How to Price Concrete Jobs: 9 Steps to Maximize Profit [with Formulas]

1. Assess job details and customer expectations

Before you crunch any numbers, you need to walk the job and have a conversation with the customer for context.

The first move in figuring out how to price a concrete job is being on-site to get a lay of the land.

Clarify project specs

Is the job a backyard patio tucked behind a gate with no truck access? Is it a commercial driveway that requires heavy reinforcement to hold up delivery trucks? These kinds of details will determine your pricing. 

While you’re out there, ask questions like:

• What’s the timeline?
• Are they picturing broom finish or something decorative like exposed aggregate?
• How precise are they about elevation or drainage slope?
• Do they want it done fast, or do they want it done pristine?

Look at the site conditions

Remember that the site itself can be the difference in your profit, depending on how well you plan for it.

Check the access. Is your concrete truck going to have an easy way in, or are you going to be wheelbarrowing or renting a line pump?

Scan the ground. Is the site already leveled and compact? Are there tree roots and debris that need to be cleared?

Look at the surroundings. Are there retaining walls or landscaping nearby? These might not be part of the concrete pour, but they can slow down your crew and limit your accessibility.

READ MORE: How to make money as a general contractor

2. Calculate how much concrete is needed

Before you can price the job, you’ll need to measure the area that needs concrete and calculate the volume required..

Start by measuring the length, width, and depth of the area. Then, use the basic volume formula: volume = length * width * depth

That gives you your concrete volume in cubic feet. Since concrete is typically sold by the cubic yard, divide your total volume by 27 to convert: cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27

Let’s say you’re pouring a 10’ x 20’ driveway at 4” thick:

• 10 * 20 * 0.33 (that’s 4” in feet) = 66 cubic feet
• 66 / 27 = 2.44 yards
• Round up to 3 yards, because you don’t want to be short on concrete

Remember—in the field, the math is never that clean. Most pours will have spillage, finishing errors, or weird edges.

That’s why you build in a waste factor, like 5-10%. For a bigger pour, you could probably get away with 5%. This buffer saves you from scrambling for another delivery of concrete when you run out before the job’s done.

At some point, you’ll come across complex layouts with curves, slopes, or steps. For rounded patios, break your calculation into triangles and partial rectangles. For thickened edges or grade beams, add those volumes separately. The same goes for steps.

Concrete needed = [ (length * width * depth) / 27] * (1 + waste factor)

3. Evaluate surface prep needs

One of the biggest blind spots in pricing a concrete job is site prep. It’s a cost center, and if you skip over it or price it too low, you’ll eat the difference.

Here’s how to do it step by step, with real-world variables in mind:

• Start with demolition: Is there an old patio or cracked walkway to tear out? That’s time, dump fees, and machine hours. Even a thin 3-inch pad that the homeowner did themselves can chew up a couple of hours if it’s reinforced with rebar or mesh.
• Move on to excavation: Whether you’re trenching for footings or just scraping off top soil, this needs to be baked into your estimate. If access is tight, include the mini-excavator rental and extra laborer in your numbers.
• Check for leveling issues: A sloped or uneven site will need grading work before you can even think about setting forms. Sometimes that means backfilling or cutting. Either way, track loader time isn’t free.
• Haul away any debris: Broken concrete, roots, and other debris have to go somewhere. Account for trips to the dump in your pricing, and don’t forget transfer station fees and time lost in traffic.
• Evaluate the drainage: A flat slab without a water plan will turn into a puddle. Do you need to build in a slope? Re-route the runoff? If you don’t catch it now, it’ll cost you later.
• Check compaction requirements: If the ground is soft, you’ll need to compact it with a plate or a roller. And if it’s a high-traffic slab like a driveway, you might even need to bring in base rock. Factor all that in.

READ MORE: How to price a job as a contractor

4. Account for framing, reinforcement, and formwork

The formwork, framing, and reinforcement give concrete its shape before it sets. And if you’re skipping over this part when pricing concrete jobs, you’re probably leaving money on the table.

Your material list changes fast depending on the use case. Start by identifying what kind of framing and reinforcement the job needs. Is this:

• A standard 4-inch sidewalk with welded wire mesh?
• A 6-inch slab for a garage with #4 rebar on 18-inch centers?
• A thickened-edge pad with dowels tying into an existing foundation?

Framing and steel work is also time and muscle. If you’re subcontracting that, include both their price and your markup.

• How long will it take your crew to build the forms?
• How many people do you need to tie rebar?
• Are you bending anything on-site or using prefabs?

Also, consider if you’ll be reusing or throwing away any materials. Here’s where a little planning can save you:

• Reusable forms: If they’re clean and straight, reuse them. Just price in cleaning time and storage.
• One-and-done wood: Budget for disposal. If you’re demoing forms the same day as the pour, you’ll also need labor to break them down and haul them away.
• Rebar and mesh scraps: Account for leftover pieces or awkward cuts that make these unusable for other projects

5. Calculate your labor costs

Your crew is where costs can escalate quickly. A slab that takes one person nine hours can be done by three guys in just three hours—but that doesn’t always mean it’s cheaper. Once you factor in hourly rates, overtime, safety talks, and coordination time, the savings can disappear fast.

Let’s talk about pricing the job with labor in mind.

Break down the job by task

Consider the different phases of the job and staff each one accordingly. Estimate labor for:

• Prep work: Excavation, form-building, setting rebar/mesh
• Pour day: Placing, bull floating, edging, and screeding
• Finish work: Troweling, sealing, texturing
• Cleanup: Form removal, site cleanup, haul-off

Factor in other cost burdens

If you’re just tacking on $30/hour per worker without factoring in your cost to keep them on payroll, you’re shorting yourself. For each crew member, account for:

• Base wage
• Payroll taxes
• Worker’s comp
• Insurance
• Any benefits you offer (vacation, healthcare, etc.)

Someone at $25/hour might actually cost you closer to $35/hour when it’s all said and done.

Account for overtime and delays

If the concrete project has tight timing or unpredictable weather conditions, build in contingency for:

• Overtime pay
• Extra hands on pour day
• Standby time if you’re coordinating with other trades or inspections

Here’s the formula to calculate your labor cost. Do this for each task phase (prep, pour, finish, cleanup) and add them up.

Labor cost = crew size * hourly rate with burden * estimated hours

Some job tasks might involve different crew sizes and different skill levels. Maybe your best worker earns a higher rate than the rest of the crew. Break it all out.

For example, here’s what that might look like for a 20×30 slab. Multiply the hours by their respective wage rates that account for burden:

Phase	Crew Size	Estimated Hours	Hourly Rate with Burden	Total Labor Cost
Prep	2	6	$25	$300
Pour	4	5	$35	$700
Finish	2	4	$35	$280
Cleanup	2	2	$25	$100

For the above project, the total labor cost would be $1,380.

6. Include equipment and material costs

It’s easy to focus on the concrete yardage and labor, but the gear and materials behind the scenes add up quickly. To price concrete jobs profitably, factor in the tools that make the job happen too—otherwise, you’re fronting the cost of your own equipment.

Know what equipment is needed for the job

Some setups are as basic as a wheelbarrow and bull float. Others have you hauling in laser screeds and line pumps. So, the more precise your list, the better your estimate.

Here’s a starter checklist:

• Mixers (if you’re batching small loads onsite)
• Concrete pumps or line pumps (especially for hard-to-reach spots)
• Power trowels and floats (for larger flatwork)
• Hand tools (edgers, groovers, jointers, screeds)
• Plate compactors or jumping jacks (for base prep)
• Generators, lights, and water tanks

If you own the equipment, figure out what it costs you to maintain and operate it. Then assign a per-hour or per-day charge to each piece.

And if you’re renting, find the current day rates and factor in the minimum hours.

Don’t forget the extras

Depending on the scope and finish, you might also need:

• Curing compounds (spray-on or rolled)
• Sealants or waterproofers (especially for outdoor work)
• Color additives or hardeners (for stained or stamped slabs)
• Accelerators or retarders (for working in extreme temps)

These are small line items, but they’ll eat into your profit if you don’t account for them.

7. Add your overhead costs

Overhead costs are the expenses you pay to keep your business running smoothly. These costs might include:

• Business equipment (tablets, computers, cell phones)
• Shop or yard rent
• Admin and office help who manage scheduling, invoices, and permit paperwork
• Vehicles, fuel, and maintenance
• Skid steers, compressors, trailers (whether you own or lease)
• Licensing and certification
• Taxes and business insurance
• Marketing and advertising
• Construction management software

8. Add your markup

Lastly, add your markup—how much you charge on top of your costs to earn a profit—to the total cost estimate. You don’t want to break even.

9. Create a detailed estimate

Once you’ve calculated your pricing, you’re ready to create and send an estimate to the customer. You can write it by hand, fill in a template, or use quoting software.

With Jobber, you can customize your quote design with your company branding, add the job details, and even include photos, site sketches, or layout diagrams.

You can also suggest optional services or upgrades, and the customer can choose what they want right from the estimate. The pricing adjusts automatically.

READ MORE: How to build a construction estimate in 5 steps

Here’s what to include in your estimate:

• Your business name and logo
• Your business contact information
• Your client’s name and contact details
• A quote or estimate number (similar to an invoice number)
• A breakdown of the services you’ll be providing
• Separate line items for concrete, rebar, finishing, equipment, and haul-off
• How long the estimate is valid for (15-30 days will help avoid the risk of price hikes in concrete or rebar)
• Your terms and conditions (e.g., deposit amount or payment terms)
• The total cost for the job, including taxes and fees

When sending quotes, don’t be afraid to ask for deposits from new customers you haven’t worked with, so you don’t risk losing money. You can also do this for big-ticket jobs, where you want the customer to at least cover the materials.

Other pricing factors to consider

While not critical, you might also want to evaluate some of these details that can eat into your profit if you don’t catch them up front:

• Local market and material rates: Working in a high-cost region or transporting material from 50 miles away? Labor shortages and swings in regional pricing can shift your numbers.
• Existing structures and underground utilities: Working around foundations, gas lines, irrigation, or septic? It’s a risk that usually calls for digging and extra care.
• Communication and coordination demands: If the job involves HOA approvals or GC coordination, that’s admin time you’re not doing elsewhere—it should show up in your price.
• Jobsite storage and security: Can you leave tools or concrete forms overnight, or do you need a lockbox or fencing on-site? Don’t eat that cost.
• Sustainability or environmental expectations: Green building rules or erosion control may add labor or material costs, even if it’s just extra coordination or hauling.

READ MORE: 7 proven strategies to win more jobs as a contractor