Concrete patio cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $1,200 – $3,950
- Per sq ft
- $3.90 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $2,650
- Rank of 300 metros
- #144
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete patio in Bismarck, ND usually costs $1,200 to $3,950 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $3.90 to $12 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.7).
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$2,050 to $3,100
About $6.30 to $9.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $890 | $1,100 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $270 |
| Total | $2,050 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,000 | $1,300 | 39% |
| Labor | $460 | $1,350 | $2,300 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $360 | 8% |
| Total | $1,200 | $2,600 | $3,950 | 100% |
Why Bismarck prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: cement masons and concrete finishers at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, carpenters at 10%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 10%. Weighted together, Bismarck wages are 1.02 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (51% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bismarck is at 95.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,050 nationally becomes $1,000 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.0: $45 to $360.
Bismarck: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bismarck. 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
$1,200 to $2,300
Plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard
Standard
$2,050 to $3,100
Colored or stained, saw-cut joints, minor grading
Premium
$2,850 to $3,950
Exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 (100 sq ft) | $440 – $880 | $770 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,550 |
| 12x16 (192 sq ft) | $800 – $1,550 | $1,350 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,650 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,600 – $3,000 | $2,650 – $4,100 | $3,700 – $5,150 |
How Bismarck compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Cloud is the priciest of the group at $2,750. Rapid City is the cheapest at $2,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | level |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $1,150 – $3,650 | $2,400 | −7% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $1,150 – $3,700 | $2,400 | −6% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $1,250 – $4,200 | $2,750 | +6% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $1,200 – $3,850 | $2,550 | −2% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | level |
| United States | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bismarck ranks #144 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bismarck is 0% above the North Dakota figure.
Elsewhere in North Dakota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $1,200 – $3,950 | $2,600 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $1,350 – $4,400 | $2,850 | +11% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,250 – $3,900 | $2,550 | −1% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,300 – $4,250 | $2,750 | +7% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $1,300 – $4,500 | $2,900 | +13% |
Bismarck 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, Bismarck (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 Bismarck are May through September: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Bismarck gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 2.5 and 1.7 inches. The station averages about 21 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 | 23 | 2 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 7 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 19 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 30 | 1.3 | Cold |
| May | 68 | 42 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 53 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 58 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 56 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 46 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 33 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Nov | 41 | 19 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 8 | 0.6 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Bismarck
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 Bismarck the blend is 1.02.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.66 an hour, in line with the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $30.05 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 26.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.93 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $29.41 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 87.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.28 an hour, 10% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $30.71 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 71.6 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 $29.88 an hour, 4% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.67 and $35.15 an hour. About 580 work in the metro. That is 81.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $60 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 4.4% to 2.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bismarck has 71,270 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 258th 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% | $23.01 | $27.66 | $30.05 | $27.41 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.87 | $23.93 | $29.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.75 | $26.28 | $30.71 | $29.12 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $25.67 | $29.88 | $35.15 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Extras that change the Bismarck total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.99 for Bismarck, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.02) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add an acid or water-based stain | $890 – $2,950 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Bismarck bid
Permit
Permits run $50-$400 where required. Many cities don't require one for a small at-grade patio.
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.
Planning more than one job in Bismarck?
Jobs that often go together with concrete patio are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bismarck wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+7%) and wood deck lowest (−5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,850 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,850 | +7% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,150 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,200 | level |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,300 | −2% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,050 to $3,100 for Bismarck, ND is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Bismarck, ND: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Concrete patio in Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete patio in Bismarck?
For 300 sq ft, expect $1,200 to $3,950 in the Bismarck area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,050 to $3,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete patio in Bismarck?
About $3.90 to $12 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $360 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $12.
+Is concrete patio cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $2,600, which is 0% more than Bismarck ($2,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $2,600. Materials are 39% and permits 8%. Nationally, labor is 51%.
+What would 12x16 (192 sq ft) cost in Bismarck?
$800 to $2,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete patio need a permit in Bismarck?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $360 for fees in the Bismarck area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for concrete patio compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 0% above the North Dakota statewide estimate ($2,600 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Bismarck?
The BLS median is $27.66 an hour in the Bismarck area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.01 to $30.05.
+What do basic and premium concrete patio work cost in Bismarck?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $1,200 to $2,300 and premium work $2,850 to $3,950. Basic means: plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard. Premium means: exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete patio in Bismarck?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. May and September 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 an acid or water-based stain" add in Bismarck?
$890 to $2,950 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete patio near Bismarck
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.