Concrete Patio Cost in 2026

Patio size	Typical range (2026)	Per square foot
100 sq ft (10x10)	$1,200 to $1,800	$12 to $18
200 sq ft (10x20)	$2,000 to $3,200	$10 to $16
300 sq ft (15x20)	$2,700 to $4,500	$9 to $15
400 sq ft (20x20)	$3,200 to $5,600	$8 to $14
500 sq ft (20x25)	$4,000 to $7,000	$8 to $14
600 sq ft (20x30)	$4,800 to $8,400	$8 to $14
800 sq ft (20x40)	$6,400 to $12,000	$8 to $15

Concrete patio cost in Greater New Orleans ranges from $8 to $18 per square foot in 2026, with the wide spread driven by patio size, finish selection, and the subgrade work the site demands. Smaller patios carry a higher per-square-foot cost because mobilization, forming, and finishing labor do not scale down proportionally. A site visit is what produces an actual number for a specific property.

What Determines the Cost of a Concrete Patio?

Five factors account for nearly all of the price variation between a low-range and high-range patio quote in this market.

How Does Slab Size Affect Cost?

A patio under 200 sq ft costs $10 to $18 per square foot because the crew, truck, and pump charge the same minimum whether the pour is 100 sq ft or 200 sq ft. Above 400 sq ft, the per-square-foot rate drops to $8 to $14 because labor spreads over more area.

How Does Finish Type Affect Cost?

A standard broom finish is included in base pricing. Stamped concrete adds $4 to $8 per square foot for the stamp mats, release agent, and the slower finishing pace. Exposed aggregate adds $3 to $6 per square foot. Acid staining adds $2 to $5 per square foot applied after the slab cures.

How Does Subgrade Condition Affect Cost?

Soft alluvial clay and organic silt, common across Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish south shore, require 6 to 8 inches of compacted limestone base instead of the 4 inches sufficient on stable sandy ground. That additional base material and compaction adds $1.50 to $3 per square foot. Northshore properties in Mandeville or Slidell with sandy pine-flat soil typically need only standard base prep.

How Does Demolition of an Existing Patio Affect Cost?

Removing an existing concrete slab adds $2 to $6 per square foot. A 4-inch unreinforced slab breaks and loads in a few hours. A 6-inch reinforced slab with wire mesh or rebar requires saw-cutting and heavier equipment, pushing removal closer to $6 per square foot. Disposal runs $40 to $60 per ton at local facilities in the New Orleans metro.

How Does Access and Grading Affect Cost?

A patio poured in a fenced backyard with no truck access requires a concrete pump at $300 to $800 per pour. Grading a sloped yard to establish proper drainage away from the foundation adds $1 to $3 per square foot depending on how much soil gets moved.

What Does a Concrete Patio Cost by Size?

The total installed cost scales with area, but the per-square-foot rate compresses as the patio gets larger. These ranges reflect a 4-inch, 3500 PSI broom-finish slab over compacted limestone base in the Greater New Orleans market in 2026.

• 10x10 patio (100 sq ft): $1,200 to $1,800 total. Common for a grill pad or small sitting area beside a back door.
• 10x20 patio (200 sq ft): $2,000 to $3,200 total. Fits a 4-person table and a pair of chairs.
• 15x20 patio (300 sq ft): $2,700 to $4,500 total. Room for a dining set plus a separate seating area.
• 20x20 patio (400 sq ft): $3,200 to $5,600 total. The most commonly poured residential patio size in this market.
• 20x30 patio (600 sq ft): $4,800 to $8,400 total. Accommodates an outdoor kitchen footprint and seating for 8 to 10.
• 20x40 patio (800 sq ft): $6,400 to $12,000 total. A large entertaining area, often with integrated steps or a fire pit pad.

What Does a Concrete Patio Cost by Finish Type?

Finish selection is the single largest upgrade factor, adding $2 to $8 per square foot over a standard broom-finish slab.

What Does a Broom-Finish Patio Cost?

A broom-finish patio costs $8 to $14 per square foot installed. Broom finish provides a slip-resistant texture applied with a concrete broom before the slab sets. The finish is included in standard labor and adds no material cost.

What Does a Stamped Concrete Patio Cost?

A stamped concrete patio costs $12 to $22 per square foot installed. The $4 to $8 per square foot premium covers stamp mats, integral color pigment at 1 to 2 pounds per cubic yard, powdered release agent, and the additional 2 to 3 hours of finishing labor a 400 sq ft stamped slab requires over a broom finish. Common patterns in the New Orleans market include ashlar slate, herringbone brick, and flagstone.

What Does an Exposed-Aggregate Patio Cost?

An exposed-aggregate patio costs $11 to $18 per square foot installed. The surface is washed and brushed at the right cure window to expose the aggregate stone within the mix. Surface retarder costs $0.50 to $1 per square foot in material. The labor is timing-sensitive, adding $2 to $4 per square foot.

What Does a Stained Concrete Patio Cost?

A stained concrete patio costs $10 to $17 per square foot installed when stain is applied to a new slab. Acid stain or water-based stain runs $2 to $5 per square foot for material and application. Sealer over the stain adds $1 to $2 per square foot and requires reapplication every 2 to 3 years.

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

A complete patio bid in this market includes seven line items. Anything missing from the written scope is either excluded or being skipped.

Included in a standard patio contract:

• Excavation to a depth of 8 to 12 inches below finished grade
• 4 to 6 inches of compacted limestone base, proof-rolled before forming
• Lumber forms set to grade with positive drainage slope of 1/8 inch per foot away from the structure
• 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier over the base
• 4-inch slab of 3500 PSI concrete with fiber mesh or #3 rebar on 18-inch centers
• Control joints saw-cut at 8 to 10 foot intervals within 12 hours of the pour
• Broom finish and form stripping after 24 hours

Typically not included unless quoted separately:

• Demolition and haul-off of an existing slab ($2 to $6 per square foot)
• Concrete pump for restricted-access backyards ($300 to $800)
• Stamping, staining, or exposed-aggregate upgrade (see finish costs above)
• Sealer application ($1 to $2 per square foot)
• Permit fees, which vary by parish. Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish both require permits for attached flatwork above certain thresholds. Confirm current requirements with the parish permit office before scheduling a pour.

How Do You Tell if a Concrete Patio Quote Is Fair?

A fair quote for a 400 sq ft broom-finish patio in Greater New Orleans falls between $3,200 and $5,600 in 2026. A bid significantly below that range typically reflects one or more of four cost-cutting shortcuts.

• A 3-inch slab instead of 4 inches. Reducing thickness by 1 inch saves 25% on concrete material but drops the slab below the structural minimum for residential foot traffic and patio furniture loading.
• No compacted base. Pouring directly on native clay soil saves $1.50 to $3 per square foot in base material and labor. The slab settles unevenly within 2 to 5 years on south shore clay.
• No reinforcement. Omitting rebar or fiber mesh saves $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot. Without reinforcement, cracks propagate across the full slab depth instead of being held tight at control joints.
• No control joints. Skipping saw-cutting saves 1 to 2 hours of labor. The slab cracks randomly within the first 90 days as shrinkage occurs.

A written scope that names the slab thickness, base depth, reinforcement type, and joint spacing is a reliable indicator that the contractor prices the work to do the work.

Where Do New Orleans Patio Prices Sit Against the National Range?

Greater New Orleans concrete patio prices run 10% to 20% above the national average of $7 to $12 per square foot. Three local conditions drive the premium.

Subgrade preparation costs more here because alluvial clay across Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish requires thicker base layers and more compaction passes than the stable soils common in most U.S. metro markets. A 6-inch limestone base is standard practice locally where 4 inches is standard nationally.

Concrete material cost runs $140 to $165 per cubic yard delivered in the New Orleans metro in 2026, compared to a national average closer to $125 to $145 per cubic yard. Batch plant proximity and aggregate haul distances account for most of the gap.

Labor rates for experienced concrete finishers in this market run $22 to $30 per hour, reflecting steady residential and commercial demand across the metro. A 400 sq ft patio typically requires a 3 to 4 person crew working 1 full day for the pour and finish, plus a half day for forming and a half day for joint cutting and cleanup.