Concrete patio cost in Columbia, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $1,150 – $3,650
- Per sq ft
- $3.70 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $2,650
- Rank of 300 metros
- #204
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete patio in Columbia, SC usually costs $1,150 to $3,650 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $3.70 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $220 less. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $24.36 an hour in the Columbia area, 11% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Columbia, SC, standard level
$1,900 to $2,900
About $5.90 to $8.75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $900 | $1,150 |
| Labor | $870 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $280 |
| Total | $1,900 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Columbia, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $720 | $1,000 | $1,300 | 42% |
| Labor | $390 | $1,200 | $1,950 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $210 | $370 | 9% |
| Total | $1,150 | $2,400 | $3,650 | 100% |
What is behind the Columbia number
Labor is 49% of the midpoint bill here, against 51% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is cement masons and concrete finishers (50%), construction laborers (30%), carpenters (10%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Columbia the blended ratio comes out at 0.88.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Columbia is at 96.3 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 93.7: $45 to $370.
Optional extras in Columbia
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Columbia, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.88) 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 | $830 – $2,750 |
Why two Columbia quotes can differ
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.
Related projects, priced for Columbia
Jobs that often go together with concrete patio are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Columbia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete slab comes out highest (−7%) and wood deck lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −7% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,350 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $4,950 | −9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,800 – $13,600 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,300 | −10% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,800 | −8% |
What local crews earn in Columbia
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 Columbia the blend is 0.88.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.36 an hour, 11% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.30 and $29.29 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 8.9 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 $20.49 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.50 and $23.15 an hour. BLS counts 2,610 of them working in the area, 66.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.11 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.13 and $28.49 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 22.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.27 an hour, 19% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.82 and $27.05 an hour. About 1,120 work in the metro. That is 28.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Columbia has 394,200 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 65th 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% | $22.30 | $24.36 | $29.29 | $27.41 | 0.89 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.50 | $20.49 | $23.15 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.13 | $23.11 | $28.49 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $20.82 | $23.27 | $27.05 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Columbia: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Columbia. 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
$1,150 to $2,150
Plain gray slab, broom finish, flat yard
Standard
$1,900 to $2,900
Colored or stained, saw-cut joints, minor grading
Premium
$2,650 to $3,650
Exposed aggregate or heavy decorative finish, drainage work
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 (100 sq ft) | $420 – $840 | $730 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,450 |
| 12x16 (192 sq ft) | $760 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,450 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,550 – $2,800 | $2,500 – $3,800 | $3,450 – $4,750 |
How Columbia compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group at $2,450. Augusta is the cheapest at $2,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SCthis page | $1,150 – $3,650 | $2,400 | |
| Augusta, GA70 miles | $1,150 – $3,550 | $2,350 | −3% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $1,150 – $3,600 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Florence, SC70 miles | $1,150 – $3,600 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Charlotte, NC75 miles | $1,150 – $3,700 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Greenville, SC90 miles | $1,150 – $3,700 | $2,400 | +1% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $1,150 – $3,650 | $2,400 | level |
| United States | $1,250 – $4,000 | $2,650 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Columbia ranks #204 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Columbia is 0% above the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $1,150 – $3,700 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $1,200 – $3,750 | $2,450 | +2% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $1,150 – $3,600 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $1,150 – $3,500 | $2,300 | −4% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $1,150 – $3,600 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,150 – $3,700 | $2,450 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,200 – $4,000 | $2,600 | +8% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $1,200 – $3,750 | $2,450 | +2% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $1,300 – $4,300 | $2,800 | +16% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $1,200 – $3,900 | $2,550 | +6% |
Columbia 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, Columbia Owens Dwtn 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 Columbia are March through May and September through November: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Columbia gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.8 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 2.7 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 83 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 | 57 | 37 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 69 | 46 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 53 | 2.7 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 62 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 70 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 72 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 67 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 77 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.5 | Cold |
Get 3 local quotes
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Concrete patio in Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete patio in Columbia?
For 300 sq ft, expect $1,150 to $3,650 in the Columbia area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $2,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete patio in Columbia?
About $3.70 to $11 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $370 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $12.
+Is concrete patio cheaper in Columbia or Augusta?
Augusta is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 3% less than Columbia ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbia?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $2,400. Materials are 42% and permits 9%. Nationally, labor is 51%.
+What would 12x16 (192 sq ft) cost in Columbia?
$760 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete patio need a permit in Columbia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $370 for fees in the Columbia area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbia expensive for concrete patio compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Columbia is 0% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Columbia?
The BLS median is $24.36 an hour in the Columbia area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.30 to $29.29.
+What do basic and premium concrete patio work cost in Columbia?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $1,150 to $2,150 and premium work $2,650 to $3,650. 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 Columbia?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and September through November. April 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 an acid or water-based stain" add in Columbia?
$830 to $2,750 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete patio near Columbia
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.