Skip to content
CostLocal

Stamped concrete cost in Boston, MA

Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Typical range (400 sq ft)
$3,500 – $8,750
Per sq ft
$8.65 – $21
before permit
Versus US midpoint
+9%
US $5,600
Rank of 300 metros
#39
1 = most expensive

Local price for stamped concrete in the Boston area: $3,500 to $8,750 for 400 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 9% higher than the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $30.23 an hour in the Boston area, 10% above the US median of $27.41.

Estimate your stamped concrete cost

Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.

Quality level

Two-tone color release and a border

Add-ons

Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Boston, MA, standard level

$5,100 to $7,200

About $12.50 to $17 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$2,350$3,050
Labor$2,600$3,850
Permits and fees$150$280
Total$5,100$7,200
Save and get a PDF report

Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Boston, MA

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$1,800$2,700$3,60044%
Labor$1,650$3,200$4,80053%
Permits and fees$55$220$3804%
Total$3,500$6,150$8,750100%

What is behind the Boston number

Labor is 53% of the midpoint bill here, against 48% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is cement masons and concrete finishers (60%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Boston the blended ratio comes out at 1.19.

Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boston is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,700 nationally becomes $2,700 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.3: $55 to $380.

Who does the work: Boston trade wages

The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 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 Boston the blend is 1.19.

Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 60% of the weighting: a median of $30.23 an hour, 10% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $26.87 and $37.47 an hour. About 950 work in the metro. That is 3.5 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 $30.49 an hour, which is 35% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $26.22 and $45.11 an hour. BLS counts 11,580 of them working in the area, 42.8 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 $36.99 an hour, 29% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.11 and $55.00 an hour. About 6,370 work in the metro. That is 23.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 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 $430 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $200. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 7.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.

Boston-Cambridge-Newton has 2,703,890 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 10th by size among the 300 metros on this site.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051)60%$26.87$30.23$37.47$27.411.10metro
Construction laborers (47-2061)30%$26.22$30.49$45.11$22.661.35metro
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073)10%$30.11$36.99$55.00$28.781.29metro
Blended100%1.19

Boston: what basic, standard and premium work costs

The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boston. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x20 patio (200 sq ft) to 2-car driveway (600 sq ft).

Basic

$3,500 to $5,600

Basic pattern, one integral color

Standard

$5,100 to $7,200

Two-tone color release and a border

Premium

$6,650 to $8,750

Multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
10x20 patio (200 sq ft)$1,800 – $2,900$2,600 – $3,750$3,450 – $4,550
20x20 patio (400 sq ft)$3,500 – $5,600$5,100 – $7,200$6,650 – $8,750
2-car driveway (600 sq ft)$5,250 – $8,300$7,550 – $10,600$9,850 – $12,900

Planning more than one job in Boston?

Jobs that often go together with stamped concrete are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+24%) and concrete slab lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Concrete patio300 sq ft$1,350 – $4,500+11%
Concrete driveway600 sq ft$4,100 – $10,600+14%
Paver patio300 sq ft$3,700 – $6,750+24%
Concrete slab400 sq ft$2,700 – $5,650+9%
Asphalt driveway600 sq ft$3,350 – $8,400+12%
Gravel driveway1,000 sq ft$2,900 – $11,800+16%

How Boston 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 $5,550 to $6,150 across Boston and its five closest metros.

Comparison with nearby areas
AreaRangeMidpointvs. here
Boston, MAthis page$3,500 – $8,750$6,150
Manchester, NH45 miles$3,200 – $7,900$5,550−9%
Worcester, MA50 miles$3,450 – $8,600$6,050−1%
Providence, RI60 miles$3,400 – $8,500$5,950−3%
Barnstable, MA70 miles$3,450 – $8,550$6,000−2%
Portland, ME85 miles$3,300 – $8,100$5,700−7%
Massachusetts (statewide)$3,500 – $8,750$6,150level
United States$3,250 – $7,950$5,600−9%

Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boston ranks #39 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boston is 0% above the Massachusetts figure.

Elsewhere in Massachusetts

Massachusetts metros compared with Boston
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Worcester, MA349,880 jobs$3,450 – $8,600$6,050−1%
Springfield, MA201,240 jobs$3,450 – $8,600$6,000−2%
Barnstable, MA94,110 jobs$3,450 – $8,550$6,000−2%
Amherst, MA65,670 jobs$3,400 – $8,450$5,950−3%
Pittsfield, MA56,810 jobs$3,350 – $8,250$5,800−5%

Metros of a similar size

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Metros closest to this one by total employment
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Miami, FL2,819,940 jobs$3,150 – $7,700$5,450−11%
Phoenix, AZ2,375,760 jobs$3,200 – $7,900$5,550−10%
Atlanta, GA2,889,670 jobs$3,050 – $7,350$5,200−15%
San Francisco, CA2,373,920 jobs$4,050 – $10,200$7,150+16%

Specs and site conditions that change a Boston bid

  • Specialist labor

    Stamping has to be done before the concrete sets, so crews arrive in larger teams and charge for it.

  • Sealing and vapor barrier

    Sealer is usually quoted separately; vapor barrier material is $0.20-$1.50 per sq ft depending on thickness (HomeGuide).

  • Not included

    These prices don't include site prep that depends on the project: demolition, grading, or a thicker base.

Optional extras in Boston

Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.10 for Boston, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.19) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.

Add-on prices
Add-onLocal range
Add a vapor barrier$220 – $440

The best months for stamped concrete in Boston

Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Boston Logan 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 Boston 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.

Boston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 14 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.

Monthly normals, Boston Logan Intl Ap (NOAA, 1991-2020)
MonthAvg high °FAvg low °FPrecip (in)For this job
Jan37233.4Cold
Feb39253.2Cold
Mar46314.2Cold
Apr56413.6Workable
May67503.3Workable
Jun76603.9Workable
Jul82663.3Workable
Aug80653.2Workable
Sep73583.6Workable
Oct62484.0Workable
Nov52383.7Cold
Dec42294.3Cold

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 $5,100 to $7,200 for Boston, MA is attached.

Detailed stamped concrete report for Boston, MA, $9

The report lays out the stamped concrete numbers for Boston, MA 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.

Stamped concrete in Boston: your questions

+How much does it cost to pour stamped concrete in Boston?

For 400 sq ft, expect $3,500 to $8,750 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,100 to $7,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.

+What is the price per sq ft for stamped concrete in Boston?

About $8.65 to $21 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $55 to $380 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $19.

+Is stamped concrete cheaper in Boston or Manchester?

Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $5,550, which is 9% less than Boston ($6,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.

+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?

About 53% at the midpoint, or $3,200 out of $6,150. Materials are 44% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 48%.

+What would 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) cost in Boston?

$3,500 to $8,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.

+Does stamped concrete need a permit in Boston?

Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $380 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $50 to $350 scaled by the local price level).

+Is Boston expensive for stamped concrete compared with the rest of Massachusetts?

Boston is 0% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($6,150 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.

+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Boston?

The BLS median is $30.23 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.87 to $37.47.

+What do basic and premium stamped concrete work cost in Boston?

For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $3,500 to $5,600 and premium work $6,650 to $8,750. Basic means: basic pattern, one integral color. Premium means: multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish.

+When is the best time to pour stamped concrete in Boston?

Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May and August 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 a vapor barrier" add in Boston?

$220 to $440 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.

Stamped concrete near Boston

Stamped concrete: all pricesStamped concrete in MassachusettsAll projects in BostonMassachusetts cost hub

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.

Note on derived figures: Materials = SimplyWise's 200 sq ft stamped-patio line ($900-$1,800), divided by 200 sq ft.