Concrete patio cost in Santa Cruz, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $1,350 – $4,450
- Per sq ft
- $4.35 – $13.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $2,650
- Rank of 300 metros
- #36
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete patio in Santa Cruz, CA usually costs $1,350 to $4,450 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $4.35 to $13.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $290 more. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $28.95 an hour in the Santa Cruz area, 6% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Santa Cruz, CA, standard level
$2,300 to $3,550
About $7.05 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $980 | $1,250 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $2,000 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $320 |
| Total | $2,300 | $3,550 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Santa Cruz, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $790 | $1,100 | $1,400 | 38% |
| Labor | $520 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $250 | $440 | 8% |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,900 | $4,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Santa Cruz number
The wage side of the estimate leans on cement masons and concrete finishers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.95 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Santa Cruz is 1.16 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Santa Cruz is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,050 nationally becomes $1,100 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 109.9: $55 to $440.
Pick a size, pick a tier: concrete patio pricing in Santa Cruz
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Santa Cruz. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x10 (100 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$1,350 to $2,600
Plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard
Standard
$2,300 to $3,550
Colored or stained, saw-cut joints, minor grading
Premium
$3,200 to $4,450
Exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 (100 sq ft) | $490 – $1,000 | $880 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,800 |
| 12x16 (192 sq ft) | $890 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,400 | $2,150 – $3,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,800 – $3,400 | $3,000 – $4,600 | $4,200 – $5,800 |
Santa Cruz weather and the concrete patio calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Santa Cruz (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for pouring concrete in Santa Cruz: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low of 40°F or below) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Santa Cruz gets about 31 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (6.4 inches in January). The station averages about 6 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 | 63 | 41 | 6.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 46 | 2.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 49 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 52 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 74 | 54 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 53 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 50 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 62 | 41 | 6.0 | Workable |
Santa Cruz against nearby metros and the rest of California
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 300 sq ft range from $2,750 to $3,400 across Santa Cruz and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz, CAthis page | $1,350 – $4,450 | $2,900 | |
| San Jose, CA35 miles | $1,500 – $5,100 | $3,300 | +13% |
| San Francisco, CA55 miles | $1,550 – $5,250 | $3,400 | +17% |
| Salinas, CA65 miles | $1,400 – $4,650 | $3,000 | +4% |
| Modesto, CA65 miles | $1,450 – $4,850 | $3,150 | +8% |
| Merced, CA70 miles | $1,300 – $4,200 | $2,750 | −5% |
| California (statewide) | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | +3% |
| United States | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Santa Cruz ranks #36 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Santa Cruz is 3% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,400 – $4,650 | $3,000 | +4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,550 – $5,250 | $3,400 | +17% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $1,350 – $4,400 | $2,850 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,400 – $4,600 | $3,000 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,500 – $5,100 | $3,300 | +13% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $1,400 – $4,500 | $2,950 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Santa Cruz against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $1,300 – $4,400 | $2,850 | −2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $1,150 – $3,500 | $2,350 | −20% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $1,150 – $3,600 | $2,350 | −19% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $1,100 – $3,300 | $2,200 | −24% |
Related projects, priced for Santa Cruz
Jobs that often go together with concrete patio are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Santa Cruz wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (+18%) and stamped concrete lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,700 | +10% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,550 – $8,700 | +9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,400 – $6,200 | +14% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,700 – $17,400 | +15% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,050 – $10,400 | +12% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $8,850 | +18% |
Add-ons priced for Santa Cruz
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.10 for Santa Cruz, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.16) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add an acid or water-based stain | $990 – $3,300 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Santa Cruz bid
Site prep
Excavation, forms and a gravel base are the unglamorous part of the bill and vary most with soil and slope.
Size
Small patios carry fixed costs for forms and mobilization, so the per-square-foot price drops as the patio gets bigger.
Permit
Permits run $50-$400 where required. Many cities don't require one for a small at-grade patio.
What local crews earn in Santa Cruz
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 Santa Cruz the blend is 1.16.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.95 an hour, 6% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $35.81 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 11.2 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 $28.13 an hour, which is 24% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.82 and $36.00 an hour. BLS counts 520 of them working in the area, 52.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $37.35 an hour, 28% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.80 and $44.34 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 71.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $36.36 an hour, 26% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.43 and $46.56 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 13.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 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 $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 3.3% to 5.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has 98,500 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 204th 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% | $25.00 | $28.95 | $35.81 | $27.41 | 1.06 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.82 | $28.13 | $36.00 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $29.80 | $37.35 | $44.34 | $29.12 | 1.28 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $29.43 | $36.36 | $46.56 | $28.78 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Concrete patio in Santa Cruz: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete patio in Santa Cruz?
For 300 sq ft, expect $1,350 to $4,450 in the Santa Cruz area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,300 to $3,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete patio in Santa Cruz?
About $4.35 to $13.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $55 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $12.
+Is concrete patio cheaper in Santa Cruz or San Jose?
San Jose is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $3,300, which is 13% more than Santa Cruz ($2,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Santa Cruz?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $1,550 out of $2,900. Materials are 38% and permits 8%. Nationally, labor is 51%.
+What would 12x16 (192 sq ft) cost in Santa Cruz?
$890 to $3,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete patio need a permit in Santa Cruz?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $440 for fees in the Santa Cruz area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Santa Cruz expensive for concrete patio compared with the rest of California?
Santa Cruz is 3% below the California statewide estimate ($3,000 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Santa Cruz?
The BLS median is $28.95 an hour in the Santa Cruz area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.00 to $35.81.
+What do basic and premium concrete patio work cost in Santa Cruz?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,600 and premium work $3,200 to $4,450. Basic means: plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard. Premium means: exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work.
+Is there a bad season to pour a concrete patio in Santa Cruz?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add an acid or water-based stain" add in Santa Cruz?
$990 to $3,300 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete patio near Santa Cruz
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 Patio Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Stamped Concrete Cost? (2026) (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 200 sq ft broom-finish patio line ($500-$900 in materials) divided by 200 sq ft.