Concrete Calculator › Cost by city › Philadelphia, PA
Concrete Cost in Philadelphia, PA
Concrete for a 20×20 ft (400 sq ft) 4-inch concrete slab in Philadelphia, PA costs about $770 ($655–$886). Local 2026 price is around $156 per cuyd. Free calculator inside.
What goes into concrete cost in Philadelphia
The line items below are 2026 national averages adjusted by the PA construction-cost factor (×1.04). A written Philadelphia quote is usually built from these pieces — use them to sanity-check any bid line by line before you sign.
| Cost item | Typical Philadelphia price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete, 3,000–4,000 PSI | $156 – $192 | per cu yd delivered |
| Labor: forming, pouring & finishing | $4.16 – $8.32 | per sq ft |
| Gravel base & subgrade prep | $1.04 – $2.08 | per sq ft |
| Wire mesh / rebar reinforcement | $0.36 – $1.04 | per sq ft |
| Short-load fee (orders under ~4 cu yd) | $78 – $156 | per delivery |
| Residential flatwork permit | $52 – $312 | 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 Philadelphia
The frost line around Philadelphia is roughly 36 inches, so footings for anything structural (stairs, walls, covered patios) must bear below that depth — confirm the exact figure with Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections (L&I). A patio or driveway slab itself floats above the frost line, but its thickened edges and base prep are what keep it from heaving.
Outdoor concrete in Philadelphia should be an air-entrained mix (about 5–7% air) so it survives freeze-thaw cycles and de-icing salt. Skipping air entrainment is the most common cause of surface scaling here.
Rowhouse lots mean small-access equipment and wheelbarrow time are common line items on quotes.
Permits: for larger flatwork, driveways, or anything structural, check requirements with Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections (L&I) before work starts.
Estimate your own Philadelphia project
Prices in Philadelphia, PA run about +4% versus the national average. Enter your dimensions — the calculator starts from the local $156 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 $770 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: $156 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 Philadelphia by project size
Material quantities use the local Philadelphia unit price; the last column adds delivery, base prep, and labor at PA-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 | $193 | $624 – $1,040 |
| 12×12 ft · 4 in | 1.78 cu yd | $277 | $899 – $1,498 |
| 12×16 ft · 4 in | 2.37 cu yd | $370 | $1,198 – $1,997 |
| 16×20 ft · 4 in | 3.95 cu yd | $616 | $1,997 – $3,328 |
| 20×20 ft · 4 in | 4.94 cu yd | $770 | $2,496 – $4,160 |
| 24×24 ft · 4 in | 7.11 cu yd | $1,109 | $3,594 – $5,990 |
| 30×40 ft · 4 in | 14.81 cu yd | $2,311 | $7,488 – $12,480 |
| 40×50 ft · 4 in | 24.69 cu yd | $3,852 | $12,480 – $20,800 |
Installed ranges assume straightforward access and a buildable subgrade; steep, tight, or poor-soil sites price above the top of the range.
Concrete questions Philadelphia homeowners ask
- How much does a concrete slab cost in Philadelphia?
- Materials alone for a 20×20 ft (400 sq ft) 4-inch concrete slab run about $770 in Philadelphia. Fully installed — gravel base, forms, reinforcement, labor, and finishing — most homeowners pay $2,496 to $4,160 for the same slab, roughly $6.24–$10.4 per square foot.
- What does ready-mix concrete cost per yard in Philadelphia?
- Plan on $156–$192 per cubic yard delivered for a standard 3,000–4,000 PSI mix in the Philadelphia area. Orders under about 4 cubic yards usually add a short-load fee of $78–$156, so small pours cost noticeably more per yard.
- Do I need a permit to pour a concrete slab in Philadelphia?
- Driveways, sidewalks, and anything structural almost always require one; small detached patio pads sometimes fall under the permit threshold. Confirm with Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections (L&I) before you pour — a permit costs far less than being ordered to remove finished work.
- Is it cheaper to pour concrete myself in Philadelphia?
- Labor and finishing account for $4.16–$8.32 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.
- Can you pour concrete in winter in Philadelphia?
- Below about 40°F, fresh concrete needs curing blankets, heated enclosures, or accelerating admixtures to gain strength — all of which add cost. Most residential work in Philadelphia is scheduled between spring and fall, and winter quotes often carry a cold-weather premium.
- How can I save money on concrete in Philadelphia?
- 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 Philadelphia quotes — 30% spreads between local bids are normal.
Concrete cost in nearby cities
Regional estimate = national average adjusted by a PA cost factor. Not a quote. Actual prices vary by site conditions, access, and supplier.