How much does commercial concrete cost?

Most projects fall between $18,000 and $120,000, which works out to $8–$24 per square foot. At the typical 3,200 square feet the mid-range figure is about $51,200.

How long does commercial work last?

Properly placed on a compacted sub-base and jointed correctly, expect 25 to 40 years of service. Failures inside ten years are almost always a sub-base or drainage problem rather than a concrete problem.

How long does the work take?

Most residential projects in this category are a two to four day sequence: demolition and prep, then the pour, then joint cutting. Weather delays are normal and are safer than pouring into a freeze or a downpour.

Foot traffic is usually fine after 24 to 48 hours. Vehicles should stay off for at least seven days, and heavy loads for 28 days, which is when the mix reaches its specified strength.

It depends on the municipality and on whether the work changes drainage, coverage or structure. Local permit offices, fees and impervious coverage limits are listed on each municipal page of the Atlas.

Do the contractors work for The Concrete Atlas?

No. The Concrete Atlas is an independent resource. We do not perform concrete work. We pass project details to independent, licensed contractors, and those contractors pay us.

Tier 1 service

Commercial Concrete Contractors

Slabs on grade, paving, curbing and structural flatwork for commercial properties, typically specified to engineering drawings and placed in phases.

Typical cost

Typical project: $18,000 – $120,000
Per square foot: $8 – $24
Typical size: 3,200 sq ft
Mid-range figure: $51,200

Ranges are compiled from published national cost data and adjusted for local labour and material costs. They are estimates, not quotes.

The cost guide breaks the same numbers down by project size and line item.

What drives the price

Six variables account for most of the spread between two quotes on the same project.

Area and thickness

A typical job in this category is about 3,200 square feet. Below roughly half that size, mobilisation and short-load fees dominate and the effective rate rises above $24 per square foot.

Sub-base condition

Undercutting soft soil and importing compacted stone is the most common change order. It is also the difference between a slab that lasts decades and one that cracks in the first winter.

Demolition and disposal

Removing an existing surface is priced by volume and tipping fees, not by area. Reinforced or double-poured slabs can double this line.

Reinforcement and mix

Fiber, welded wire or a rebar mat, and the specified PSI, move material cost per cubic yard. Heavier vehicle loads justify the upgrade.

Access

If the truck cannot reach the pour, concrete is moved by buggy, pump or wheelbarrow. Each step away from a direct chute adds labour hours.

Finish and detail

Finish work is the widest part of the $8–$24 band. Colour, borders, steps and curves all add finishing labour rather than material.

How long it lasts

Expect 25 to 40 years of service life when the work is placed on a compacted stone base, reinforced to the load it carries and jointed within the first day. Concrete in this category rarely fails because of the concrete. It fails because water was allowed to sit under it, because the sub-base moved, or because joints were cut late and the slab chose its own crack lines.

The process, step by step

01Site visit and measureThe contractor measures the area, checks drainage and access, and confirms what is under the existing surface.
02Written scopeA proposal should state area, thickness, mix, reinforcement, joint layout and finish. Compare quotes line by line, not by the total.
03PermitsWhere the municipality requires it, the contractor files before work starts. Permit status is worth confirming in writing.
04Demolition and excavationThe old surface comes out, the sub-grade is cut to depth and soft spots are undercut.
05Sub-base and formsClean stone is placed and compacted in lifts, then forms are set to line and grade so water runs away from the structure.
06Reinforcement and pourSteel or fiber is placed, then concrete is placed, screeded, floated and finished in a single continuous operation.
07Joints and cureControl joints are cut within the first day to steer cracking. Cure is protected for the first week — this is what buys the 25-plus years of service life.

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Where this work is available

Counties with at least one active licensed contractor accepting this service.

No contractor currently accepts this service in a covered county.

Commercial questions

How much does commercial concrete cost?: Most projects fall between $18,000 and $120,000, which works out to $8–$24 per square foot. At the typical 3,200 square feet the mid-range figure is about $51,200.
How long does commercial work last?: Properly placed on a compacted sub-base and jointed correctly, expect 25 to 40 years of service. Failures inside ten years are almost always a sub-base or drainage problem rather than a concrete problem.
How long does the work take?: Most residential projects in this category are a two to four day sequence: demolition and prep, then the pour, then joint cutting. Weather delays are normal and are safer than pouring into a freeze or a downpour.
When can I use it?: Foot traffic is usually fine after 24 to 48 hours. Vehicles should stay off for at least seven days, and heavy loads for 28 days, which is when the mix reaches its specified strength.
Do I need a permit?: It depends on the municipality and on whether the work changes drainage, coverage or structure. Local permit offices, fees and impervious coverage limits are listed on each municipal page of the Atlas.
Do the contractors work for The Concrete Atlas?: No. The Concrete Atlas is an independent resource. We do not perform concrete work. We pass project details to independent, licensed contractors, and those contractors pay us.

Related references

The Concrete Atlas does not perform this work. We document it, and we pass qualified projects to independent licensed contractors.