Concrete slab cost in Houston, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,250 – $4,900
- Per sq ft
- $5.55 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #186
- 1 = most expensive
Houston homeowners pay roughly $2,250 to $4,900 to pour a concrete slab at 400 sq ft, or $5.55 to $11 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Houston is 6% lower. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $22.40 an hour in the Houston area, 18% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Houston, TX, standard level
$3,050 to $4,100
About $7.25 to $9.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,700 | $2,350 |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,050 | $4,100 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Houston, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,000 | $2,800 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,350 | $1,700 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $390 | 6% |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,600 | $4,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Houston 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, Houston wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Houston metro is 100.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $2,000, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.6) and land at $50 to $390.
When to schedule concrete slab in Houston
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Houston Hobby Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Houston (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Houston gets about 56 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (6.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 2.9 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 101 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 | 64 | 46 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 68 | 50 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 56 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 62 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 69 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 75 | 6.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 77 | 4.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 77 | 5.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 73 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 64 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 73 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 48 | 4.3 | Workable |
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Houston
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).
Planning more than one job in Houston?
Because every project leans on different trades, Houston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, asphalt driveway runs −5% and concrete driveway −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,650 | −8% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,800 – $53,700 | −7% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,300 | −8% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,000 | −5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −6% |
How Houston compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 400 sq ft range from $3,300 to $3,600 across Houston and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TXthis page | $2,250 – $4,900 | $3,600 | |
| Beaumont, TX70 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −2% |
| College Station, TX95 miles | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −7% |
| Lake Charles, LA130 miles | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Austin, TX140 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Waco, TX170 miles | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,350 | −7% |
| Texas (statewide) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Houston comes in at #186 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Houston is 1% above the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | +3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −2% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | −5% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,250 | −9% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $2,000 – $4,350 | $3,200 | −11% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Houston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | +3% |
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $2,550 – $5,400 | $3,950 | +11% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $3,000 – $6,200 | $4,600 | +29% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | +10% |
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 Houston is 0.84 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.40 an hour, which is 18% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $18.65 and $26.83 an hour. BLS counts 7,700 of them working in the area, 23.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $19.88 an hour, 12% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.82 and $22.88 an hour. About 34,080 work in the metro. That is 103.6 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 $24.54 an hour, which is 15% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.50 and $29.76 an hour. BLS counts 14,000 of them working in the area, 42.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.88 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.40 and $28.94 an hour. BLS counts 9,600 of them working in the area, 29.2 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 ($26.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($18.65) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 3.6% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 3,289,720 jobs in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands area. That makes it the 5th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $18.65 | $22.40 | $26.83 | $27.41 | 0.82 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.82 | $19.88 | $22.88 | $22.66 | 0.88 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $22.50 | $24.54 | $29.76 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.40 | $23.88 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Optional extras in Houston
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Houston by the average of the local wage index (0.84) and goods index (1.01), a factor of 0.92. 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 | $740 – $2,200 |
Cost by quality level and size in Houston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Houston 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
$2,250 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 $4,900
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $600 – $970 | $880 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $850 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,650 | $1,550 – $2,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,250 – $3,300 | $3,050 – $4,100 | $3,850 – $4,900 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,250 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,800 | $5,400 – $6,850 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,700 – $9,550 | $8,850 – $11,700 | $11,000 – $13,900 |
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 Houston, TX is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for Houston, TX, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Houston, TX 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 Houston: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Houston?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,250 to $4,900 in the Houston 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 Houston?
About $5.55 to $11 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 Houston or Beaumont?
Beaumont is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,500, which is 2% less than Houston ($3,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houston?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $3,600. Materials are 56% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Houston?
$2,250 to $4,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Houston?
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 Houston area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houston expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Texas?
Houston is 1% above the Texas statewide estimate ($3,500 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Houston?
The BLS median is $22.40 an hour in the Houston area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.65 to $26.83.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Houston?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,250 to $3,300 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 Houston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Houston?
$370 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Houston
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