Concrete driveway cost in New Orleans, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,250 – $8,050
- Per sq ft
- $5.30 – $13
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $6,450
- Rank of 300 metros
- #235
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete driveway in New Orleans, LA usually costs $3,250 to $8,050 for 600 sq ft. That works out to about $5.30 to $13 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $790 less. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $22.99 an hour in the New Orleans area, 16% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in New Orleans, LA, standard level
$4,650 to $6,600
About $7.65 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 67% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $140 |
| Total | $4,650 | $6,600 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in New Orleans, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,750 | $2,250 | 31% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $3,750 | $5,600 | 67% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,250 | $5,650 | $8,050 | 100% |
Where the New Orleans price comes from
Labor is 67% of the midpoint bill here, against 69% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is cement masons and concrete finishers (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In New Orleans the blended ratio comes out at 0.85.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. New Orleans is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,900 nationally becomes $1,750 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.6: $45 to $190.
Related projects, priced for New Orleans
Jobs that often go together with concrete driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same New Orleans wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (−7%) and concrete patio lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,850 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
New Orleans weather and the concrete driveway calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, New Orleans Lakefront Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in New Orleans are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
New Orleans gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 86 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 47 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 51 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 57 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 63 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 71 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 76 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 78 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 79 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 76 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 67 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 56 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 50 | 4.6 | Workable |
New Orleans: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to New Orleans. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to 3-car (900 sq ft).
Basic
$3,250 to $5,150
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$4,650 to $6,600
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$6,100 to $8,050
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,750 | $2,550 – $3,350 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,150 | $3,750 – $5,300 | $4,900 – $6,500 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $3,250 – $5,150 | $4,650 – $6,600 | $6,100 – $8,050 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $4,800 – $7,700 | $6,950 – $9,850 | $9,100 – $12,000 |
What local crews earn in New Orleans
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 4 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For New Orleans the blend is 0.85.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.99 an hour, 16% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.95 and $29.98 an hour. About 160 work in the metro. That is 3.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $18.98 an hour, which is 16% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.45 and $23.29 an hour. BLS counts 3,620 of them working in the area, 81.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.00 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.97 and $32.23 an hour. About 1,150 work in the metro. That is 25.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.10 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $29.75 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 31.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $560 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $410. That is a swing of roughly 7.2% to 10.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
New Orleans-Metairie has 445,550 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 57th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $17.95 | $22.99 | $29.98 | $27.41 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.45 | $18.98 | $23.29 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $22.97 | $28.00 | $32.23 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.55 | $24.10 | $29.75 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
New Orleans against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than New Orleans. Gulfport is the lowest at about $5,200 (midpoint, 600 sq ft), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LAthis page | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | |
| Houma, LA75 miles | $3,150 – $7,900 | $5,550 | −2% |
| Slidell, LA80 miles | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,600 | −1% |
| Gulfport, MS90 miles | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −8% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $3,500 – $8,850 | $6,150 | +9% |
| Mobile, AL125 miles | $3,150 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −4% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −1% |
| United States | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, New Orleans ranks #235 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, New Orleans is 1% above the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $3,500 – $8,850 | $6,150 | +9% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $3,300 – $8,250 | $5,750 | +2% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $3,150 – $7,900 | $5,550 | −2% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $3,300 – $8,200 | $5,750 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,600 | −1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is New Orleans against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $5,350 – $14,100 | $9,700 | +72% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +4% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $3,950 – $10,000 | $7,000 | +24% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $3,300 – $8,200 | $5,750 | +2% |
Extras that change the New Orleans total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.89 for New Orleans, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.85) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $540 – $1,600 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,050 – $3,200 |
Specs and site conditions that change a New Orleans bid
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.
Get 3 local quotes
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A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
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Concrete driveway in New Orleans: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in New Orleans?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,250 to $8,050 in the New Orleans area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,650 to $6,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete driveway in New Orleans?
About $5.30 to $13 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $190 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $15.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in New Orleans or Houma?
Houma is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,550, which is 2% less than New Orleans ($5,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in New Orleans?
About 67% at the midpoint, or $3,750 out of $5,650. Materials are 31% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 69%.
+What would 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) cost in New Orleans?
$3,250 to $8,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete driveway need a permit in New Orleans?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $190 for fees in the New Orleans area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is New Orleans expensive for concrete driveway compared with the rest of Louisiana?
New Orleans is 1% above the Louisiana statewide estimate ($5,600 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in New Orleans?
The BLS median is $22.99 an hour in the New Orleans area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.95 to $29.98.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in New Orleans?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,250 to $5,150 and premium work $6,100 to $8,050. Basic means: plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site. Premium means: 6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete driveway in New Orleans?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. October and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add rebar reinforcement" add in New Orleans?
$540 to $1,600 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete driveway near New Orleans
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.