
A 300 sq ft concrete patio at $9.00/sq ft plus sub-base is about $3,190.00 with 10% contingency.
A concrete patio is one of the best-value hardscapes you can add: a plain, broom-finished slab typically runs a fraction of what pavers or stamped work cost, yet gives you a durable, low-maintenance outdoor floor. The trouble is that every quote bundles the pour, the sub-base and the finish differently, so it is hard to tell whether the number on the page is fair. This calculator breaks the job into the pieces a contractor actually prices — the flatwork itself (area × your price per square foot), the sub-base and site prep, and any decorative add-ons — then adds a contingency buffer so the estimate is not caught out by the small surprises every pour has.
Enter the prices from your own written quotes. The tool holds no price list of its own; it simply arranges the arithmetic so you can compare bids line by line, sanity-check a lump-sum quote, or budget a project before you call anyone. It is a planning estimate, not a bid.
Formula
The estimate is a simple sum of the priced line items, scaled by a contingency factor:
flatwork = area_sqft × price_per_sqft
subtotal = flatwork + sub_base + add_ons
total = subtotal × (1 + contingency%)
Area is the patio footprint in square feet (length × width). The price per square foot is the installed flatwork rate from your quote. Sub-base covers excavation, gravel and grading; add-ons capture a thickened edge, a decorative border, sealer or built-in steps. The contingency is a fraction (0.10 = 10%) that pads the total for the ordinary overruns of a real pour.
Worked example
Take a 300 sq ft patio (15 × 20 ft) at $9/sq ft installed, with $200 of sub-base prep, no extra add-ons and a 10% contingency:
- Flatwork = 300 × $9 = $2,700
- Subtotal = $2,700 + $200 + $0 = $2,900
- Total = $2,900 × 1.10 = $3,190
So a straightforward mid-range patio of this size lands around $3,190. Push the finish up to a colored or stamped surface and the price-per-square-foot climbs quickly — that is why the decorative options live on their own pages.
What moves a patio quote
A few things move the per-square-foot number more than homeowners expect. Small pours cost more per foot: a 300 sq ft patio carries the same crew mobilization and short-load ready-mix fees as a much larger slab, so the unit price is higher than a big driveway. Access matters: if the ready-mix truck cannot reach the pour and the concrete has to be wheeled or pumped, expect a premium. Thickness and reinforcement are usually set for you — a residential patio is typically a 4" slab — but a thicker edge, wire mesh or fiber mix each add cost.
To keep your estimate honest, price the flatwork, the sub-base and the finish add-ons as separate lines rather than accepting one lump sum; it is the only way to compare two bids fairly. Installed concrete patios commonly run in the range shown in the reference table below, but that band is a labeled sanity guide only — mix, thickness, site access, finish and local labor all shift the real number. Always confirm the scope and get itemized written quotes from licensed, insured concrete contractors before you commit.
Reference table
Typical installed $/sq ft by finish (labeled planning bands — you enter your real price):
| Finish | Typical installed $/sq ft |
|---|---|
| Plain broom finish | $5–$10 |
| Colored / integral | $7–$14 |
| Exposed aggregate | $8–$15 |
| Stamped | $10–$18 |