Concrete slab cost in Arkansas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (400 sq ft)
- $2,100 – $4,550
- Per sq ft
- $5.20 – $10.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 4
What does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Arkansas? Plan on $2,100 to $4,550 for 400 sq ft. Wages (0.80x the US blend), materials (price index 93.6) and permit costs (86.9) put the state below the national midpoint by 13%.
Inside Arkansas, the metros we cover range from $3,200 (Fort Smith) to $3,400 (Fayetteville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Arkansas (statewide), standard level
$2,850 to $3,850
About $6.80 to $8.95 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,400 |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $260 |
| Total | $2,850 | $3,850 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Arkansas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,850 | $2,600 | 56% |
| Labor | $960 | $1,300 | $1,600 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $350 | 6% |
| Total | $2,100 | $3,350 | $4,550 | 100% |
Basic, standard or premium: Arkansas prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) to 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$2,100 to $3,100
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$2,850 to $3,850
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,600 to $4,550
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $560 – $900 | $820 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,400 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $790 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,550 | $1,450 – $1,850 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,100 | $2,850 – $3,850 | $3,600 – $4,550 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,050 – $4,400 | $4,050 – $5,400 | $5,050 – $6,400 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,300 – $8,950 | $8,300 – $11,000 | $10,300 – $13,000 |
If you are planning more than one job in Arkansas
Each project weights the trades differently, so Arkansas's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, asphalt driveway is −12% and concrete driveway −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,700 | −16% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,100 – $50,400 | −13% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,900 | −13% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,700 – $6,450 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,700 | −15% |
Why two Arkansas quotes can differ
Thickness and mix
A 4-inch slab uses about 1.23 cubic yards of concrete per 100 sq ft; a 6-inch slab uses about 1.85. Stepping up from a 3,000 PSI to a 4,000-4,500 PSI mix adds $10-$40 per cubic yard (Estimators.us).
Base and reinforcement
A compacted gravel base, vapor barrier, and wire mesh or rebar are priced separately by some contractors and bundled by others. Ask which one your quote does.
Truck and pump access
If the mixer truck can't back up to the forms, someone has to wheelbarrow it in or hire a pump. Pump or line-pump hire is typically billed per day.
Small-job minimums
Many crews have a minimum charge, so a 10x10 pad can cost more per square foot than a 20x20 slab.
Finish
A broom finish is the baseline. Stamped, stained, or exposed-aggregate finishes are priced as add-ons on top of the slab.
How Arkansas compares with nearby states
Arkansas ranks 51 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for concrete slab, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,150 and the cheapest Arkansas at $3,350, both for 400 sq ft at the midpoint. Arkansas sits at $3,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 220 miles away | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | +1% |
| Missouri | 230 miles away | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | +16% |
| Kansas | 280 miles away | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +6% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,400 | +1% |
| Tennessee | 360 miles away | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | +6% |
Wages behind the Arkansas number
Arkansas's labor line is priced from 4 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.80 times the national level.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.23 an hour, 19% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $18.19 and $23.86 an hour. About 1,900 work in the state. That is 14.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $18.09 an hour, which is 20% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.63 and $21.31 an hour. BLS counts 10,650 of them working in the state, 81.7 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 $21.41 an hour, 26% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.44 and $23.97 an hour. About 5,800 work in the state. That is 44.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.96 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.93 and $27.65 an hour. About 4,030 work in the state. That is 30.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for cement masons and concrete finishers ($23.86 an hour) would add about $50 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.19) would take off about $120. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,303,630 jobs across Arkansas (May 2025), which is 0.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $18.19 | $22.23 | $23.86 | $27.41 | 0.81 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $16.63 | $18.09 | $21.31 | $22.66 | 0.80 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $18.44 | $21.41 | $23.97 | $28.78 | 0.74 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $19.93 | $22.96 | $27.65 | $29.12 | 0.79 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Extras that change the Arkansas total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.87 for Arkansas, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.80) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $350 – $1,050 |
| Remove old concrete first | $690 – $2,100 |
Concrete slab cost by metro in Arkansas
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 (400 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | +2% |
| Little Rock, AR | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,350 | level |
| Jonesboro, AR | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,250 | −3% |
| Fort Smith, AR | $2,050 – $4,400 | $3,200 | −4% |
When Arkansas weather lets you pour
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Arkansas is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Fayetteville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Arkansas at 7 months (April through October); Jonesboro has the shortest at 5 (March through May and September through October). Rainfall runs from 47 inches a year in Fayetteville to 50 inches in Little Rock.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 31 | 92 | 50 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Fayetteville | 25 | 89 | 47 | 7: April through October |
| Fort Smith | 30 | 94 | 47 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Jonesboro | 31 | 91 | 49 | 5: March through May and September through October |
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Arkansas: 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 slab in Arkansas: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Arkansas?
$2,100 to $4,550 for 400 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Arkansas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Arkansas is cheapest for concrete slab?
Fort Smith at about $3,200 (midpoint, 400 sq ft). The priciest is Fayetteville at $3,400.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Arkansas than the US average?
It is 13% cheaper: $3,350 against $3,850 for 400 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Arkansas?
About 38% ($1,300). Materials are 56%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.80x the national wage level.
+Does a concrete slab need a permit?
Often yes if it's structural (a garage floor or foundation) and often no for a small at-grade pad. Permit fees run $50-$400 depending on the city (HomeGuide).
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Arkansas?
The BLS statewide median is $22.23 an hour, against $27.41 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.19 to $23.86.
+Where does Arkansas rank for concrete slab costs?
51st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,350 for 400 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Arkansas?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,100 to $3,100 and premium work $3,600 to $4,550. Basic means: 4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access. Premium means: 6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access.
+Does the season matter for concrete slab in Arkansas?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Arkansas metros we cover, Fayetteville 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 rebar reinforcement" add in Arkansas?
$350 to $1,050 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab by city in Arkansas
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 Slab Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Estimators.us: Concrete Slab Cost in 2026 | $6-$12/Sq Ft Guide (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Concrete Patio Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Concrete Driveway 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