Concrete Slab Calculator: Patio & Pad Cost
Use our Concrete Slab Calculator to quickly estimate how much concrete you need for a slab, including cubic yards, bags, and approximate material cost.
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How much does a 12×16 concrete patio cost?
A standard 12×16 ft patio (192 sq ft) with a plain broom finish costs about $1,150–$1,730 installed at $6–9 per square foot. Go the DIY route and you’re mostly paying for materials — closer to $290–$480. Choose a stamped or decorative finish and the installed price jumps to roughly $2,300–$3,840. Enter your own size and finish below for an exact number.
Estimated installed cost
$1,152 – $1,728
192 sq ft, 4-inch plain finish
- DIY materials only$288 – $480
- Concrete needed2.37 cu yd
- Removal cost (if checked)$0
- Total incl. removal$1,152 – $1,728
In this guide
Why use a patio cost calculator
You may have been in this spot before: you want a new patio out back, so you ask around and get a contractor quote. Then another. And another. One says $1,800. Another says $3,400 for what sounds like the exact same job. Nobody explained why, and now you're stuck guessing whether you're being upsold or whether the cheaper guy is cutting corners.
The truth is, concrete patio pricing isn't random — it moves in predictable steps based on size, thickness, and finish. Once you know those three levers, a quote either makes sense or it doesn't. That's exactly what this calculator does: it breaks the cost down the same way an estimator would, so you walk into every quote conversation already knowing roughly what the number should be.
How much does a concrete patio cost?
Every patio or pad estimate comes down to the same three steps.
The 3-step method
- Find the square footage. Multiply length by width. A 12×16 ft patio is 192 square feet — this is the number every other cost figure gets multiplied against.
- Pick your finish. A plain broom finish runs $6–9 per square foot installed. Stained work runs $8–14. Exposed aggregate runs $10–18. Stamped or decorative finishes run $12–20 — finish choice moves the total more than almost anything else.
- Add site-specific extras. Removing an old slab first typically adds $2.50–5 per square foot. A sloped yard, buried utility lines, or a required permit can each add more on top.
All of that math is exactly what the calculator above runs automatically — pick your finish, check the removal box if it applies, and you'll get a full installed-cost range plus the DIY materials-only number for comparison.
A worked example
Let's say you're planning a 12×16 ft patio (192 sq ft), 4 inches thick, with a plain broom finish, and there's no existing slab to remove.
Step-by-step
- Area: 12 × 16 = 192 sq ft.
- Plain finish rate: $6–9 per sq ft.
- Installed cost: 192 × $6 to 192 × $9 = $1,152–$1,728.
- DIY materials only, at $1.50–2.50/sq ft: 192 × $1.50 to 192 × $2.50 = $288–$480.
- Concrete volume needed: 192 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 ≈ 2.37 cu yd, or about 2.6 cu yd with 10% waste.
That $1,150–$1,900 spread is a normal, healthy range for this size and finish — if a quote comes in well above $2,000 for the same plain finish and size, that's your cue to ask what's driving the difference.
Which finish should you choose?
Thickness matters, but finish is what really moves the needle on total cost. Each additional inch of thickness adds a modest amount — roughly $0.50–0.65 per square foot — while jumping from a plain to a stamped finish can more than double the price for the exact same footprint.
| Finish | Cost per sq ft (installed) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Plain broom finish | $6–9 | Budget patios, sheds, utility pads |
| Stained concrete | $8–14 | Subtle color without a big cost jump |
| Exposed aggregate | $10–18 | Slip resistance, natural stone look |
| Stamped / decorative | $12–20 | Custom, high-end curb appeal |
DIY or hire a contractor?
What if you're handy and want to save the labor cost? DIY is realistic for patios up to about 200 square feet, and it cuts the price down to materials only — roughly $1.50–2.50 per square foot. Above that size, most homeowners bring in help: concrete sets in 30–60 minutes once it hits the ground, and a poorly finished slab shows every mistake permanently.
What if you go the contractor route instead? You're paying for speed, a truck-delivered pour, and finishing quality you can't easily match on a first attempt. Always get 2–3 itemized quotes and ask each one to separate site prep, materials, and finishing labor — that's the only way to compare apples to apples.
Want your exact number instead of a general range?
Run your size and finish in the calculator above →Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Comparing quotes without matching finish and thickness. A $1,800 plain-finish quote and a $3,400 stamped quote aren't competing bids — they're different products.
- ✕Forgetting demolition costs. If there's an existing slab, removal alone can add hundreds of dollars that some quotes leave out until later.
- ✕Skipping the permit check. Small patios usually don't need one, but driveways and anything tied to a structure often do — check before you schedule the pour.
- ✕Assuming DIY savings apply at any size. Past roughly 200 sq ft, the labor and finishing skill required usually make professional installation worth the extra cost.
Why trust this guide
Cost ranges on this page reflect typical 2026 US pricing for residential concrete flatwork, drawn from industry cost data across materials, labor, and finish type. Actual pricing varies by region, site conditions, and contractor — always confirm with 2–3 local quotes before budgeting a project.
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