Concrete Pad Cost in 2026

Concrete pad pricing in the Greater New Orleans market ranges from $6 to $14 per square foot in 2026, with small pads under 100 square feet carrying a higher per-square-foot rate because mobilization, forming, and finishing costs spread across fewer square feet.

What Determines the Cost of a Concrete Pad?

Four to six site-specific factors move a concrete pad price by 30% to 60% from the base rate. Each factor adds a measurable dollar amount to the installed cost.

How Much Does Demolition of an Existing Slab Add?

Removing an existing concrete pad adds $2 to $6 per square foot. A 200 sq ft pad demolition runs $400 to $1,200 depending on slab thickness. Reinforced slabs with rebar cost more to break and haul than plain 3-inch slabs. Disposal fees in Jefferson and Orleans parishes run $45 to $75 per ton at licensed facilities.

How Does Subgrade Condition Affect the Price?

Soft or organic subgrade soil increases pad cost by $1.50 to $4 per square foot. Greater New Orleans sits on alluvial clay and organic silt with a water table often 18 to 36 inches below grade. A pad poured on unprepared clay settles. Proper preparation means excavating 6 to 10 inches of organic material and replacing the excavated soil with compacted limestone or crushed concrete. On a 400 sq ft pad, subgrade correction adds $600 to $1,600 to the job.

Does Pad Thickness Change the Price?

A standard 4-inch residential pad uses roughly 1.23 cubic yards of concrete per 100 square feet. Increasing thickness to 6 inches for equipment pads or hot tub bases raises material volume by 50% and adds $1.50 to $3 per square foot. Concrete in the New Orleans metro delivers at $155 to $185 per cubic yard for a 3500 PSI mix in 2026.

How Does Access and Location Affect Cost?

Backyard pads requiring wheelbarrow placement instead of direct chute pour add $1 to $3 per square foot in labor. Pump truck delivery, necessary when the pour point sits more than 60 feet from truck access, costs $400 to $800 per pour as a flat charge.

What Does a Concrete Pad Cost by Size?

Per-square-foot cost decreases as pad size increases because setup, forming, and mobilization costs stay roughly constant regardless of area.

• A 10 x 10 pad (100 sq ft) at $9 to $18 per square foot totals $900 to $1,800. This size fits an AC condenser pad, a small generator base, or a trash enclosure.
• A 10 x 20 pad (200 sq ft) at $7 to $14 per square foot totals $1,400 to $2,800. Common for a hot tub pad, a small shed foundation, or a grill station.
• A 20 x 20 pad (400 sq ft) at $7 to $13 per square foot totals $2,800 to $5,200. This covers a one-car parking pad, a workshop floor, or a patio.
• A 20 x 30 pad (600 sq ft) at $6.50 to $12 per square foot totals $3,900 to $7,200. Typical for a two-car parking area or a large patio.

Small pads under 64 square feet carry disproportionately high per-square-foot rates ($10 to $35) because the crew, truck, and forming investment remain the same as a 200 sq ft pour but spread across far less area.

What Does a Concrete Pad Cost by Finish Type?

Finish selection adds $0 to $5 per square foot over a standard broom finish. Each finish changes labor time, material cost, or both.

How Much Does a Broom Finish Pad Cost?

A broom finish is the standard texture included in base pricing at $6 to $14 per square foot. A broom finish pad provides slip resistance and drains surface water. No additional materials or specialized labor required beyond standard finishing.

How Much Does a Stamped Concrete Pad Cost?

A stamped concrete pad runs $10 to $18 per square foot in 2026. The $3 to $5 per square foot premium over broom finish covers color hardener ($0.50 to $1.50 per square foot in material), release agent, and the 2 to 4 additional labor hours required for a 400 sq ft pad. Stamped patterns replicate brick, flagstone, or slate textures.

How Much Does an Exposed Aggregate Pad Cost?

An exposed aggregate pad costs $9 to $16 per square foot. The $2 to $4 per square foot premium covers surface retarder application and pressure washing to expose the aggregate. Exposed aggregate uses a decorative stone mix that adds $15 to $30 per cubic yard over standard mix.

How Much Does a Polished or Sealed Pad Cost?

Adding a penetrating sealer to any finish adds $0.75 to $2 per square foot. On a 400 sq ft pad, sealing costs $300 to $800. Sealing protects against moisture intrusion and staining, particularly relevant in the high-humidity New Orleans climate where unsealed concrete absorbs water and develops mold staining within 12 to 18 months.

What Is Included in a Contractor's Concrete Pad Price, and What Is Not?

A complete pad quote covers 8 to 10 line items. Knowing what falls inside and outside the quoted price prevents cost surprises.

A standard concrete pad quote in Greater New Orleans includes:

• Site layout and forming with dimensional lumber or steel forms
• Excavation of 4 to 6 inches of topsoil or organic material
• 4 to 6 inches of compacted limestone or recycled concrete base
• 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier
• Fiber mesh or #3 rebar on 18-inch centers for reinforcement
• 4 inches of 3500 PSI concrete, placed and finished
• Control joints cut at 8 to 10 foot intervals within 12 hours of pour
• Basic broom finish and edge tooling

Items typically not included in a standard concrete pad quote:

• Demolition and removal of an existing slab ($2 to $6 per square foot)
• Permits, where required by the parish ($75 to $300 in Jefferson Parish for structures over 200 sq ft, though homeowners verify current fees with the Jefferson Parish Permits office)
• Grading and drainage correction beyond the pad perimeter ($500 to $2,000)
• Decorative finishes such as stamping, staining, or exposed aggregate
• Sealing ($0.75 to $2 per square foot)

How Do You Tell If a Concrete Pad Quote Is Fair?

A fair quote specifies slab thickness, concrete PSI rating, base material depth, reinforcement method, and control joint spacing. A quote that lists only a total dollar amount and square footage lacks the detail needed for comparison.

Three things signal a suspiciously low bid:

1. No base preparation listed. Pouring 4 inches of concrete directly on clay soil in the New Orleans metro produces a pad that settles and cracks within 2 to 3 years. Base material and compaction account for $1.50 to $3 per square foot of the total, and skipping this step explains most abnormally low bids.
2. No reinforcement specified. Fiber mesh costs $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot in material. Rebar on 18-inch centers costs $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot installed. A pad with neither cracks under thermal cycling and load.
3. Slab thickness below 4 inches. A 3-inch pad uses 25% less concrete than a 4-inch pad, saving $1 to $2 per square foot. A 3-inch residential pad lacks the structural capacity for vehicle loads or heavy equipment and cracks under point loads that a 4-inch slab handles.

Request the concrete mix design (PSI rating), base depth, and reinforcement schedule in writing before comparing bids. A site visit from the contractor is what produces an accurate number, since ground conditions, access, and demolition requirements vary from lot to lot across the Greater New Orleans area.

Where Do New Orleans Concrete Pad Prices Sit Against the National Range?

New Orleans concrete pad prices run 10% to 20% above the national median of $5.50 to $10 per square foot. Three local factors drive the premium. Concrete delivery costs $155 to $185 per cubic yard in the metro versus $130 to $160 nationally, reflecting haul distances and aggregate sourcing. Subgrade preparation costs more in southeast Louisiana because the alluvial clay and high water table across Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany parishes require 4 to 6 inches of imported base material on nearly every pour, while builders in sandy-soil markets often pour directly on compacted native ground. Labor rates for experienced finishers in the New Orleans market run $22 to $32 per hour, comparable to the national range, but crew availability tightens during the March-through-November pour season, adding scheduling pressure on larger pads.