Concrete slab cost in Cleveland, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,550 – $5,300
- Per sq ft
- $6.30 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #78
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Cleveland, OH usually costs $2,550 to $5,300 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $6.30 to $12.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $120 more. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $31.77 an hour in the Cleveland area, 16% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Cleveland, OH, standard level
$3,400 to $4,500
About $8.10 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,050 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $280 |
| Total | $3,400 | $4,500 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Cleveland, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,850 | $2,600 | 47% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,850 | $2,350 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $210 | $380 | 5% |
| Total | $2,550 | $3,950 | $5,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Cleveland number
Labor is 47% 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 Cleveland the blended ratio comes out at 1.16.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Cleveland is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,850 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.9: $45 to $380.
Is Cleveland cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Cleveland. Youngstown is the lowest at about $3,750 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OHthis page | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | |
| Akron, OH35 miles | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Youngstown, OH45 miles | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,750 | −5% |
| Canton, OH65 miles | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −3% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,800 | −3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | level |
| Ohio (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | −2% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Cleveland ranks #78 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Cleveland is 2% above the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | +1% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | −2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $2,500 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −3% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −4% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cleveland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $2,750 – $5,750 | $4,250 | +8% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,800 | −3% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −3% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $2,700 – $5,550 | $4,100 | +4% |
What nearby projects cost in Cleveland
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Cleveland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+9%) and detached garage lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,900 – $10,100 | +9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,250 | +5% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,200 – $58,500 | +1% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,400 | +5% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,700 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,900 | +7% |
Optional extras in Cleveland
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.05 for Cleveland, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.16) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $420 – $1,250 |
| Remove old concrete first | $840 – $2,500 |
Why two Cleveland 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.
What local crews earn in Cleveland
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 Cleveland the blend is 1.16.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $31.77 an hour, 16% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.32 and $37.33 an hour. About 900 work in the metro. That is 8.7 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 $27.49 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.57 and $34.86 an hour. BLS counts 5,660 of them working in the area, 54.9 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 $34.49 an hour, 20% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.73 and $45.63 an hour. About 2,660 work in the metro. That is 25.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $38.03 an hour. About 3,280 work in the metro. That is 31.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $160 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $220. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Cleveland has 1,031,130 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 36th 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% | $24.32 | $31.77 | $37.33 | $27.41 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.57 | $27.49 | $34.86 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $27.73 | $34.49 | $45.63 | $28.78 | 1.20 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.22 | $29.16 | $38.03 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Cleveland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Cleveland. 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
$2,550 to $3,650
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,400 to $4,500
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,200 to $5,300
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $680 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,600 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $950 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,150 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,550 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,300 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,200 | $4,800 – $6,350 | $5,950 – $7,500 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,600 – $10,700 | $9,900 – $12,900 | $12,200 – $15,200 |
Cleveland 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, Cleveland Burke 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 Cleveland 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.
Cleveland gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, July and August (3.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 25 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 31 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 41 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 63 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 68 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 67 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 60 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 49 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 38 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 40 | 30 | 2.0 | Cold |
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 $3,400 to $4,500 for Cleveland, OH is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for Cleveland, OH, $9
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Concrete slab in Cleveland: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Cleveland?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,550 to $5,300 in the Cleveland area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,400 to $4,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Cleveland?
About $6.30 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $380 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Cleveland or Akron?
Akron is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,900, which is 1% less than Cleveland ($3,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cleveland?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,850 out of $3,950. Materials are 47% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Cleveland?
$2,550 to $5,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Cleveland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $380 for fees in the Cleveland area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cleveland expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cleveland is 2% above 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 Cleveland?
The BLS median is $31.77 an hour in the Cleveland area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.32 to $37.33.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Cleveland?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,550 to $3,650 and premium work $4,200 to $5,300. 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 Cleveland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. June and September 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 Cleveland?
$420 to $1,250 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Cleveland
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