Stamped concrete cost in Charlotte, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $3,000 – $7,350
- Per sq ft
- $7.45 – $17.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $5,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #193
- 1 = most expensive
Stamped concrete in Charlotte, NC usually costs $3,000 to $7,350 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $7.45 to $17.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $410 less. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $23.17 an hour in the Charlotte area, 15% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Charlotte, NC, standard level
$4,300 to $6,050
About $10.50 to $14.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $2,950 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,850 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $250 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,050 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Charlotte, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,750 | $2,600 | $3,500 | 50% |
| Labor | $1,250 | $2,400 | $3,550 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $190 | $340 | 4% |
| Total | $3,000 | $5,200 | $7,350 | 100% |
Where the Charlotte price comes from
Labor is 46% 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 Charlotte the blended ratio comes out at 0.88.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charlotte is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,700 nationally becomes $2,600 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.3: $50 to $340.
Charlotte against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group. Winston is the cheapest at $5,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NCthis page | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,200 | |
| Hickory, NC60 miles | $2,950 – $7,100 | $5,050 | −3% |
| Spartanburg, SC65 miles | $3,000 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −2% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $2,950 – $7,050 | $5,000 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC75 miles | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,200 | level |
| Greensboro, NC80 miles | $2,950 – $7,100 | $5,000 | −3% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $3,000 – $7,250 | $5,100 | −1% |
| United States | $3,250 – $7,950 | $5,600 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charlotte ranks #193 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charlotte is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,950 – $7,100 | $5,000 | −3% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $3,000 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,950 – $7,050 | $5,000 | −4% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $3,000 – $7,250 | $5,100 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charlotte against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $2,950 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −2% |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $3,200 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +6% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | level |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $3,550 – $8,850 | $6,200 | +20% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Charlotte bid
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.
Pattern and color
Basic to average coloring runs $8-$19 per sq ft. A 2-car stamped driveway runs $12-$18 per sq ft (HomeGuide); Estimators.us puts decorative slabs at $15-$30.
Cost by quality level and size in Charlotte
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charlotte. 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
$3,000 to $4,750
Basic pattern, one integral color
Standard
$4,300 to $6,050
Two-tone color release and a border
Premium
$5,600 to $7,350
Multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x20 patio (200 sq ft) | $1,550 – $2,450 | $2,250 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $3,850 |
| 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) | $3,000 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,350 |
| 2-car driveway (600 sq ft) | $4,500 – $7,050 | $6,400 – $8,950 | $8,300 – $10,900 |
What local crews earn in Charlotte
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 Charlotte the blend is 0.88.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 60% of the weighting: a median of $23.17 an hour, 15% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $21.67 and $27.69 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 10.2 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 $22.04 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.36 and $23.92 an hour. BLS counts 10,840 of them working in the area, 79.8 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 $24.46 an hour, 15% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.94 and $28.48 an hour. About 4,440 work in the metro. That is 32.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $270 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $90. That is a swing of roughly 1.7% to 5.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has 1,358,370 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 21st 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) | 60% | $21.67 | $23.17 | $27.69 | $27.41 | 0.85 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.36 | $22.04 | $23.92 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $22.94 | $24.46 | $28.48 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Extras that change the Charlotte total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Charlotte, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.88) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a vapor barrier | $180 – $370 |
Related projects, priced for Charlotte
Jobs that often go together with stamped concrete are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charlotte wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−5%) and concrete driveway lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,350 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,150 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,850 | −7% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,900 – $6,950 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
Charlotte weather and the stamped concrete calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Charlotte Douglas 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 Charlotte are March through June and August through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and July has 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, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Charlotte gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, June and August (4.3 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 49 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 64 | 41 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 55 | 35 | 3.6 | Cold |
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Detailed stamped concrete report for Charlotte, NC, $9
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Stamped concrete in Charlotte: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour stamped concrete in Charlotte?
For 400 sq ft, expect $3,000 to $7,350 in the Charlotte area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,300 to $6,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for stamped concrete in Charlotte?
About $7.45 to $17.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $340 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $19.
+Is stamped concrete cheaper in Charlotte or Hickory?
Hickory is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $5,050, which is 3% less than Charlotte ($5,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charlotte?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $2,400 out of $5,200. Materials are 50% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) cost in Charlotte?
$3,000 to $7,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does stamped concrete need a permit in Charlotte?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $340 for fees in the Charlotte area (our national range of $50 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charlotte expensive for stamped concrete compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Charlotte is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($5,100 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Charlotte?
The BLS median is $23.17 an hour in the Charlotte area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.67 to $27.69.
+What do basic and premium stamped concrete work cost in Charlotte?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,750 and premium work $5,600 to $7,350. 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 Charlotte?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through October. May 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 a vapor barrier" add in Charlotte?
$180 to $370 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Stamped concrete near Charlotte
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 Stamped Concrete Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (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
Note on derived figures: Materials = SimplyWise's 200 sq ft stamped-patio line ($900-$1,800), divided by 200 sq ft.