Concrete slab cost in Memphis, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,300 – $4,850
- Per sq ft
- $5.60 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #188
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Memphis, TN usually costs $2,300 to $4,850 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $5.60 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $260 less. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $24.05 an hour in the Memphis area, 12% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Memphis, TN, standard level
$3,050 to $4,100
About $7.25 to $9.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,600 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $270 |
| Total | $3,050 | $4,100 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Memphis, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,700 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,450 | $1,800 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $210 | $370 | 6% |
| Total | $2,300 | $3,550 | $4,850 | 100% |
What is behind the Memphis number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: cement masons and concrete finishers at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 10%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Memphis wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Memphis is at 96.2 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 92.2: $45 to $370.
How Memphis compares
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Memphis is the priciest of the group. Jonesboro is the cheapest at $3,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,550 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,250 | −9% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −4% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,350 | −6% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | −4% |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Memphis ranks #188 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Memphis is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,300 – $4,900 | $3,600 | +1% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +10% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | −5% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,750 | +5% |
Optional extras in Memphis
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.93 for Memphis, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.90) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $370 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $740 – $2,250 |
What local crews earn in Memphis
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 Memphis the blend is 0.90.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.05 an hour, 12% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.12 and $26.25 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 8.3 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 $21.54 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $24.40 an hour. BLS counts 3,940 of them working in the area, 64.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $25.90 an hour, 10% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.88 and $29.88 an hour. About 1,140 work in the metro. That is 18.6 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 $24.34 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.26 an hour. About 1,240 work in the metro. That is 20.3 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 $65 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 1.6% to 1.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Memphis has 611,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 46th 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% | $22.12 | $24.05 | $26.25 | $27.41 | 0.88 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.31 | $21.54 | $24.40 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $21.88 | $25.90 | $29.88 | $28.78 | 0.90 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.58 | $24.34 | $28.26 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Memphis
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Memphis wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (−6%) and asphalt driveway lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,400 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,700 | −7% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,600 – $53,500 | −8% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,400 | −7% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,800 – $6,750 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
Memphis 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, Memphis Intl 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 Memphis are March through June and September through November: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Memphis gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.9 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 72 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 | 51 | 33 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 37 | 4.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 64 | 44 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 53 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 70 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 4.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 66 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 43 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 36 | 5.5 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Memphis bid
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Memphis
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Memphis. 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
$2,300 to $3,300
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,050 to $4,100
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,850 to $4,850
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $600 – $960 | $870 – $1,200 | $1,150 – $1,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $850 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,650 | $1,550 – $2,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,300 – $3,300 | $3,050 – $4,100 | $3,850 – $4,850 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,250 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,850 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,750 – $9,600 | $8,850 – $11,700 | $11,000 – $13,800 |
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Detailed concrete slab report for Memphis, TN, $9
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Concrete slab in Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Memphis?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,300 to $4,850 in the Memphis area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,050 to $4,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Memphis?
About $5.60 to $11 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 Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,250, which is 9% less than Memphis ($3,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $1,450 out of $3,550. Materials are 54% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Memphis?
$2,300 to $4,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Memphis?
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 Memphis area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 1% above the Tennessee statewide estimate ($3,550 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Memphis?
The BLS median is $24.05 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.12 to $26.25.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Memphis?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,300 to $3,300 and premium work $3,850 to $4,850. 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 Memphis?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. 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 Memphis?
$370 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Memphis
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