Base preparation
A good slab starts underneath it. Excavating, importing gravel and compacting properly is a substantial share of the cost and the reason a slab does or does not crack.
Flat concrete work in New Hampshire generally runs $8 to $18 per square foot installed for a standard broom-finished slab, with decorative and stamped finishes pushing $14 to $28 per square foot. A typical 12x12 patio therefore lands around $1,150 to $2,600 plain, and steps, walls and footings are priced separately because they need forms and depth that a flat pour does not. Base prep and tear-out are where budgets usually move.
These are researched ranges for southern New Hampshire and the Seacoast, published to help you budget. They are estimates only — site access, ground conditions, tear-out and material choice move the number in both directions. Every real price comes from an on-site look and a written quote.
Price Ranges
Concrete Price Ranges
Typical installed ranges for southern New Hampshire and the Seacoast.
| Item | Typical Range | Unit | What That Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broom-finished slab (patio, pad, walkway) | $8 – $18 | per square foot | Grading, compacted base, forms, reinforcement, pour and broom finish |
| Stamped or decorative concrete | $14 – $28 | per square foot | Standard slab work plus pattern, color and sealer |
| Exposed aggregate | $12 – $24 | per square foot | Slab work plus wash-off finish and sealer |
| Concrete driveway | $10 – $20 | per square foot | Thicker slab, reinforcement and control joints sized for vehicles |
| Steps and landings | $400 – $1,800 | per set | Forms, footing below frost, reinforcement, pour and finish |
| Footings and frost walls | $25 – $60 | per linear foot | Excavation, forms and pour to required depth |
| Slab removal and disposal | $2 – $6 | per square foot | Break-out, load-out and dump fees |
Estimator
Concrete Cost Calculator
Set your square footage and concrete type to see where your project lands inside the ranges above.
200 sq ft
40 sq ft2,000 sq ft
Not sure? A 12x12 patio is about 144 sq ft; a two-car driveway is around 600 sq ft.
Grading, base, forms, reinforcement, pour and broom finish
0
Estimated project range
$1,600 – $3,600
About $8.00–$18.00 per sq ft · 200 sq ft total
- broom-finished slab (patio, pad, walkway)$1,600+
Budgeting tool only — not a quote. It uses the researched ranges published on this page. Base prep, frost depth and access move the real number.
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We'll carry your selections straight into the quote form — area, finish, access, steps and the $1,600 – $3,600 range you're seeing. You only need to add your contact details.
- Broom-finished slab (patio, pad, walkway)
- 200 sq ft
- Truck can reach the pour
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Cost Drivers
What Moves The Number
The same project can sit at either end of the range. These are the reasons why.
Frost depth
Anything structural here — steps, footings, walls — has to bear below frost. That depth means more excavation and more concrete than the same feature would need in a mild climate.
Thickness and reinforcement
A walkway, a patio and a driveway are not the same pour. Vehicle loads mean thicker slabs, rebar or mesh and more control joints.
Finish type
Broom finish is the value option. Stamped, colored, exposed aggregate and polished finishes add labor, materials and a sealer that gets refreshed periodically.
Access for the truck
If a mixer can reach the pour, it is straightforward. When it cannot, concrete gets moved by buggy, pump or wheelbarrow, and that labor is priced in.
Tear-out
Breaking out an existing slab, cutting rebar and hauling the material is separate work with its own disposal cost.
Drainage and pitch
Every exterior slab needs to shed water away from the structure. Correcting grade before the pour is cheaper than living with water against a foundation.
Size of pour
Small pours carry fixed costs — mobilization, minimum load charges, setup — so the per-square-foot number is always higher on a small pad than a large one.
Options
Finish Comparison
Broom finish
$8 – $18 / sq ft
The workhorse. Good traction in winter, lowest cost, no sealer required to be functional.
Exposed aggregate
$12 – $24 / sq ft
More texture and visual interest than broom, holds up well, needs periodic sealing.
Stamped and colored
$14 – $28 / sq ft
Best appearance of the concrete options. Requires resealing to keep color, and can be slick when wet.
Pavers (alternative)
$15 – $30 / sq ft
Not concrete flatwork, but worth comparing — individual units can be lifted and reset after frost movement.
Decision
Repair Or Replace
Spending the smaller number only makes sense when the base is sound. Here is how to tell.
Repair makes sense
Hairline and narrow cracks, surface spalling in isolated spots, and slabs that are still level and draining. Sealing and patching keeps water out and stops the damage from spreading.
Lifting or resurfacing makes sense
A slab that has settled but is otherwise intact can sometimes be raised or resurfaced rather than removed, which avoids tear-out and disposal cost.
Replacement makes sense
Wide or heaving cracks, multiple sections moving independently, crumbling edges, or water pitching back toward the house. Those point to base or drainage failure that a patch will not solve.
Local Pricing
Costs In Your Town
Ground conditions, access and drive time differ town to town. See what we run into locally.
FAQ
Concrete Cost Questions
The questions we get asked most about concrete pricing in New Hampshire — grouped so you can jump to what matters.
Pricing Basics
4 questions
What Drives The Price
4 questions
Timing & Process
3 questions
Permits & Property
2 questions
Maintenance & Longevity
4 questions
Still not sure where your project lands? Send dimensions and a couple of photos and we’ll come back with a written quote — no guessing from a range.
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