Concrete slab cost in South Bend, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,500 – $5,150
- Per sq ft
- $6.05 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #116
- 1 = most expensive
South Bend homeowners pay roughly $2,500 to $5,150 to pour a concrete slab at 400 sq ft, or $6.05 to $12 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, South Bend is almost level. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $28.61 an hour in the South Bend area, 4% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in South Bend, IN, standard level
$3,300 to $4,350
About $7.85 to $10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $1,550 | $1,900 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $270 |
| Total | $3,300 | $4,350 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in South Bend, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,650 | 49% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,750 | $2,150 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $210 | $370 | 5% |
| Total | $2,500 | $3,800 | $5,150 | 100% |
Why South Bend prices look the way they do
Labor is 45% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is cement masons and concrete finishers (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In South Bend the blended ratio comes out at 1.08.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the South Bend metro is 94.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $1,900, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.9) and land at $45 to $370.
Why two South Bend quotes can differ
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.
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).
Cost by quality level and size in South Bend
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for South Bend wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 5 common sizes.
Basic
$2,500 to $3,550
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,300 to $4,350
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,100 to $5,150
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $650 – $1,000 | $930 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,550 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $920 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,500 – $3,550 | $3,300 – $4,350 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,550 – $5,050 | $4,650 – $6,150 | $5,800 – $7,300 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,350 – $10,300 | $9,550 – $12,500 | $11,800 – $14,800 |
South Bend against nearby metros and the rest of Indiana
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. South Bend is the priciest of the group. Niles is the cheapest at $3,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend, INthis page | $2,500 – $5,150 | $3,800 | |
| Elkhart, IN20 miles | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Niles, MI30 miles | $2,350 – $4,950 | $3,650 | −5% |
| Kalamazoo, MI45 miles | $2,350 – $5,000 | $3,700 | −4% |
| Fort Wayne, IN70 miles | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Grand Rapids, MI85 miles | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,750 | −2% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | +1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | level |
Across 300 US metros, South Bend comes in at #116 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, South Bend is 1% below the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | +2% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | +3% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $2,500 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like South Bend's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is South Bend against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Station, TX | 134,040 jobs | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −13% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | −12% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | +1% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $2,850 – $5,900 | $4,400 | +15% |
Add-ons priced for South Bend
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to South Bend by the average of the local wage index (1.08) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.01. 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 | $400 – $1,200 |
| Remove old concrete first | $810 – $2,450 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for South Bend is 1.08 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $28.61 an hour, which is 4% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.26 and $31.63 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 9.9 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 $24.46 an hour, 8% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.07 and $30.16 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 60.8 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 $38.68 an hour, which is 34% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.07 and $46.44 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 27.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.66 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.63 and $33.69 an hour. BLS counts 500 of them working in the area, 38.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($23.26) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 2.3% or 4.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 131,670 jobs in the South Bend-Mishawaka area. That makes it the 165th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $23.26 | $28.61 | $31.63 | $27.41 | 1.04 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.07 | $24.46 | $30.16 | $22.66 | 1.08 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $29.07 | $38.68 | $46.44 | $28.78 | 1.34 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.63 | $29.66 | $33.69 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Planning more than one job in South Bend?
Because every project leans on different trades, South Bend's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +8% and detached garage level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,600 | +4% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +1% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,000 – $58,100 | level |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,050 | +1% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,650 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $11,000 | +8% |
When to schedule concrete slab in South Bend
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for South Bend Michiana Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in South Bend (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, 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.
South Bend gets about 39 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 65 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 14 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 | 17 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 19 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 27 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 37 | 3.5 | Cold |
| May | 70 | 48 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 58 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 62 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 32 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 23 | 2.4 | Cold |
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Concrete slab in South Bend: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in South Bend?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,500 to $5,150 in the South Bend area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,300 to $4,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in South Bend?
About $6.05 to $12 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $370 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in South Bend or Elkhart?
Elkhart is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,800, which is 1% less than South Bend ($3,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in South Bend?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,750 out of $3,800. Materials are 49% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in South Bend?
$2,500 to $5,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in South Bend?
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 South Bend area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is South Bend expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Indiana?
South Bend is 1% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($3,850 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in South Bend?
The BLS median is $28.61 an hour in the South Bend area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.26 to $31.63.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in South Bend?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,500 to $3,550 and premium work $4,100 to $5,150. 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.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete slab in South Bend?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. September and October 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 rebar reinforcement" add in South Bend?
$400 to $1,200 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near South Bend
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