Concrete slab cost in Nashville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,300 – $4,900
- Per sq ft
- $5.60 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #178
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to pour a concrete slab in Nashville, plan on $2,300 to $4,900 for 400 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $5.60 to $11.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $23.47 an hour in the Nashville area, 14% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Nashville, TN, standard level
$3,050 to $4,100
About $7.30 to $9.60 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 | $150 | $280 |
| Total | $3,050 | $4,100 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Nashville, 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 | $50 | $220 | $390 | 6% |
| Total | $2,300 | $3,600 | $4,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Nashville number
Labor is 40% 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 Nashville the blended ratio comes out at 0.91.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Nashville metro is 96.2 (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 (96.3) and land at $50 to $390.
Extras that change the Nashville total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Nashville by the average of the local wage index (0.91) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.94. 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 | $370 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $750 – $2,250 |
Is Nashville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Nashville. Decatur is the lowest at about $3,400 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 115 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TNthis page | $2,300 – $4,900 | $3,600 | |
| Clarksville, TN65 miles | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | −3% |
| Bowling Green, KY70 miles | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | −1% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −4% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Decatur, AL115 miles | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | −5% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −2% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Nashville comes in at #178 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Nashville is 2% above the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,550 | −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 | −4% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | −3% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Nashville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Nashville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | +8% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | +6% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | +8% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $2,750 – $5,750 | $4,250 | +18% |
Nashville labor market for concrete slab
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 Nashville is 0.91 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.47 an hour, which is 14% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.49 and $26.85 an hour. BLS counts 1,490 of them working in the area, 13.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.21 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.67 and $24.27 an hour. About 9,170 work in the metro. That is 83.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.94 an hour, which is 6% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.79 and $29.11 an hour. BLS counts 3,820 of them working in the area, 34.7 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 $26.81 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $29.35 an hour. BLS counts 3,040 of them working in the area, 27.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.85 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($22.49) it shrinks by about $30. The total moves by 2.7% or 0.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,099,300 jobs in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin area. That makes it the 33rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.71% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $22.49 | $23.47 | $26.85 | $27.41 | 0.86 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.67 | $22.21 | $24.27 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $23.79 | $26.94 | $29.11 | $28.78 | 0.94 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.80 | $26.81 | $29.35 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Nashville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Nashville 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
$2,300 to $3,350
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 $4,900
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $610 – $970 | $880 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $860 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,650 | $1,550 – $2,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,300 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,100 | $3,850 – $4,900 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,300 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,900 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,800 – $9,650 | $8,900 – $11,800 | $11,100 – $13,900 |
Related projects, priced for Nashville
Because every project leans on different trades, Nashville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs −4% and concrete driveway −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,750 | −7% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $27,300 – $54,900 | −6% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,400 | −7% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,900 – $7,050 | −5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,800 | −4% |
Climate in Nashville: timing your concrete slab job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Nashville Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through June and September through October are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Nashville (5 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; 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.
Nashville gets about 51 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.0 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 54 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 | 49 | 30 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 54 | 33 | 4.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 66 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 69 | 3.8 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 61 | 39 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 4.4 | Cold |
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Nashville
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.
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 $3,050 to $4,100 for Nashville, TN is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for Nashville, TN, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Nashville, TN 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 Nashville: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Nashville?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,300 to $4,900 in the Nashville 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 Nashville?
About $5.60 to $11.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $390 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Nashville or Clarksville?
Clarksville is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,500, which is 3% less than Nashville ($3,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Nashville?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $1,450 out of $3,600. Materials are 54% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Nashville?
$2,300 to $4,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Nashville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $390 for fees in the Nashville area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Nashville expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Nashville is 2% 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 Nashville?
The BLS median is $23.47 an hour in the Nashville area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.49 to $26.85.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Nashville?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,300 to $3,350 and premium work $3,850 to $4,900. 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 Nashville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through June and September 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 Nashville?
$370 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Nashville
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