Concrete slab cost in Cincinnati, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,500 – $5,250
- Per sq ft
- $6.15 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #105
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Cincinnati, OH usually costs $2,500 to $5,250 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $6.15 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. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $30.28 an hour in the Cincinnati area, 10% above the US median of $27.41.
Estimate your concrete slab cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH, standard level
$3,350 to $4,400
About $7.95 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $1,950 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $280 |
| Total | $3,350 | $4,400 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,650 | 48% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $1,800 | $2,250 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $210 | $380 | 6% |
| Total | $2,500 | $3,850 | $5,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Cincinnati number
Labor is 46% 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 Cincinnati the blended ratio comes out at 1.11.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Cincinnati is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,900 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.4: $50 to $380.
Cincinnati against nearby metros and the rest of Ohio
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Cincinnati. Lexington is the lowest at about $3,650 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OHthis page | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | |
| Dayton, OH55 miles | $2,500 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Lexington, KY65 miles | $2,300 – $4,950 | $3,650 | −6% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $2,350 – $5,000 | $3,650 | −5% |
| Indianapolis, IN100 miles | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | level |
| Columbus, OH105 miles | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | +3% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | level |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Cincinnati ranks #105 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Cincinnati is 0% below the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | +3% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | +2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $2,500 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,900 | +1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −2% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cincinnati against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | level |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,300 – $4,900 | $3,600 | −7% |
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | +3% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Cincinnati
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Cincinnati. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) to 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$2,500 to $3,600
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,350 to $4,400
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,150 to $5,250
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $660 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,600 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $930 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,750 | $1,650 – $2,150 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,500 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,400 | $4,150 – $5,250 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,100 | $4,700 – $6,250 | $5,850 – $7,350 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,450 – $10,400 | $9,700 – $12,700 | $11,900 – $14,900 |
Optional extras in Cincinnati
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.03 for Cincinnati, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.11) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $410 – $1,250 |
| Remove old concrete first | $820 – $2,450 |
Cincinnati weather and the concrete slab calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Cincinnati Lunken 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 Cincinnati are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, 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.
Cincinnati gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 27 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 | 41 | 24 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 26 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 33 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 67 | 43 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 61 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 65 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 64 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 44 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 34 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 45 | 28 | 3.3 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Cincinnati
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Cincinnati wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+6%) and detached garage lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,800 | +6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,500 – $57,300 | −1% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,200 | +3% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
What local crews earn in Cincinnati
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 Cincinnati the blend is 1.11.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $30.28 an hour, 10% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.66 and $37.10 an hour. About 1,410 work in the metro. That is 12.8 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 $26.41 an hour, which is 17% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $35.56 an hour. BLS counts 5,700 of them working in the area, 51.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $32.19 an hour, 12% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.86 and $45.51 an hour. About 3,120 work in the metro. That is 28.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.90 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.62 and $35.00 an hour. About 4,610 work in the metro. That is 41.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 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 $200 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 5.0% to 5.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Cincinnati has 1,101,030 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 32nd 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% | $23.66 | $30.28 | $37.10 | $27.41 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.17 | $26.41 | $35.56 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $26.86 | $32.19 | $45.51 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.62 | $28.90 | $35.00 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Cincinnati
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).
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 $3,350 to $4,400 for Cincinnati, OH is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Cincinnati, OH line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Cincinnati: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Cincinnati?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,500 to $5,250 in the Cincinnati area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,350 to $4,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Cincinnati?
About $6.15 to $12 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $380 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Cincinnati or Dayton?
Dayton is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,800, which is 1% less than Cincinnati ($3,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cincinnati?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,800 out of $3,850. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Cincinnati?
$2,500 to $5,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Cincinnati?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $380 for fees in the Cincinnati area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cincinnati expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cincinnati is 0% below the Ohio statewide estimate ($3,850 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Cincinnati?
The BLS median is $30.28 an hour in the Cincinnati area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.66 to $37.10.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Cincinnati?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,500 to $3,600 and premium work $4,150 to $5,250. 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 Cincinnati?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April 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 Cincinnati?
$410 to $1,250 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Cincinnati
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