Concrete Patio Slab Cost Guide (Stamped vs. Broom Finish)
Quick answer: a broom-finish concrete patio costs about $7 to $13 per sq ft installed at 4 inches thick, and stamped concrete about $13 to $22 per sq ft. A common 12x16 patio (192 sq ft) runs about $1,450 to $2,560 with a broom finish, or $2,750 to $4,180 stamped.
The finish is the biggest choice you will make on a patio, and it can nearly double the price. Size comes second, then the things people forget: getting water to run away from the house, where the joints go, and whether a truck can reach the backyard. This guide covers each one with real numbers.
Patio Cost by Size
| Size | Good for | Concrete (4 in, +10%) | Broom finish | Stamped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 12 ft (120 sq ft) | Bistro / grill pad | 1.63 yd³ | $970 to $1,680 | $1,780 to $2,690 |
| 12 × 16 ft (192 sq ft) | Table for 6 | 2.61 yd³ | $1,450 to $2,560 | $2,750 to $4,180 |
| 16 × 20 ft (320 sq ft) | Dining + lounge | 4.35 yd³ | $2,290 to $4,100 | $4,450 to $6,800 |
| 20 × 20 ft (400 sq ft) | Large entertaining | 5.43 yd³ | $2,810 to $5,060 | $5,510 to $8,440 |
Four inches is the standard thickness for a patio; the IRC minimum for a slab on ground is 3.5 inches. Go to 5 inches only if a heavy hot tub, a masonry fireplace or a vehicle will sit on part of it. For a table and chairs, plan on about 12x12 for four people and 12x16 for six with room to walk around. Try your own size in the slab cost calculator or on the patio cost page.
Finishes Compared: Broom, Trowel, Exposed and Stamped
| Finish (12x16 patio) | Finish rate | Installed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broom | $0.50 to $0.80/sq ft | $1,450 to $2,560 | Best traction. The default for outdoor slabs. |
| Smooth trowel | $1.00 to $1.50/sq ft | $1,550 to $2,680 | Slick when wet. Better under a roof or screen room. |
| Exposed aggregate | $2.50 to $4.50/sq ft | $1,980 to $3,220 | Pebble surface, good grip, hides dirt well. |
| Stamped (with color) | $6.00 to $12.00/sq ft | $2,750 to $4,180 | Looks like stone or brick. Needs resealing. |
Broom finish is what most patios get: the finisher drags a stiff broom across the fresh surface to leave fine ridges. It is cheap, grippy and easy to repair. Exposed aggregate washes away the top layer of cement paste to show the stones, which hides dirt and wear well. Stamped concrete presses texture mats into the surface, usually with a color hardener and release agent, to look like slate, flagstone, brick or wood. It takes a bigger crew and has to be done within a short window while the concrete is workable, which is why the price jumps.
A broom-finish center with a stamped or colored border 12 to 18 inches wide looks custom and costs far less than stamping the whole slab. Integral color in a broom-finish patio is another middle option.
Sealing: Required for Stamped, Optional for Broom
A sealer slows water and stains from soaking in. Installed sealer runs about $1.00 to $3.00 per sq ft, or $192 to $576 for a 12x16 patio. Stamped and colored concrete needs sealing every few years to keep the color and protect the texture. A plain broom-finish patio often does fine without one, though a penetrating sealer helps in freeze-thaw climates. Wait until the concrete has cured (the product label says how long). Our concrete sealer guide compares the types.
Slope the Patio Away From the House
A patio that slopes toward the house sends rain against the foundation. Also keep the patio surface below any door threshold and below the siding, and leave an isolation joint (a strip of foam or fiber board) where the slab meets the house so the two can move separately. If the yard itself slopes toward the house, plan a swale or drain before you pour.
Control Joints
For a 4-inch patio, keep joints no more than about 12 ft apart (2 to 3 times the thickness, in feet) and keep panels close to square, no more than 1.5 times longer than wide. On a 12x16 patio, one joint across the middle of the long side makes two 12x8 panels. Cut or tool the joints a quarter of the slab deep. Stamped patterns can hide joints in a grout line if the crew plans for it.
Add-Ons That Change the Price
- Backyard access: if the truck cannot get within chute reach (about 15 to 20 ft), a line pump costs about $400 to $800 for the job. On a small patio that is a big share of the bill. Wheelbarrows through a gate are the low-cost alternative.
- Removing an old patio: about $3 to $4 per sq ft, or $576 to $768 for 192 sq ft. Use the removal cost calculator.
- Digging and base: excavation and a 4-inch compacted gravel base add about $1.40 to $3.30 per sq ft. Size the stone with the gravel base calculator.
- Reinforcement: welded wire mesh runs about $77 to $134 on a 12x16 patio and #4 rebar about $192 to $336. Mesh is usually enough for foot traffic; rebar makes sense under a hot tub or on soft soil.
- Steps, seat walls and covered roofs: these are priced separately. A roof or pergola needs proper post footings, which should be sized for your soil and roof load.
DIY or Hire a Pro?
A 12x16 patio needs 2.61 cubic yards of concrete. That is 118 bags of 80-lb mix (about $767), or about $511 of ready-mix with delivery. At this size a truck usually wins, and DIY materials total about $630 to $940. A broom finish is a realistic first project if you have two or three helpers and a cool morning. Stamped concrete is not: the timing is unforgiving and mistakes are permanent, so hire a crew with a portfolio. Our DIY vs. contractor guide helps you decide, and the quote checker tells you whether a bid is fair.
Sources and Method
Prices use the same line items as our calculator, with finish upgrades priced at each finish's default rate above broom finish (see our methodology). They vary by region, season and access. Thickness and base guidance follows IRC R506 (concrete floors on ground); joints and finishing follow ACI 302.1R; curing follows ACI 308R.
Frequently Asked Questions
About $7 to $13 per sq ft installed for a 4-inch broom-finish patio, and about $13 to $22 per sq ft for stamped concrete. Small patios cost more per foot because fixed costs are spread over less area.
About $1,450 to $2,560 installed with a broom finish at 4 inches thick, or $2,750 to $4,180 stamped. DIY materials run about $630 to $940.
It looks like stone at a lower price than real stone, but it costs roughly $14 to $22 per sq ft on a 12x16 patio and needs resealing every few years. A broom-finish patio with a stamped border is a cheaper middle option.
Slope it 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house, with 1/4 inch per foot preferred. On a patio that extends 12 ft from the house that is 1.5 to 3 inches of fall.
Stamped or colored patios should be sealed and resealed every few years. Broom-finish patios benefit most in freeze-thaw climates. Installed sealer costs about $1.00 to $3.00 per sq ft.
Calculate Your Concrete Project Budget
Use our comprehensive concrete slab cost calculator to get a complete line-item breakdown of materials, labor, reinforcement, and base preparation.
Launch Concrete Slab Calculator →