Concrete slab cost in Delaware
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (400 sq ft)
- $2,400 – $5,050
- Per sq ft
- $5.85 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Delaware, a concrete slab costs about $2,400 to $5,050 for 400 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $3,850. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median $27.42 an hour in Delaware (US: $27.41).
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Delaware (statewide), standard level
$3,200 to $4,250
About $7.60 to $9.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,200 | $4,250 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Delaware
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,700 | 52% |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,600 | $1,950 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $400 | 6% |
| Total | $2,400 | $3,700 | $5,050 | 100% |
Add-ons priced for Delaware
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Delaware by the average of the local wage index (0.98) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.97. 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 rebar reinforcement | $390 – $1,150 |
| Remove old concrete first | $780 – $2,350 |
Other Delaware jobs that often go with concrete slab
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Delaware wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (−2%) and gravel driveway lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −2% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,300 – $56,700 | −2% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −2% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,200 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
Quality levels and sizes in Delaware
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Delaware wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 5 common sizes.
Basic
$2,400 to $3,450
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,200 to $4,250
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,000 to $5,050
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $630 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,550 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $890 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,600 – $2,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,400 – $3,450 | $3,200 – $4,250 | $4,000 – $5,050 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,400 – $4,900 | $4,500 – $6,000 | $5,650 – $7,100 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,050 – $10,000 | $9,250 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,400 |
How Delaware compares with nearby states
Delaware ranks 29 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. Delaware sits at $3,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 60 miles away | $2,800 – $5,850 | $4,300 | +16% |
| Maryland | 60 miles away | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,800 | +3% |
| Pennsylvania | 100 miles away | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | +5% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $2,650 – $5,600 | $4,100 | +11% |
| New York | 150 miles away | $2,750 – $5,800 | $4,250 | +15% |
Concrete slab cost by metro in Delaware
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $2,300 – $4,950 | $3,600 | −3% |
Weather windows across Delaware
Season matters for concrete slab. For each Delaware metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Dover has 7 comfortable months (April through October), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 28 | 87 | 48 | 7: April through October |
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Delaware
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.
Wages behind the Delaware 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 0.98 for Delaware.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.42 an hour, which is in line with the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.07 and $30.97 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the state, 8.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.90 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.93 and $27.07 an hour. About 3,240 work in the state. That is 66.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.89 an hour, which is 3% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $31.80 an hour. BLS counts 1,230 of them working in the state, 25.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.46 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.35 and $36.24 an hour. BLS counts 2,250 of them working in the state, 46.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for cement masons and concrete finishers ($30.97 an hour) would add about $100 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($24.07) would take off about $100. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 484,790 jobs across Delaware (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $24.07 | $27.42 | $30.97 | $27.41 | 1.00 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.93 | $21.90 | $27.07 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $22.36 | $27.89 | $31.80 | $28.78 | 0.97 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.35 | $28.46 | $36.24 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
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Concrete slab in Delaware: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Delaware?
$2,400 to $5,050 for 400 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Delaware can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Delaware is cheapest for concrete slab?
Dover at about $3,600 (midpoint, 400 sq ft).
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Delaware than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $3,700 against $3,850 for 400 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Delaware?
About 42% ($1,600). Materials are 52%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.98x 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 Delaware?
The BLS statewide median is $27.42 an hour, against $27.41 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.07 to $30.97.
+Where does Delaware rank for concrete slab costs?
29th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,700 for 400 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Delaware?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,400 to $3,450 and premium work $4,000 to $5,050. 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 Delaware?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Delaware metros we cover, Dover 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 Delaware?
$390 to $1,150 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab by city in Delaware
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