Concrete patio cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $1,200 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $3.85 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,650
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to pour a concrete patio in Iowa? Plan on $1,200 to $3,900 for 300 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 3%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $2,550 (Sioux City) to $2,650 (Davenport) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$2,000 to $3,100
About $6.25 to $9.45 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,100 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $260 |
| Total | $2,000 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $980 | $1,250 | 39% |
| Labor | $460 | $1,350 | $2,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $350 | 8% |
| Total | $1,200 | $2,550 | $3,900 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in 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 wood deck lowest (−5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,200 – $14,400 | −5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,150 | −1% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,350 | −1% |
Concrete patio: what moves the price in Iowa
Finish
Plain concrete is $4-$12 per sq ft and a broom finish $6-$13; designs with several colors and decorative finishes run up to about $28 (HomeGuide).
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.
How Iowa compares with nearby states
Iowa ranks 33 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for concrete patio, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $3,650 and the cheapest Arkansas at $2,250, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. Iowa sits at $2,550. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $1,150 – $3,700 | $2,450 | −5% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $1,250 – $4,150 | $2,700 | +6% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $1,250 – $4,250 | $2,750 | +8% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $1,350 – $4,450 | $2,900 | +14% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $1,450 – $4,850 | $3,150 | +24% |
Weather windows across Iowa
Season matters for concrete patio. 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 $2,550, and the top-to-bottom gap is 5%. 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 (300 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Waterloo, IA | $1,250 – $4,050 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −1% |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,200 – $3,850 | $2,550 | −1% |
Wages behind the Iowa number
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 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.
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.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for cement masons and concrete finishers ($31.25 an hour) would add about $80 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.74) would take off about $130. 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 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $25.77 | $29.01 | $34.93 | $28.78 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,200 to $2,300
Plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard
Standard
$2,000 to $3,100
Colored or stained, saw-cut joints, minor grading
Premium
$2,800 to $3,900
Exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 (100 sq ft) | $430 – $870 | $760 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,550 |
| 12x16 (192 sq ft) | $790 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,600 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,600 – $3,000 | $2,650 – $4,050 | $3,700 – $5,100 |
Extras that change the Iowa total
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 an acid or water-based stain | $880 – $2,950 |
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Detailed concrete patio report for Iowa, $9
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Concrete patio in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete patio in Iowa?
$1,200 to $3,900 for 300 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 patio?
Sioux City at about $2,550 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Davenport at $2,650.
+Is concrete patio cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $2,550 against $2,650 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 54% ($1,350). Materials are 39%. 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 patio costs?
33rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,550 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium concrete patio work cost in Iowa?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $1,200 to $2,300 and premium work $2,800 to $3,900. Basic means: plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard. Premium means: exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work.
+Does the season matter for concrete patio 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 an acid or water-based stain" add in Iowa?
$880 to $2,950 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Concrete patio 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 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.