Concrete Calculator › Cost by city › Los Angeles, CA
Concrete Cost in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete for a 20×20 ft (400 sq ft) 4-inch concrete slab in Los Angeles, CA costs about $948 ($806–$1,090). Local 2026 price is around $192 per cuyd. Free calculator inside.
What goes into concrete cost in Los Angeles
The line items below are 2026 national averages adjusted by the CA construction-cost factor (×1.28). A written Los Angeles quote is usually built from these pieces — use them to sanity-check any bid line by line before you sign.
| Cost item | Typical Los Angeles price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete, 3,000–4,000 PSI | $192 – $237 | per cu yd delivered |
| Labor: forming, pouring & finishing | $5.12 – $10.24 | per sq ft |
| Gravel base & subgrade prep | $1.28 – $2.56 | per sq ft |
| Wire mesh / rebar reinforcement | $0.45 – $1.28 | per sq ft |
| Short-load fee (orders under ~4 cu yd) | $96 – $192 | per delivery |
| Residential flatwork permit | $64 – $384 | 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 Los Angeles
Los Angeles 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 LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
Seismic code drives structural detail in Los Angeles: expect rebar schedules and footing ties on anything an inspector reviews, not just minimum thickness.
Seismic requirements — not frost — set the structural rules here; slabs near slopes may need engineering.
Permits: for larger flatwork, driveways, or anything structural, check requirements with LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) before work starts.
Estimate your own Los Angeles project
Prices in Los Angeles, CA run about +28% versus the national average. Enter your dimensions — the calculator starts from the local $192 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 $948 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: $192 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 Los Angeles by project size
Material quantities use the local Los Angeles unit price; the last column adds delivery, base prep, and labor at CA-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 | $237 | $768 – $1,280 |
| 12×12 ft · 4 in | 1.78 cu yd | $341 | $1,106 – $1,843 |
| 12×16 ft · 4 in | 2.37 cu yd | $455 | $1,475 – $2,458 |
| 16×20 ft · 4 in | 3.95 cu yd | $759 | $2,458 – $4,096 |
| 20×20 ft · 4 in | 4.94 cu yd | $948 | $3,072 – $5,120 |
| 24×24 ft · 4 in | 7.11 cu yd | $1,365 | $4,424 – $7,373 |
| 30×40 ft · 4 in | 14.81 cu yd | $2,844 | $9,216 – $15,360 |
| 40×50 ft · 4 in | 24.69 cu yd | $4,741 | $15,360 – $25,600 |
Installed ranges assume straightforward access and a buildable subgrade; steep, tight, or poor-soil sites price above the top of the range.
Concrete questions Los Angeles homeowners ask
- How much does a concrete slab cost in Los Angeles?
- Materials alone for a 20×20 ft (400 sq ft) 4-inch concrete slab run about $948 in Los Angeles. Fully installed — gravel base, forms, reinforcement, labor, and finishing — most homeowners pay $3,072 to $5,120 for the same slab, roughly $7.68–$12.8 per square foot.
- What does ready-mix concrete cost per yard in Los Angeles?
- Plan on $192–$237 per cubic yard delivered for a standard 3,000–4,000 PSI mix in the Los Angeles area. Orders under about 4 cubic yards usually add a short-load fee of $96–$192, so small pours cost noticeably more per yard.
- Do I need a permit to pour a concrete slab in Los Angeles?
- Driveways, sidewalks, and anything structural almost always require one; small detached patio pads sometimes fall under the permit threshold. Confirm with LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) before you pour — a permit costs far less than being ordered to remove finished work.
- Is it cheaper to pour concrete myself in Los Angeles?
- Labor and finishing account for $5.12–$10.24 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.
- How thick should my slab be?
- Four inches is standard for patios and walkways; use 5–6 inches for driveways or anything carrying vehicles. Going from 4 to 6 inches adds 50% more concrete, so match the thickness to the real use.
- How can I save money on concrete in Los Angeles?
- 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 Los Angeles quotes — 30% spreads between local bids are normal.
Concrete cost in nearby cities
Regional estimate = national average adjusted by a CA cost factor. Not a quote. Actual prices vary by site conditions, access, and supplier.