Concrete & Masonry
Concrete Driveway Cost Calculator
Enter the driveway size and thickness, your price per cubic yard and your state. You get material, labor and a cost per square foot at the median wage.
Worked example
The example uses a sample price typed into the price field, only to show the math. Use the price your supplier quotes you.
- Concrete: 40 x 12 x 5/12 / 27 plus 8% = 8.00 cu yd.
- Materials: 8 cu yd x $165.00 (the price entered) = $1,320.
- Labor: 26.1 hours x $22.84 an hour (cement masons and concrete finishers, median in Texas) = $595.
Measure the drive you will actually pour
Measure from the garage slab or parking pad to where the new concrete stops, which may be at the property line or at a curb apron. Add any flared section at the street as a separate rectangle.
The worked example is 40 x 12 ft at 5 in with 8% waste. That is 8.00 cu yd, or $1,320 at an entered price of $165.00 per yard.
Thickness and the vehicles on it
Driveways are often poured thicker than walks because they carry cars and the occasional heavy truck. Every extra inch adds about a fifth to a quarter more concrete on a 4 or 5 in drive.
The local building code and a licensed professional have the final word on thickness, base and reinforcement for your drive.
Labor and cost per square foot
We estimate 26.1 hours to place and finish the example drive. At the Texas median of $22.84 an hour for cement masons and concrete finishers, labor is $595, with a range of $509 to $697.
Spread over 480 sq ft, the total at the median wage is $3.99 per square foot. That per-foot figure is handy when you compare a few drive layouts.
Not included in this driveway estimate
- Breaking out and hauling away an old drive.
- Excavation, grading and a compacted gravel base.
- Rebar, mesh or other reinforcement.
- A curb cut or apron work in the public right of way, and the permit for it.
- Pump or short-load charges, and sealer after curing.
Pay rate versus billing rate
The wage numbers are what workers earn in your state, not the rate a paving company bills. A company price adds equipment, trucks, overhead and profit, so treat the labor line as the low end.
If you are weighing concrete against blacktop, the asphalt driveway cost calculator works the same way. For tear-out costs, see the demolition cost calculator.
Cement masons and concrete finishers: hourly wages by state
Median hourly wage in the highest and lowest paying states, with the 25th and 75th percentile. U.S. median: $27.41 an hour (206,170 workers).
| State | 25th pct. | Median | 75th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $32.36 | $46.10 | $47.69 |
| Alaska | $44.33 | $44.69 | $54.34 |
| Illinois | $27.82 | $37.58 | $47.56 |
| Washington | $28.31 | $37.27 | $47.25 |
| Oregon | $27.85 | $32.95 | $39.84 |
| Minnesota | $28.81 | $32.13 | $38.21 |
| Wisconsin | $28.40 | $30.89 | $38.29 |
| New York | $27.18 | $30.79 | $40.59 |
| Arkansas | $18.19 | $22.23 | $23.86 |
| Georgia | $18.28 | $22.23 | $26.98 |
| Oklahoma | $18.98 | $22.00 | $23.58 |
| Alabama | $17.96 | $21.50 | $26.36 |
| Mississippi | $17.50 | $21.14 | $22.89 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2051. Wages paid to workers, not what a company charges you: contractor rates include overhead, insurance and profit.
Questions
How many yards of concrete for a driveway?
A 40 x 12 ft drive at 5 in needs about 8 cu yd with 8% waste. The concrete yard calculator rounds it for ordering.
Why use 8% waste instead of 10%?
A driveway is a large, formed pour on a graded base, so the loss is a smaller share of the total. Raise it for uneven ground.
Does the estimate include a permit?
No. Many towns require one for driveways, especially at the street, so ask your local building office.
How this works: formulas and typical values are listed on our method page; every data source and its license is on sources.
Labor: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Last reviewed November 2026.