Concrete slab cost in Charlottesville, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,350 – $4,950
- Per sq ft
- $5.70 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #170
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to pour a concrete slab in Charlottesville, plan on $2,350 to $4,950 for 400 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $5.70 to $11.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% lower than the national one. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $24.63 an hour in the Charlottesville area, 10% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Charlottesville, VA, standard level
$3,100 to $4,150
About $7.40 to $9.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,650 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $1,650 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,100 | $4,150 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Charlottesville, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,950 | $2,700 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,500 | $1,850 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $400 | 6% |
| Total | $2,350 | $3,650 | $4,950 | 100% |
Where the Charlottesville price comes from
Labor is 41% 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 Charlottesville the blended ratio comes out at 0.93.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Charlottesville metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $1,950, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (99.1) and land at $50 to $400.
Related projects, priced for Charlottesville
Because every project leans on different trades, Charlottesville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs −3% and concrete driveway −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,450 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $27,500 – $55,100 | −5% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,550 | −5% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −3% |
Add-ons priced for Charlottesville
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Charlottesville by the average of the local wage index (0.93) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.95. 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 | $380 – $1,150 |
| Remove old concrete first | $760 – $2,300 |
Climate in Charlottesville: timing your concrete slab job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Charlottesville 2 Sse (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Charlottesville (7 of 12 months). 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.
Charlottesville gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, July and September (4.9 inches in September). Inside the workable window, June and October are the driest, at 3.7 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 31 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 37 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 66 | 47 | 4.2 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 55 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 64 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 68 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 66 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 50 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 40 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 47 | 32 | 3.8 | Cold |
Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville is 0.93 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $24.63 an hour, which is 10% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.94 and $28.97 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 7.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.67 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.49 and $22.62 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 49.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.75 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $30.44 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 27.0 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 $26.97 an hour, which is 7% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.28 and $29.53 an hour. BLS counts 630 of them working in the area, 54.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper 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 ($28.97 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($23.94) it shrinks by about $20. The total moves by 3.5% or 0.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 114,780 jobs in the Charlottesville area. That makes it the 190th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $23.94 | $24.63 | $28.97 | $27.41 | 0.90 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.49 | $21.67 | $22.62 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $24.22 | $28.75 | $30.44 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.28 | $26.97 | $29.53 | $29.12 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Charlottesville
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.
How Charlottesville compares
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Washington is the priciest of the group at $3,950. Lynchburg is the cheapest at $3,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VAthis page | $2,350 – $4,950 | $3,650 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA40 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −3% |
| Lynchburg, VA55 miles | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −9% |
| Richmond, VA75 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −4% |
| Washington, DC85 miles | $2,550 – $5,400 | $3,950 | +9% |
| Roanoke, VA85 miles | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | −4% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | +1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Charlottesville comes in at #170 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Charlottesville is 1% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −3% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −4% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | −4% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −9% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,450 | −5% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Charlottesville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charlottesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $2,100 – $4,600 | $3,350 | −8% |
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −9% |
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,600 | −2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | −7% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: concrete slab pricing in Charlottesville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Charlottesville 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
$2,350 to $3,400
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,100 to $4,150
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,900 to $4,950
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $620 – $990 | $890 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,550 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $870 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,050 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,350 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,150 | $3,900 – $4,950 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,350 – $4,800 | $4,400 – $5,900 | $5,500 – $6,950 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,900 – $9,750 | $9,050 – $11,900 | $11,200 – $14,100 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed concrete slab report for Charlottesville, VA, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Charlottesville, VA 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 Charlottesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Charlottesville?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,350 to $4,950 in the Charlottesville area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,100 to $4,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Charlottesville?
About $5.70 to $11.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Charlottesville or Harrisonburg?
Harrisonburg is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,550, which is 3% less than Charlottesville ($3,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charlottesville?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $1,500 out of $3,650. Materials are 53% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Charlottesville?
$2,350 to $4,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Charlottesville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $400 for fees in the Charlottesville area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charlottesville expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Virginia?
Charlottesville is 1% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($3,700 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Charlottesville?
The BLS median is $24.63 an hour in the Charlottesville area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.94 to $28.97.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Charlottesville?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,350 to $3,400 and premium work $3,900 to $4,950. 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 Charlottesville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. June 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 Charlottesville?
$380 to $1,150 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Charlottesville
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