How do you price concrete work?

Customers want a per-square-foot number, and that's fine to give them — but the contractor who actually makes money knows that square footage is the output of the bid, not the input. You price the cubic yards, the forming, the steel, the finish, and the labor; then you divide by the area to get the per-foot figure you quote. Skip that and you're guessing.

Why per-square-foot is the wrong place to start

Concrete is sold by the cubic yard, not the square foot, and a yard covers a different area depending on how thick you pour. A yard of concrete covers roughly 81 square feet at 4 inches thick, but only about 65 at 5 inches. So the same patio priced at "$8 a foot" costs you materially more at 5 inches than at 4 — and if you quoted off square footage without checking the thickness the spec actually calls for, you ate the difference.

The honest estimating order is: figure your yardage from area × thickness (and order a little extra for waste and over-excavation), add forming, reinforcement, finishing labor, and prep, then divide by the square footage to sanity-check against market rates. The per-foot ranges above are where good bids tend to land — but they're a check, not a shortcut.

Thickness and reinforcement

These two are the structural backbone of the price:

• Thickness. A 4-inch slab is standard for sidewalks and patios. Driveways and anything carrying vehicle or heavier loads typically go 5–6 inches. Every extra inch is more concrete (more cubic yards) and more cost — it's not a free upgrade.
• Reinforcement. Wire mesh is the economy option; rebar on a grid is stronger and standard for driveways and structural slabs. Steel adds material and the labor to place and tie it. Don't leave it out to win a bid — a cracked driveway is a callback and a reputation hit.
• Concrete strength (PSI) and additives. Higher-strength mixes, fiber, and cold- or hot-weather admixtures all cost more and may be required by spec or season.

Finishes — where the price spreads out

The finish is the most visible cost driver and the widest spread:

• Broom finish is the workhorse — a slip-resistant texture for driveways, sidewalks, and patios, at the low end of the range.
• Stamped concrete ($12–$25+/sq ft) adds color (integral or hardener), a release agent, stamping mats, hand-detailing of the joints, and a sealer that the customer will need to re-apply periodically. It's skilled, time-sensitive work — you're racing the slab as it sets — so it demands an experienced finishing crew and prices accordingly.
• Stained or polished finishes ($8–$20+/sq ft) depend heavily on the condition of the slab. Set expectations: staining is reactive and somewhat unpredictable, and existing slabs may not take color evenly.
• Exposed aggregate, salt finish, and colored sit between broom and stamped depending on complexity.

Whatever the finish, sealing is a real line item, and decorative work often needs re-sealing over time — say so up front so the customer isn't surprised later.

Tear-out, forms, and base prep

The part homeowners forget is everything that happens before the truck arrives. Price it separately and visibly:

• Tear-out and disposal. Breaking up an existing slab, hauling the rubble, and paying tip fees commonly add a few dollars per square foot — more for thick or heavily reinforced concrete, and more if a machine can't reach it. Never bundle demo into the pour price as if the old slab vanishes for free.
• Excavation and base. A pour is only as good as what's under it. Grading, a compacted gravel base, and proper drainage are real labor and material. Skimping here is how slabs settle and crack.
• Forming. Setting and stripping forms, especially curves, steps, and edges, takes time and lumber. Complex shapes cost more than a simple rectangle.
• Control joints and curing. Cutting joints to control cracking and protecting the slab while it cures are part of doing it right.

Reading the job and building the bid

Before you put a number on it, walk the site and price the things that actually swing your cost:

• Access. Can the ready-mix truck get close, or do you need a pump or wheelbarrow runs? Access can be a big hidden labor cost.
• Job size. Small pours carry a higher per-foot cost — there's a minimum amount of mobilization, forming, and crew time regardless of size.
• Site conditions. Slope, soft soil, tree roots, and tight lots all add prep and labor.
• Schedule and weather. Concrete waits for no one once it's in the truck. Crew size has to match the pour so you can place and finish before it sets.

A concrete bid is a promise about yardage, thickness, reinforcement, finish, and what happens to the old slab — put all of it in writing so there's no argument on pour day. Once the bid's accepted, Claver handles the rest of the business: detailed estimates, scheduling the pour and crew, progress invoicing, and getting paid — so you're managing concrete, not chasing paperwork after dark.