How much does a concrete slab cost in Pittsburgh?
Concrete slab cost around Pittsburgh is usually $7 to $12 per square foot, including the stone base, reinforcement and finish. Small slabs cost more per foot and large ones cost less. Here is how to estimate yours, how much concrete it takes and what moves the price. This guide covers the cost to pour a concrete slab, from the price by the yard to the finished job.
Updated
| Slab size | Square feet | Concrete at 4 in | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 | 100 | 1.3 yards | $900 to $1,400 |
| 12 x 12 | 144 | 1.8 yards | $1,300 to $2,000 |
| 12 x 24 | 288 | 3.6 yards | $2,300 to $3,750 |
| 20 x 20 | 400 | 5 yards | $2,800 to $4,800 |
| 24 x 24 | 576 | 7.2 yards | $4,050 to $6,900 |
| 30 x 40 | 1,200 | 15 yards | $8,400 to $14,400 |
What is included in a slab price
When concrete companies quote per square foot, the concrete itself is only about a third of the cost. The rest is the work that surrounds it. A fair price usually covers all of this.
- Excavation and grading
- Crushed stone base, compacted
- Forms and form removal
- Rebar or wire mesh
- Concrete delivered to the site
- Placing, screeding and finishing
- Control joints
- Cleanup
How much does a yard of concrete cost?
Ready-mix concrete around Pittsburgh usually costs about $170 to $220 per cubic yard delivered, depending on strength and additives. A yard is 27 cubic feet, which covers about 81 square feet at 4 inches thick. Winter mixes with hot water or accelerator cost a little more.
Suppliers also charge for small orders. A short load is a delivery smaller than the truck's usual minimum, often under about 4 yards, and the fee commonly runs $60 to $200. Trucks hold about 8 to 10 yards, so a large slab can need more than one, and those trucks have to be timed so the concrete doesn't set up between them. Trucks also get a set time to unload, and waiting past that usually costs extra.
How much concrete do I need?
Our concrete slab estimator does this for you. To do it by hand, multiply length by width by thickness, all in feet, then divide by 27. A 20 by 20 slab at 4 inches is 20 x 20 x 0.33 = 133 cubic feet, or about 5 yards. Then add 5 to 10 percent for waste and uneven ground. Running short in the middle of a pour is far worse than having a little left over. The calculator above does the math for you.
What moves the price
- Size. A truck, crew and setup cost the same for a small job, so small slabs cost more per foot.
- Thickness. Going from 4 to 6 inches adds about half again as much concrete.
- Access. If the truck can't reach, you need a pump or buggies, which usually adds $400 to $1,000.
- Site work. Slopes, soft ground and fill mean more digging and stone.
- Removal. Tearing out an old slab usually adds $3 to $7 per square foot.
- Steel. Rebar on 2 foot centers costs more than mesh.
- Finish. A smooth steel trowel takes longer than a broom finish.
- Season. Cold weather means blankets, heat and additives.
How much do concrete contractors charge?
Most concrete companies price by the job, with square foot rates as a guide. If you hear per-hour rates, they are usually for small repairs. Crews on a day rate often run $50 to $90 per hour per person, plus materials. Quotes per yard are common for large commercial work, where a finished price can run $300 to $500 per yard placed. For a home, ask for one firm price and what it covers.
Garage slabs, additions and bigger jobs
Slabs that carry walls usually need thickened edges or separate footers, which changes the price. A garage slab can run $8 to $14 per square foot once footers and edges are included. A slab inside a building shell may be cheaper to pour, since there is no weather, but a pump is usually needed. See concrete footers and garage floors for more.
| Add-on | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Concrete pump | $400 to $1,000 per pour |
| Rebar instead of mesh | $0.50 to $1.25 per sq ft |
| Vapor barrier | $0.30 to $0.60 per sq ft |
| Rigid foam insulation | $1.25 to $2.50 per sq ft |
| Extra inch of thickness | $0.60 to $1 per sq ft |
| Sealing | $1.50 to $3 per sq ft |
Other prices around Pittsburgh
Here are the planning ranges for the rest of our work. Your written price comes after we see the site.
How to save money on a slab
Pour in spring, summer or early fall, when there is no need for heat or blankets. Clear the area and move fences yourself if you can. Combine small slabs so that one truck and one crew can do them all in a day. Choose a broom finish where it won't show. Keep the stone base and the steel, though. Those are the parts that keep the slab from cracking and settling, and they are cheap compared with doing it twice.
| Work | Typical price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab, poured and finished | $7 to $12 per sq ft | Stone base, reinforcement and broom finish included |
| Garage floor replacement | $9 to $15 per sq ft | Includes breaking out and hauling the old floor |
| Basement floor | $8 to $14 per sq ft | Higher when concrete has to be carried or pumped in |
| Shed or hot tub slab | $1,200 to $3,000 | Most pads from 8x8 to 12x16 |
| Exposed aggregate concrete | $11 to $18 per sq ft | Depends on stone choice and shape |
| Concrete leveling | $4 to $12 per sq ft | Slab jacking at the low end, polyurethane foam at the high end |
| Concrete resurfacing | $4 to $10 per sq ft | Only for slabs that are sound and level |
| Concrete sealing | $1.50 to $3 per sq ft | Cleaning, crack filling and one coat of sealer |
| Epoxy garage floor | $5 to $9 per sq ft | Grinding, repairs, base coat, flake and top coat |
| Concrete footers | $30 to $60 per foot | Digging, forms, reinforcement and pour |
| Concrete removal | $3 to $7 per sq ft | Thicker slabs and hand carrying cost more |
Common questions
How much does a concrete slab cost to pour?
Most slabs run $7 to $12 per square foot, with stone base, reinforcement and finish included.
How much does a yard of concrete cost?
About $170 to $220 per cubic yard delivered around Pittsburgh, before any short-load fees or labor.
What is a yard of concrete?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. At 4 inches thick, it covers about 81 square feet.
How much is a concrete truck load?
A full truck holds about 8 to 10 yards, so a full load often costs roughly $1,500 to $2,200 in concrete.
How many yards of concrete in a truck?
Usually up to about 8 to 10 cubic yards. The legal weight limits and road conditions can reduce that.
How much concrete do I need for a 10x10 slab?
About 1.25 cubic yards at 4 inches thick.
How much concrete do I need for a 20x20 slab?
About 5 cubic yards at 4 inches thick, plus a little extra.
How much concrete do I need for a 24x24 slab?
About 7.1 cubic yards at 4 inches thick, and about 10.7 at 6 inches.
How much do concrete contractors charge per square foot?
Usually $7 to $12 per square foot for a standard slab. Decorative finishes can run much higher.
How much do concrete contractors charge per hour?
Crews on hourly work often run about $50 to $90 per person, plus materials. Most jobs are priced as a whole.
What is a short load of concrete?
A delivery below the supplier's minimum, often under about 4 yards, which comes with an added fee.
More concrete services
- concrete slabs in Pittsburgh
- concrete garage floors
- concrete basement floors
- concrete flatwork
- exposed aggregate concrete
- concrete footers
- shed slabs and hot tub pads
- concrete leveling in Pittsburgh
- concrete resurfacing in Pittsburgh
- concrete sealing
- epoxy garage floors
- concrete removal