How Much Does a Concrete Patio Cost?

Before you update your home, you may be wondering how much a concrete patio will cost. In general, homeowners will invest between $960 – $3200 for a concrete patio. Concrete is by far the most used building material today and has an amazing history running back thousands of years to the secret concrete recipes of ancient Rome.

Daydreaming of early morning breakfast on a covered patio watching and listening to the morning songbirds? Do you want to escape from the busy ongoings in your home with comfortable patio furniture, fresh air, and warm sunshine?

Patios are what these dreams are made of. Unfortunately, this dream will have a cash price so what does a concrete patio cost? This is our sole focus here. Come with us as we pour out everything there is to know about the cost of concrete patios.

Complete Concrete Patio Cost Analysis

How much does it cost for a concrete patio? The cost to install a concrete patio is not set in stone, or concrete for that matter. There are many variables that determine the cost of pouring a concrete patio that we will need to cover.

In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to determine how much your new patio should cost. Armed with your freshly found know-how of various designs and what is involved in the building process, you will be able to determine if the contractor’s quote is reasonable.

The following important points will be covered in determining the cost:

• Property considerations
• Type of concrete
• Size and shape
• Design complexity

Property Considerations

Some properties are easier and cheaper to build on than others. Often times the property hasn’t any building issues and will not cause any additional cost to the project. Sometimes the cost of the patio is greatly increased by one or more of the following issues.

Site Accessibility Issues

In urban areas especially, the site of your new patio may be difficult to bring in trucks and equipment due to a small crowded property and limited access space. Workers may need to carry in equipment and supplies from their trucks over long distances increasing labor costs.

When the site is accessible by a concrete truck, the job can be done with premixed concrete at a lower cost. If concrete is pumped from the truck parked at a distance from the job site, additional equipment is needed bringing up the cost as well.

Landscaping

The ground at the site of the patio will need to be prepared. If the site is on unlevel ground then tiling and preparing the ground for the patio’s foundation is more complicated. Lower areas may need to be built up and retaining walls erected.

Demolition and Removal of Obstacles

Is there anything on the property that is in the way of your planned patio? Some common obstacles in the way of the build may include:

• Storage sheds
• Dog or chicken houses
• Old garages or barns
• Trees or bushes
• Statues and birdbaths
• Boulders

Removing structures and natural barriers can get costly depending on the size, weight, and the difficulty of removing them. A dog house could be broken down and hauled away for as little as a hundred dollars where the cost of removing a tree and its roots could cost thousands.

Cost by Type and Size of a Concrete Patio

The two main factors determining the cost of a concrete patio installation are the type and size of the concrete patio being installed. Generally speaking, the fancier the design and the bigger the square footage of the patio, the higher the cost will be.

We will start from the cheapest expected cost and work our way up to luxury, one-of-a-kind custom-designed concrete patios. Somewhere in between, you will find your comfort zone matching your project budget.

Simple and Standard Design

Square or rectangle with no borders or pattern is the simplest patio design and therefore the cheapest option. Plain and simple concrete patios cost between $3 and $6 per square foot not counting preparing a difficult property for the installation.

With basic patios, contractors often charge by the job and not by the square foot so estimates can vary greatly between contractors. The standard patio doesn’t require specialized equipment and highly skilled labor making the quality of work concerns less of a factor in hiring the contractor.

We highly recommend you get several quotes from contractors before deciding which to choose. Simple concrete patio installation cost estimates by size:

• 10ft x 12ft patio / 120 sq ft cost an estimated $540
• 12ft x 12ft patio / 144 sq ft cost an estimated $648
• 10ft x 20ft patio / 200 sq ft cost an estimated $900
• 12ft x 20ft patio / 240 sq ft cost an estimated $1,080
• 20ft x 20ft patio / 400 sq ft cost an estimated $1,800

Stamped Concrete Patio Cost

One step up from your plain old boring smooth concrete pad is the stamped concrete patio. Virtually any pattern and texture are stamped into the concrete to give the patio the appearance of being made of other materials. If stamped correctly and the dyes are true to the nature of the material, a stamped concrete patio looks amazingly convincing.

London Coble Stone

Named after the cobblestone roads and sidewalks of 19th century London, the London cobblestone pattern is one of the most popular stamps. It has a traditional and elegant look while keeping the surface less slippery with a light texture imitating the traction you get while walking on cobblestone.

Classic Brick

The brick look is another classic design worth considering. Brick stamps come in both running bond and herringbone patterns. The brick texture is extremely good for walking on even in icy conditions.

Ashlar Cut Slate

For those that want a timeless and luxurious look to their patio, you can’t go wrong with a slated stone pattern. It is amazing how this stamp can transform a concrete patio into a realistic expensive-looking patio fit for a sacred temple site.

Classic Wood

Do you want a beautiful wood deck look without the extra cost and maintenance? The classic wood stamp is a favorite for those that love the wood deck look and feel.

The stamp is also lightly textured to provide traction and deepen the illusion you are walking on wood. Any numbers of stains can be used to give the appearance of different types of hard and softwood.

Random Fieldstone

This stamp gives the patio the look of highly skilled ancient stonework. The pattern is heavily textured to provide the strong and rugged appearance of fieldstones.

These are only a few of the most popular options. Depending on the contractor and the popularity of the stamps in the area, you may have other options as well. Here are a few more patterns used to make beautiful patios:

• Grand Ashlar design (many shapes and sizes)
• European fan design
• Fractured Cyprus slate
• Many stones of Athens
• Rough stone texture
• Sanded slate texture

A brand new stamped concrete patio with a simple design of one pattern and color has an estimated cost of $6 – $10 per square foot. Simple stamped concrete patio installation cost estimates by size:

• 10ft x 12ft patio / 120 sq ft cost an estimated $960
• 12ft x 12ft patio / 144 sq ft cost an estimated $1,152
• 10ft x 20ft patio / 200 sq ft cost an estimated $1,600
• 12ft x 20ft patio / 240 sq ft cost an estimated $1,920
• 20ft x 20ft patio / 400 sq ft cost an estimated $3,200

Stamped Concrete Overlays

Already have a patio but want to give it a new look? If the concrete is not too badly damaged it is possible to use the same foundation and install a stamped concrete overlay over the existing patio surface.

Stamped concrete overlays can cost anywhere from $3 – $10 per square foot. Just like small simple patio projects, contractors will often charge a flat rate to cover labor costs and clear a profit after all expenses. Simple concrete patio overlay installation cost estimates by size:

• 10ft x 12ft patio / 120 sq ft cost an estimated $720
• 12ft x 12ft patio / 144 sq ft cost an estimated $864
• 10ft x 20ft patio / 200 sq ft cost an estimated $1,200
• 12ft x 20ft patio / 240 sq ft cost an estimated $1,440
• 20ft x 20ft patio / 400 sq ft cost an estimated $2,400

Experienced and highly skilled contractors are able to use color dyes to give the concrete overlay an antique, marbled, or even precious metal-like appearance. However, these special orders are associated with the expert concrete artist and can add $10 – $30 or more per square foot to the cost of the patio.

Getting Fancy With It

Custom and elaborate designs are possible with concrete patios and are only limited by your imagination and the skill level of the contractor. Advanced layouts and designs could include:

• Rounded or odd-shaped patios
• Multiple levels and steps
• Raised borders and concrete benches and platforms
• Planter and fountain pieces
• Contrasting borders and multiple designs and textures
• Raised decorative pillars or statues

Now we are getting into the realm of luxury patios that find their way into home remodeling and architectural magazines. Depending on how elaborate and challenging the concrete patio mold, these breathtaking custom designs can cost as much as $15 per square foot and go up from there.

Cost For Poured Concrete Patio vs Other Options

Now that we have covered the cost of a full range of various concrete patio designs, how do other building materials compare to poured concrete? The short answer is not well. Poured concrete is generally the most versatile, longest-lasting, and the cheapest option for your patio.

Concrete Pavers

One viable option for your patio is to use pre-manufactured concrete pavers. These individual pieces of concrete can be set on a pressed ground foundation and assembled using concrete much like brick or stone patios.

Moving, laying, and setting concrete pavers is a labor-intensive job and requires skilled and detail-oriented concrete workers to do it properly. Depending on the complexity of the design and finishing work involved a concrete paver patio can cost anywhere from $4 – $20 a square foot.

Brick or Stone Laying

Much the same as concrete pavers, laying stone or brick is a tedious process. The cost of this alternative will likely run you $6 – $22 a square foot. Laying individual bricks and stones increases the chance of design defects, errors, and early weakening and loosening of pieces of the patio.

Wood Decks

Wood decks may be elegant and warm on the eyes, but they can be a real hassle to build, difficult to maintain, and cost much more than comparable poured concrete patios. Wood decks cost anywhere from $15 – $30 a square foot or more for expensive hardwoods.

Kill Two Birds With One Stone

One way to save money is to combine projects and hire the same contractor to do them both. While you are planning to build a patio why not consider paving your driveway at the same time? The same contractor you hire to pour your patio might also be able to construct a roof or partially enclose an area for an outside room effect.

Hire a Contractor or Do It Yourself?

Patios are definitely on the more involved and difficult end of do-it-yourself projects. Working with concrete requires specialized tools. If one has some construction experience and the proper tools available building out a patio can be done on your own, but for most of us a project like this would likely end up costing more than its worth.

If you’re looking to hire a contractor to build out your patio for you, you have come to the right place. 5estimates.com specializes in connecting homeowners with professional contractors ready to help you with all kinds of home renovation and improvement projects.

You Get What You Pay For

Much like everything else in life, the bigger and better you go the harder the hit on the old bank account.

A concrete patio cost can vary widely from contractor to contractor so be sure to shop around. Click here for more information on how we will get you up to 5 estimates from local contractors in your area.

Michael Cynar On   /   Concrete Contractors   /   5 Comments