Concrete Patio Cost Calculator

How much does a concrete patio cost?

This concrete patio cost calculator adds two numbers: the concrete, priced as cubic yards × price per yard, and the finishing labor, priced as area × $6 per square foot. The formula is total = (length × width × depth in ft ÷ 27 × price per yd³) + (length × width × $6). A 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 inches thick costs $266.67 in concrete plus $864 in labor, about $1,131 in all.

Enter the length and width in feet, the slab thickness in inches, and your ready-mix price per cubic yard. The result shows the cubic yards and the total estimated cost.

How the formula works

1. Area = length × width, in square feet.
2. Cubic yards = area × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27.
3. Concrete cost = cubic yards × your price per yard.
4. Labor cost = area × $6 per square foot for a broom finish.
5. Total = concrete cost + labor cost.

Notice what drives each line. Thickness changes only the concrete. Area changes both. That is why labor is usually the bigger number on a patio.

Worked examples

1. Default: 12 ft × 12 ft × 4 in, $150/yd³

• Area: 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft
• Cubic yards: 144 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 1.78 yd³
• Concrete: 1.78 × $150 = $266.67
• Labor: 144 × $6 = $864.00
• Total: $1,130.67

2. Larger patio: 16 ft × 20 ft × 4 in, $150/yd³

• Area: 16 × 20 = 320 sq ft
• Cubic yards: 320 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 3.95 yd³
• Concrete: 3.95 × $150 = $592.59
• Labor: 320 × $6 = $1,920.00
• Total: $2,512.59

The concrete figure has no waste added. Ready-mix is ordered in quarter or half-yard steps, so in practice you would order about 4.25 yd³ for example 2.

Cost by patio size at the default rates

Patio size	Area	Cubic yards (4 in)	Concrete	Labor	Total
6 × 6 ft	36 sq ft	0.44	$66.67	$216	$282.67
10 × 10 ft	100 sq ft	1.23	$185.19	$600	$785.19
12 × 12 ft	144 sq ft	1.78	$266.67	$864	$1,130.67
16 × 20 ft	320 sq ft	3.95	$592.59	$1,920	$2,512.59
20 × 20 ft	400 sq ft	4.94	$740.74	$2,400	$3,140.74
24 × 24 ft	576 sq ft	7.11	$1,066.67	$3,456	$4,522.67

Items to add to your budget

Item	Why it matters
Excavation and haul-off	Room for 4 in of base plus 4 in of slab
Gravel base	A compacted 4 in layer stops settling and cracking
Forms and stakes	Set the height and slope of the edges
Reinforcement	Wire mesh, rebar, or fiber, depending on soil and use
Control joints	Cut or tooled to guide cracks into straight lines
Sealer	Optional, helps against stains and freeze-thaw damage

Price the base stone with the gravel base calculator.

How to measure your patio

• Mark the outline with stakes and string, then measure length and width in feet.
• Split an L-shape into two rectangles. Run each one and add the totals.
• For a curved edge, use the longest length and an average width.
• Plan a gentle slope away from the house for drainage. It does not change the volume much, but it affects form setting.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the base. Concrete poured on bare soil is more likely to settle and crack.
• Comparing quotes that cover different work. Ask whether demolition, base, and reinforcement are included.
• Rounding the order down. A short load mid-pour leaves a cold joint.
• Pouring right against the house. Use an isolation joint where the patio meets the foundation.

Compare other patio options

For volume only, use the concrete patio calculator. For a decorative finish, see the stamped concrete cost calculator. Weighing pavers instead? The paver patio cost calculator prices the same footprint.

Estimates only. Local ready-mix prices and labor rates vary. Get written quotes before you budget.