Concrete driveway cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (600 sq ft)
- $3,600 – $9,150
- Per sq ft
- $5.90 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $6,450
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in Iowa? Plan on $3,600 to $9,150 for 600 sq ft. Wages (1.02x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (87.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $6,300 (Sioux City) to $6,700 (Waterloo) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$5,250 to $7,450
About $8.60 to $12 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 70% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $3,600 | $5,350 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $5,250 | $7,450 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,750 | $2,250 | 28% |
| Labor | $2,250 | $4,500 | $6,700 | 70% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $3,600 | $6,350 | $9,150 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Iowa
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Iowa wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,600 to $5,800
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$5,250 to $7,450
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$6,900 to $9,150
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,450 – $2,400 | $2,150 – $3,050 | $2,850 – $3,750 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $2,900 – $4,650 | $4,200 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,350 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,800 | $5,250 – $7,450 | $6,900 – $9,150 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $5,350 – $8,650 | $7,850 – $11,100 | $10,300 – $13,600 |
Related projects, priced for Iowa
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Iowa wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (level) and concrete slab lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,350 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,000 | −3% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −3% |
Iowa labor market for concrete driveway
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 4 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.02 for Iowa.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.99 an hour, which is in line with the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.74 and $31.25 an hour. BLS counts 2,110 of them working in the state, 13.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. About 13,780 work in the state. That is 88.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.01 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.77 and $34.93 an hour. BLS counts 5,530 of them working in the state, 35.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.75 an hour, which is 5% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. BLS counts 5,770 of them working in the state, 37.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for cement masons and concrete finishers ($31.25 an hour) would add about $260 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.74) would take off about $420. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $22.74 | $27.99 | $31.25 | $27.41 | 1.02 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $25.77 | $29.01 | $34.93 | $28.78 | 1.01 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Iowa
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Iowa by the average of the local wage index (1.02) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.98. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $590 – $1,750 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,150 – $3,500 |
Iowa versus the states around it
Iowa ranks 27 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for concrete driveway, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $9,600 and the cheapest Mississippi at $5,400, both for 600 sq ft at the midpoint. Iowa sits at $6,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $3,400 – $8,500 | $5,950 | −7% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $3,800 – $9,750 | $6,800 | +7% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $3,900 – $10,000 | $6,950 | +10% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $4,100 – $10,600 | $7,350 | +16% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $4,500 – $11,700 | $8,100 | +28% |
Concrete driveway: what moves the price in Iowa
Thickness
HomeGuide prices a standard 4-inch driveway at $6-$15/sq ft and a 6-inch one, recommended for heavy vehicles, at $8-$20/sq ft.
Old driveway removal
Tearing out the old surface adds about $2-$6 per sq ft, and some cities want the haul-off documented.
Grading and drainage
Professional grading runs $3-$8 per sq ft or $700-$2,500 for a typical job. A sloped lot or poor soil raises it.
Finish
Decorative driveways run $10-$25 per sq ft installed: colors and borders at $10-$15, stamped patterns at $15-$20, and high-end finishes at $20-$25+ (HomeGuide).
Permits and the apron
A driveway permit is typically $50-$200 and is often required for new work. The apron where the driveway meets the street can need a separate right-of-way permit.
Iowa seasons and concrete driveway
Season matters for concrete driveway. For each Iowa metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 7 months (April through October); Dubuque has the shortest at 5 (May through September). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 6: May through October |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 5: May through September |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 6: May through October |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 5: May through September |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 5: May through September |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 5: May through September |
Iowa metro-by-metro prices
5 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $6,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (600 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | $3,750 – $9,600 | $6,700 | +5% |
| Davenport, IA | $3,750 – $9,600 | $6,700 | +5% |
| Des Moines, IA | $3,650 – $9,350 | $6,500 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | $3,600 – $9,200 | $6,400 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $3,600 – $9,200 | $6,400 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA | $3,550 – $9,000 | $6,300 | −1% |
| Sioux City, IA | $3,550 – $9,000 | $6,300 | −1% |
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Concrete driveway in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in Iowa?
$3,600 to $9,150 for 600 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for concrete driveway?
Sioux City at about $6,300 (midpoint, 600 sq ft). The priciest is Waterloo at $6,700.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 1% cheaper: $6,350 against $6,450 for 600 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 70% ($4,500). Materials are 28%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.02x the national wage level.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $27.99 an hour, against $27.41 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.74 to $31.25.
+Where does Iowa rank for concrete driveway costs?
27th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $6,350 for 600 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in Iowa?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,600 to $5,800 and premium work $6,900 to $9,150. Basic means: plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site. Premium means: 6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed.
+Does the season matter for concrete driveway in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add rebar reinforcement" add in Iowa?
$590 to $1,750 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Concrete driveway by city in Iowa
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = SimplyWise's sample 600 sq ft, 4-inch driveway line ($1,400-$2,400 in materials) divided by 600 sq ft.