Concrete Calculator › Cost by city › Houston, TX
Concrete Cost in Houston, TX
Concrete for a 20×20 ft (400 sq ft) 4-inch concrete slab in Houston, TX costs about $719 ($611–$826). Local 2026 price is around $146 per cuyd. Free calculator inside.
What goes into concrete cost in Houston
The line items below are 2026 national averages adjusted by the TX construction-cost factor (×0.97). A written Houston quote is usually built from these pieces — use them to sanity-check any bid line by line before you sign.
| Cost item | Typical Houston price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete, 3,000–4,000 PSI | $146 – $179 | per cu yd delivered |
| Labor: forming, pouring & finishing | $3.88 – $7.76 | per sq ft |
| Gravel base & subgrade prep | $0.97 – $1.94 | per sq ft |
| Wire mesh / rebar reinforcement | $0.34 – $0.97 | per sq ft |
| Short-load fee (orders under ~4 cu yd) | $73 – $146 | per delivery |
| Residential flatwork permit | $48 – $291 | per project |
Permit fees are set by the city rather than the market — confirm current fees with the local building department.
What’s different about building in Houston
Houston has no meaningful frost line — code still requires footings to bear about 12 inches into undisturbed soil, but frost heave is not the design problem it is up north. Check specifics with Houston Permitting Center.
The bigger local issue is soil: expansive “gumbo” clay that swells when wet and shrinks in drought. Slabs on expansive clay crack when the subgrade wets and dries unevenly, which is why post-tensioned slabs and pre-pour moisture conditioning are standard practice in the Houston market.
Permits: for larger flatwork, driveways, or anything structural, check requirements with Houston Permitting Center before work starts.
Estimate your own Houston project
Prices in Houston, TX run about -3% versus the national average. Enter your dimensions — the calculator starts from the local $146 per cuyd rate; change it to your supplier's quote for an exact figure.
Material shopping list
- Order about 4.94 cubic yards of concrete.
- Budget about $719 before delivery, taxes, and labor.
- Add 5–10% waste for uneven subgrade, cuts, settling, or spillage.
Formula & assumptions
Area = length x width. Volume = area x depth / 12. Cubic yards = cubic feet / 27. Cost = quantity x local unit price.
- Default depth: 4 inches
- Default price: $146 per cuyd
- 80-lb bags yield: 0.6 cu ft each
These assumptions make the estimate easy for search engines and AI answer tools to verify. Replace the default price with your supplier quote for a local estimate.
Concrete cost in Houston by project size
Material quantities use the local Houston unit price; the last column adds delivery, base prep, and labor at TX-adjusted rates. Click any size for its full breakdown and calculator.
| Project size | You need | Material cost | Installed estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 ft · 4 in | 1.23 cu yd | $180 | $582 – $970 |
| 12×12 ft · 4 in | 1.78 cu yd | $259 | $838 – $1,397 |
| 12×16 ft · 4 in | 2.37 cu yd | $345 | $1,117 – $1,862 |
| 16×20 ft · 4 in | 3.95 cu yd | $575 | $1,862 – $3,104 |
| 20×20 ft · 4 in | 4.94 cu yd | $719 | $2,328 – $3,880 |
| 24×24 ft · 4 in | 7.11 cu yd | $1,035 | $3,352 – $5,587 |
| 30×40 ft · 4 in | 14.81 cu yd | $2,156 | $6,984 – $11,640 |
| 40×50 ft · 4 in | 24.69 cu yd | $3,593 | $11,640 – $19,400 |
Installed ranges assume straightforward access and a buildable subgrade; steep, tight, or poor-soil sites price above the top of the range.
Concrete questions Houston homeowners ask
- How much does a concrete slab cost in Houston?
- Materials alone for a 20×20 ft (400 sq ft) 4-inch concrete slab run about $719 in Houston. Fully installed — gravel base, forms, reinforcement, labor, and finishing — most homeowners pay $2,328 to $3,880 for the same slab, roughly $5.82–$9.7 per square foot.
- What does ready-mix concrete cost per yard in Houston?
- Plan on $146–$179 per cubic yard delivered for a standard 3,000–4,000 PSI mix in the Houston area. Orders under about 4 cubic yards usually add a short-load fee of $73–$146, so small pours cost noticeably more per yard.
- Do I need a permit to pour a concrete slab in Houston?
- Driveways, sidewalks, and anything structural almost always require one; small detached patio pads sometimes fall under the permit threshold. Confirm with Houston Permitting Center before you pour — a permit costs far less than being ordered to remove finished work.
- Is it cheaper to pour concrete myself in Houston?
- Labor and finishing account for $3.88–$7.76 per square foot of the installed price, so DIY can roughly halve the cost of a simple pad. But concrete is unforgiving: once the truck arrives you have under two hours to place, screed, and finish. Most first-timers cap DIY at about 100–150 square feet.
- When is the best time of year to pour concrete in Houston?
- In Houston's heat, crews pour early in the morning and keep the slab wet-cured for several days so it gains strength instead of flash-drying. Spring and fall give the easiest cures; summer pours are routine here but demand tighter timing.
- How can I save money on concrete in Houston?
- Combine small pours into one delivery to clear the short-load threshold, handle your own excavation and gravel base, and collect at least three written Houston quotes — 30% spreads between local bids are normal.
Concrete cost in nearby cities
Regional estimate = national average adjusted by a TX cost factor. Not a quote. Actual prices vary by site conditions, access, and supplier.