Plain concrete flatwork runs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed, going by national figures for 2026. We do not post a San Jose price list. Wages and material costs in the South Bay are high, and adobe clay, narrow side yards and tear-out change every job, so a real number comes from a site visit.
The dollar figures on this page are national ranges that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Bay Area labor, ready-mix prices, access to your yard and the soil on your lot all move the real number. Last checked October 2026.
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
The national range for a concrete driveway is $6 to $15 per square foot, which comes to $2,400 to $8,600 for a two-car driveway. Standard plain concrete is $6 to $10 per square foot. Basic decorative work is $10 to $15. On San Jose clay, ask what is included under the slab, because rock base and steel are where cheap quotes save money.
| Driveway | National installed cost (HomeGuide, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Plain, per sq ft | $6 to $10 |
| Basic decorative, per sq ft | $10 to $15 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,400 to $6,000 |
| 24x24 (576 sq ft) | $3,500 to $8,600 |
How much does concrete cost per square foot?
A concrete slab is $6 to $12 per square foot installed in the national figures. By thickness, a 4 inch slab is $6 to $8 per square foot and a 6 inch slab is $8 to $10. That covers forms, base, concrete, finishing and labor. Demolition, pumping to a back yard and extra base for poor soil are separate lines.
How much does a concrete patio cost? Is there a fair price for a 20x20 patio?
A plain concrete patio is $4 to $12 per square foot nationally. Stained or stamped patios are $8 to $30. For a 20x20 patio the published range is $1,600 to $4,800 plain and $3,200 to $12,000 stained or stamped. A plain 12x12 is $600 to $1,700. For a 12x20 or 16x20 patio, multiply the square feet by the per-foot range to get a rough bracket.
How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab for a 24x24 garage or a 30x40 shop?
HomeGuide lists $600 to $1,200 for a 10x10 slab, $860 to $1,700 for a 12x12, $2,400 to $4,800 for a 20x20 and $5,400 to $10,800 for a 30x30. It has no row for 24x24 or 30x40. Applying its $6 to $12 per square foot figure is plain arithmetic: 576 sq ft gives $3,460 to $6,900 and 1,200 sq ft gives $7,200 to $14,400. A slab that carries a building here is engineered for clay and earthquakes, with footings and anchor bolts, and is priced from the plans.
How much is a yard of concrete?
Ready-mix concrete is $119 to $147 per cubic yard in the national figures, including delivery within 20 miles. That is the material alone. On a finished job the concrete is the smaller part of the bill. Excavation, base, forms, steel, finishing and hauling make up most of it.
How much does it cost to remove and replace an old driveway?
Add removal to the price of the new driveway. Removal is $3 to $8 per square foot nationally with disposal, or $1,200 to $4,500 for a whole driveway. The new driveway then falls in the $6 to $15 per square foot range. Our quotes show tear-out as its own line.
How much does it cost to have old concrete broken up and hauled away?
Concrete removal on its own is $3 to $8 per square foot nationally, disposal included. Thick slabs, steel in the concrete and a back yard reached only through a narrow gate push the price up, because the work is done with smaller tools. We include haul-away whenever we quote a tear-out.
How much does stamped concrete cost compared with plain? What about color or stain?
Stamped concrete is $8 to $19 per square foot nationally, compared with $6 to $10 for a plain driveway. Published examples are $3,200 to $7,600 for a 20x20 stamped patio, $6,900 to $10,400 for a two-car stamped driveway and $800 to $1,700 for a 4x20 stamped walkway. No separate published figure exists for a color or stain upcharge alone, so we give no number for that. It is priced after we see the slab and you pick the look.
How much does a concrete walkway cost?
The national walkway cost is $7 to $17 per square foot installed. For a walk 4 feet wide that is $28 to $68 per linear foot, and an average job is $1,400 to $3,400. A public sidewalk panel in San Jose also carries a city permit and has to meet the city standard.
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost?
A concrete retaining wall cost averages $3,000 to $10,000 nationally, or $45 to $270 per linear foot, or $15 to $45 per square foot of wall face. Hillside walls in Almaden, Evergreen and the east foothills often need engineering and drainage that put them toward the top of any range, but we cannot give a local figure without seeing the slope.
How much does a parking pad or sidewalk cost for a small business?
There is no published figure for commercial parking areas, so we do not quote a number here. For a small business the price depends on the vehicle loads, drainage, accessible route requirements and any work in the public right-of-way. The walkway range above is a starting point for a plain sidewalk. Everything else is priced after a site visit.
I got three quotes for the same patio and they are far apart. Which one do I trust?
Trust the one that tells you exactly what is being built. When quotes are far apart, the difference is usually hidden in the base depth, the thickness, the reinforcement, whether a pump is included and who hauls the dirt. Line the three up item by item. A low quote that says only "pour patio" has left those decisions open, and on moving clay those are the decisions that matter.
The contractor wants extra for a gravel base after demolition. Is that fair?
It can be, if the contract allowed for it. Nobody sees the soil until the old slab is out. Wet clay, old fill or a buried stump are real reasons to add rock. A sound quote names the base thickness it includes and a unit price for more. If someone asks for extra for the gravel with nothing in writing, look at the ground with them, ask what changed from the quote, and get a signed change order before paying. In California, changes to a home improvement contract are supposed to be in writing.
How do I know if a concrete quote is fair?
A concrete quote is fair when the number sits in a believable range and the scope is spelled out. Check for square footage, thickness, base, steel, joints, finish, demolition, haul-away, permits and cleanup. Check the contractor's licence on the CSLB website. Check that the down payment is within the California limit of $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less.
To get a real price for your address, book a free on-site estimate. Call (408) 889-7434 or text us a photo and rough measurements.