How to use this concrete estimate generator
Start from the three example lines and make them yours: set the slab area and your placement rate, the cubic yards of ready-mix at your supplier's price, and the base gravel. Add forms, reinforcement, a pump if the pour needs one, and demolition of any existing slab. Change a quantity or price and the running total on the right updates instantly. Add a global markup, your sales-tax rate, and a deposit, then export a PDF to send. Nothing is uploaded — the draft saves in your browser so it's still here when you come back.
What to include in a concrete estimate
A quote that wins work — and protects your margin — breaks the pour into its real parts instead of hiding them in one square-foot number. Include:
- Placement & finishing by the square foot, with the finish named (broom, stamped, stained, or exposed aggregate).
- Ready-mix concrete by the cubic yard, plus a short-load fee if you're under the truck minimum.
- Base and reinforcement — gravel base, wire mesh or rebar, and vapor barrier. These drive both cost and slab life; don't bury them.
- Form work, joints, and any pump for pours a truck can't reach.
- Demolition and haul-off if you're tearing out an existing slab.
- Terms — deposit to schedule, site access for the truck, cure time, and that hairline cracking is normal in cured concrete.
Typical 2026 concrete price ranges (edit to your market)
The tool seeds these as editable hints — they are current starting points, not gospel. Your real supplier and labor costs beat any table:
| Line | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Flatwork placement & finishing | sq ft | $2.50–$6.50 |
| Ready-mix concrete | cubic yard | $160–$200 |
| Stamped / decorative finish upcharge | sq ft | $4–$12 |
| Gravel / crushed-stone base | sq ft | $0.30–$1.20 |
| Rebar (#3–#4) | linear ft | $0.40–$1.20 |
| Plain flatwork installed (all-in) | sq ft | $6.50–$10.50 |
A worked example
Say a 600 sq ft driveway runs $2,700 to place and finish ($4.50/sq ft), 10 cubic yards of ready-mix at $185, and $360 of gravel base. With a 12% markup and 7% sales tax on the taxable materials, the tool lands on a $5,672.46 total — and with a 30% deposit, $1,701.74 to schedule the pour and $3,970.72 due on completion. Change any input and the receipt on the right re-totals in integer-precise cents, so your numbers always add up.
Mistakes to avoid
- Under-ordering yards. Multiply area by thickness in feet, divide by 27, then add ~10% for waste — running short mid-pour is far costlier than a little extra.
- Skipping base and reinforcement lines. Gravel base and mesh or rebar are what keep the slab from cracking; price them so the customer sees the value.
- No deposit. Concrete is a material-heavy trade you pay for up front — take a deposit to schedule the pour.
- Silent on cracking. State in your terms that hairline cracking is normal; it heads off the most common callback.