Stamped concrete cost in Charleston, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $3,050 – $7,500
- Per sq ft
- $7.55 – $18
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $5,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #177
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for stamped concrete in the Charleston area: $3,050 to $7,500 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 6% lower than the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $25.27 an hour in the Charleston area, 8% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Charleston, SC, standard level
$4,400 to $6,150
About $10.50 to $14.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $2,950 |
| Labor | $2,000 | $2,950 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $260 |
| Total | $4,400 | $6,150 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Charleston, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,750 | $2,600 | $3,450 | 49% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $2,450 | $3,650 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $200 | $350 | 4% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,250 | $7,500 | 100% |
Why Charleston prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on cement masons and concrete finishers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $25.27 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charleston is 0.92 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charleston is at 96.3 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 101.0: $50 to $350.
Planning more than one job in Charleston?
Jobs that often go together with stamped concrete are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charleston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete slab comes out highest (−6%) and asphalt driveway lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,050 | −8% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,900 | −6% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,800 – $6,700 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −7% |
Charleston against nearby metros and the rest of South Carolina
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Charleston. Myrtle Beach is the lowest at about $4,950 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | |
| Hilton Head, SC65 miles | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −1% |
| Florence, SC80 miles | $3,000 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −3% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC85 miles | $2,900 – $7,000 | $4,950 | −6% |
| Columbia, SC95 miles | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,200 | −2% |
| Savannah, GA95 miles | $2,900 – $7,000 | $4,950 | −6% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −2% |
| United States | $3,250 – $7,950 | $5,600 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charleston ranks #177 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charleston is 2% above the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,200 | −2% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $3,000 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −3% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $2,900 – $7,000 | $4,950 | −6% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $3,000 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −3% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charleston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,200 | −2% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $3,200 – $7,900 | $5,550 | +5% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 | +4% |
Who does the work: Charleston 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 Charleston the blend is 0.92.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 60% of the weighting: a median of $25.27 an hour, 8% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.52 and $30.36 an hour. About 300 work in the metro. That is 7.6 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 $20.98 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $24.49 an hour. BLS counts 3,710 of them working in the area, 94.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.35 an hour, 15% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.39 and $29.69 an hour. About 1,470 work in the metro. That is 37.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $300 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 5.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charleston-North Charleston has 394,170 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 66th 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% | $22.52 | $25.27 | $30.36 | $27.41 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.00 | $20.98 | $24.49 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $23.39 | $24.35 | $29.69 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Stamped concrete: what moves the price in Charleston
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.
The best months for stamped concrete in Charleston
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Charleston City (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for pouring concrete in Charleston: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low of 40°F or below) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Charleston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (6.1 inches in August). The station averages about 25 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 | 58 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 46 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 60 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 68 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 74 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 77 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 77 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 73 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 53 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 47 | 2.9 | Workable |
Optional extras in Charleston
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.94 for Charleston, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.92) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a vapor barrier | $190 – $380 |
Cost by quality level and size in Charleston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charleston. 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
$3,050 to $4,850
Basic pattern, one integral color
Standard
$4,400 to $6,150
Two-tone color release and a border
Premium
$5,700 to $7,500
Multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x20 patio (200 sq ft) | $1,550 – $2,500 | $2,250 – $3,200 | $2,950 – $3,900 |
| 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) | $3,050 – $4,850 | $4,400 – $6,150 | $5,700 – $7,500 |
| 2-car driveway (600 sq ft) | $4,550 – $7,150 | $6,500 – $9,100 | $8,450 – $11,000 |
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Stamped concrete in Charleston: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour stamped concrete in Charleston?
For 400 sq ft, expect $3,050 to $7,500 in the Charleston area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,400 to $6,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for stamped concrete in Charleston?
About $7.55 to $18 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $350 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $19.
+Is stamped concrete cheaper in Charleston or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $5,200, which is 1% less than Charleston ($5,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charleston?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $2,450 out of $5,250. Materials are 49% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) cost in Charleston?
$3,050 to $7,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does stamped concrete need a permit in Charleston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $350 for fees in the Charleston area (our national range of $50 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charleston expensive for stamped concrete compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Charleston is 2% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($5,150 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Charleston?
The BLS median is $25.27 an hour in the Charleston area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.52 to $30.36.
+What do basic and premium stamped concrete work cost in Charleston?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $3,050 to $4,850 and premium work $5,700 to $7,500. Basic means: basic pattern, one integral color. Premium means: multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish.
+Is there a bad season to pour stamped concrete in Charleston?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add a vapor barrier" add in Charleston?
$190 to $380 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Stamped concrete near Charleston
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.