Concrete costs between $6 and $12 per square foot installed for a standard residential project, or $125 to $175 per cubic yard if you’re buying ready-mix material alone. The final number depends on square footage, slab thickness, site prep, and whether you want a plain finish or a decorative one like stamped concrete. In the Chicago suburbs, expect pricing to land toward the higher end of that range because of labor rates and freeze-thaw-rated mixes.
That’s the short version. Here’s what actually moves the needle on your bid.
Concrete costs $6 to $12 per square foot for a basic 4-inch residential slab with materials and labor included. That’s the number most homeowners use to budget a driveway, patio, or garage floor before getting a real quote.
A “per square foot” price usually covers:
○ The concrete mix itself
○ Grading and base prep (gravel, compaction)
○ Forming the edges
○ Pouring, screeding, and finishing
○ Basic curing
It typically does not cover permits, demolition of an old slab, drainage work, or decorative upgrades like stamping or coloring. Those get priced separately, which is one reason two quotes for the same driveway can look nothing alike.
Nationally, the average ready-mix price runs close to $180 per cubic yard, and installed pricing for materials and labor together lands between $6.50 and $10.50 per square foot according to ConcreteNetwork.com. Basic broom-finish slabs sit at the low end of that range. Anything decorative pushes it up fast, which we’ll get into below.
Ready-mix concrete costs $125 to $175 per cubic yard delivered, and this is the unit suppliers actually price by when you order material directly rather than hiring a full install.
A cubic yard covers 27 cubic feet of poured concrete. Your contractor takes your slab’s square footage and thickness and converts it into yards to place the order. Thickness matters more than most people expect:
| Slab Thickness | Yards per 100 Sq Ft |
| 4 inches | ~1.23 yards |
| 5 inches | ~1.54 yards |
| 6 inches | ~1.85 yards |
Going from a 4-inch slab to a 6-inch slab adds close to 50% more material on the exact same footprint. That’s why a heavier-duty driveway built for a truck or RV costs meaningfully more than a standard patio slab, even at identical square footage.
A concrete driveway costs $8 to $20 per square foot installed, with most homeowners landing somewhere between $2,700 and $14,500 for the full project according to Angi’s 2026 cost data.
Here’s how that breaks down by common driveway sizes:
| Driveway Size | Estimated Cost |
| 10 x 20 ft (200 sq ft) | $1,600 – $3,000 |
| 20 x 20 ft (400 sq ft) | $3,200 – $6,000 |
| 24 x 36 ft (864 sq ft) | $6,900 – $13,000 |
Driveways run higher per square foot than a basic patio slab for a simple reason: they take more abuse. A driveway has to hold up under vehicle weight, salt exposure, and Illinois freeze-thaw cycles year after year, which means thicker slabs, more reinforcement, and stronger sub-base prep. We build every driveway with steel rebar or wire mesh specifically because a driveway that skips reinforcement is a driveway that cracks within a few winters.
Removing an old driveway before pouring a new one typically adds another $1 to $3 per square foot for demolition and haul-away.
A concrete patio costs $8 to $25 per square foot, with most homeowners spending between $12 and $18 per square foot for a standard poured slab.
Patios often run higher per square foot than driveways of the same size for one reason: driveways are usually larger, and larger pours spread fixed costs (mobilization, forming, crew setup) across more area. A small patio can carry the same setup costs as a bigger project, just divided across fewer square feet.
Popular finish options for an outdoor living space include:
○ Broom finish, the most affordable, slip-resistant option
○ Exposed aggregate, a pebbled texture with decorative appeal
○ Colored or stained concrete, for a custom tone without a full stamped pattern
○ Stamped concrete, covered in detail below
Curious what your specific yard would run? A quick site visit tells you more than any national average can.
Get a Real Quote for Your Space → Request a Free Estimate (Free, no-obligation)
Stamped concrete costs $9 to $22 per square foot on average, with basic single-pattern designs at the low end and multi-color, multi-pattern work pushing toward $25 or more per square foot according to Angi’s 2026 pricing data.
The price climbs based on a few specific choices:
○ Number of colors. One base color costs less than a two-tone or accented design.
○ Pattern complexity. A simple ashlar slate pattern costs less than herringbone or wood-plank textures that require more hand detailing.
○ Size. Smaller stamped projects can carry a higher per-square-foot cost because setup work doesn’t shrink with the slab.
Regional pricing matters here more than almost anywhere else in concrete work. One Will County and DuPage County contractor reports stamped patio pricing between $20 and $33 per square foot in 2026 for that market specifically, which lines up with what homeowners in the Northwest Suburbs should realistically expect rather than the lower national averages quoted by broader directories.
We build stamped concrete driveways, patios, walkways, and pool decks with finishes that mimic stone, slate, or brick at a fraction of the cost of the real material.
A concrete slab foundation costs $5 to $14 per square foot installed, making it the least expensive residential foundation type available according to industry cost data referencing U.S. Census Bureau construction figures.
This is different pricing territory than a driveway or patio because a foundation has to carry structural load, not just foot and vehicle traffic. Foundation work typically includes:
○ Deeper excavation and soil evaluation
○ Reinforced footings sized to the structure above
○ Moisture control and drainage planning
○ Local permit and inspection coordination
A full 2,000-square-foot house foundation generally lands between $12,000 and $28,000, depending on soil conditions and reinforcement needs. For garages, additions, and sheds, slab foundations remain the most common and most budget-friendly choice in the Northwest Suburbs, where soil conditions and frost depth are well understood by local crews.
Two identical-sized projects can carry two very different price tags, and it usually comes down to what’s happening below the surface, not just what’s visible once it’s poured.
The biggest cost drivers are:
○ Site prep and access. A flat, easy-access lot costs less to prep than a sloped yard or a driveway with tight equipment access.
○ Thickness and reinforcement. More material and more rebar means a higher bid, but it’s also what keeps a slab from cracking under real-world use.
○ Removal of old concrete. Tearing out an existing driveway or patio adds cost before the new pour even starts.
○ Finish type. Broom finish sits at the low end. Stamped, colored, or exposed aggregate finishes sit higher.
○ Permits. Municipal permit requirements vary by village and add a line item most homeowners don’t budget for upfront.
This is also where the difference between contractors shows up most. One thing we hear from homeowners who’ve gotten multiple bids: a lump-sum number with no breakdown makes it nearly impossible to compare quotes fairly. We build every estimate as an itemized proposal, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for in site prep, materials, and labor before signing anything. It’s a big part of why our design consultation and proposal process starts with a written breakdown rather than a single total.
Concrete is a long-term investment, and the cost of maintaining it is small compared to the cost of redoing it early.
Unsealed concrete in Illinois takes a real beating from road salt, freeze-thaw cycles, and standing water. Sealing your concrete every two to three years protects against cracking, staining, and surface flaking, and it typically costs a fraction of what a full replacement would run. For a driveway or patio you’re planning to keep for 20 to 30 years, that maintenance cost is worth building into your long-term budget from day one.
How much does a 20×20 concrete slab cost?
A 20×20 concrete slab (400 square feet) costs between $2,400 and $4,800 installed for a standard broom-finish pour, or between $3,200 and $10,400 if you choose a stamped or decorative finish.
Is concrete cheaper than pavers or asphalt?
Concrete is typically more expensive upfront than asphalt but competitive with or cheaper than pavers. Asphalt averages $3 to $6 per square foot, plain concrete averages $5 to $8 per square foot, and pavers can range from $5 to $50 per square foot depending on material. Concrete generally lasts longer than asphalt and requires less ongoing maintenance than pavers.
Why do concrete quotes vary so much between contractors?
Quote variation usually comes from differences in slab thickness, reinforcement type, site prep scope, and whether demolition of old material is included. A lump-sum quote with no line items makes it hard to know what’s actually covered, which is why an itemized bid is worth asking for every time.
Does concrete cost more in winter or during peak season?
Concrete pricing can rise slightly during peak spring and summer months when demand for pours is highest. Some contractors offer more flexible scheduling and pricing in late fall and winter, though cold-weather pours require additional planning for proper curing.
What’s included in a per-square-foot concrete quote?
A per-square-foot quote generally includes the concrete mix, base prep, forming, pouring, finishing, and basic curing. It usually excludes permits, demolition of existing concrete, drainage upgrades, and decorative finishes like stamping or coloring, which are priced as add-ons.
| Project Type | Typical Cost per Sq Ft |
| Basic slab (broom finish) | $6 – $12 |
| Driveway | $8 – $20 |
| Patio | $8 – $25 |
| Stamped/decorative concrete | $9 – $25+ |
| Slab foundation | $5 – $14 |
| Ready-mix (per cubic yard) | $125 – $175 |
Concrete pricing depends on square footage, thickness, reinforcement, finish, and how much site prep your project needs. The only way to get a number you can actually plan around is a real site visit and an itemized bid, not a national average.
Every yard is different, and a real number beats a guess.
