Simple Concrete Patio: What It Actually Costs and How to Scope It Right

"Simple" is one of the most expensive words in home renovation. A homeowner says "I just want a simple patio," and three contractors hear three different things. One quotes a 200-square-foot broom-finish slab. Another prices a 300-square-foot stamped surface with a step-down. The third includes demolition of your existing patio that nobody mentioned. Three quotes, three different projects, and the cheapest one isn't the deal you think it is.

A concrete patio is one of the most straightforward outdoor projects you can take on. But the difference between a $2,000 patio and a $10,000 patio usually isn't quality: it's scope. Defining that scope before anyone picks up a phone is where the real money gets saved.

How Much Does a Simple Concrete Patio Actually Cost?

HomeStars reports that a plain concrete patio slab of roughly 200 square feet costs between $1,000 and $2,200 installed at 4 inches thick. The national average runs $5 to $10 per square foot for a standard poured slab, though regional pricing varies: $6 to $12 in Calgary, $8 to $12 in Edmonton, and $6 to $12 in Toronto. Labour alone runs $3 to $8 per square foot and accounts for 40% to 55% of the total on most residential pours.

Those numbers shift once you change the finish. Here's how the main options compare, based on HomeStars pricing data across Canadian markets:

Broom Finish — $5 to $12 per Sq Ft

A textured, slip-resistant surface and the most affordable option. For a 200-square-foot slab, expect $1,000 to $2,200 installed.

Exposed Aggregate — $8 to $15 per Sq Ft

The top layer of cement is washed away to reveal embedded river stones, creating a decorative, textured surface. A 200-square-foot slab runs $1,600 to $3,000.

Stamped Concrete — $12 to $22 per Sq Ft

Patterns pressed into wet concrete to mimic natural stone, brick, or slate. Roughly double the cost of broom finish at $2,400 to $4,500 for 200 square feet.

Coloured and Sealed — $10 to $20 per Sq Ft

Integral colour mixed into the concrete before pouring, topped with a protective sealer. A 200-square-foot slab costs $2,000 to $4,000.

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These ranges cover the concrete pour and finishing. They typically don't cover the work that makes the pour possible.

What's Not in That Per-Square-Foot Price?

Site preparation is where budget surprises live. The per-square-foot number in most quotes covers materials, labour for the pour, and finishing. It usually excludes everything that happens before concrete hits the ground.

Cost Item	Typical Range	Why It Matters
Excavation and grading	$500 to $2,000	Removing soil, levelling the surface, establishing drainage slope
Gravel base (compacted)	$300 to $800	4 to 6 inches of crushed gravel is standard; skipping it invites cracking
Rebar or wire mesh	$200 to $600	Reinforcement prevents shifting and cracking over freeze-thaw cycles
Demolition of existing surface	$500 to $1,500	Old patio, pavers, or decking that needs to come out first
Forming and framing	Included or $200 to $500	Wooden forms that shape the pour; some quotes include this, some don't
Sealing	$200 to $600	Protects against moisture, salt, and staining; often quoted separately

When a contractor quotes $10 per square foot, the first question is what that number includes. If grading, base prep, and reinforcement sit outside it, you're not looking at the real price.

What Does "Simple" Mean in Contractor Terms?

It doesn't mean anything specific. That's the problem.

A broom-finish slab is the most basic concrete patio you can pour. The surface is swept with a broom while the concrete is still wet, creating a textured, slip-resistant finish. No colour, no pattern, no decorative edge. Functional, clean, and the least expensive option on the table.

If that's what you want, say so explicitly: "I want a broom-finish concrete slab, roughly 12 by 16 feet, on grade, no steps, no curves, standard grey." That single sentence eliminates most of the ambiguity that inflates quotes.

The moment you add any of the following, the project isn't "simple" anymore, and the budget needs to reflect that:

Feature	Budget Impact	Why
Stamped pattern	+40% to +80%	Requires specialized mats, additional labour, and sealing
Integral colour	+15% to +30%	Pigment mixed into the concrete before pour
Curved edges	+10% to +20%	Custom forming, more labour-intensive
Steps or elevation changes	+$500 to $2,000+ per step	Each step requires its own forming and pour
Built-in drainage channels	+$300 to $800	Necessary on some lots, optional on others

How Thick Should the Slab Be?

This is the question most homeowners don't think to ask, and it's the one that determines whether the patio lasts 5 years or 25.

Industry practice across Canadian markets is consistent: a residential patio slab should be a minimum of 4 inches (100 mm) thick, poured over a compacted granular base of 4 to 6 inches. Concrete Ontario (formerly the Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario) publishes residential concrete specifications that align with this standard, and Concrete Alberta's placement guide reinforces the same minimum.

If a contractor quotes a 3-inch slab, that's a red flag. A thinner pour saves them $1 to $2 per square foot in material but dramatically increases the risk of cracking, especially in regions with freeze-thaw cycles. Alberta, Ontario, and most of the Prairies see enough temperature swings that skimping on thickness is a false economy.

For patios that will support heavy furniture, a hot tub, or a built-in barbecue, increasing to 5 or 6 inches with additional rebar reinforcement is the standard recommendation.

Get the Concrete Spec Right

Most homeowners never see the concrete specification on their quote, and most contractors don't volunteer it. But it matters. CSA A23.1, the Canadian standard governing concrete materials and construction methods, classifies exterior residential slabs exposed to freeze-thaw and de-icing salts as Class C-2. That classification requires a minimum compressive strength of 32 MPa, a maximum water-to-cement ratio of 0.45, and air entrainment between 5% and 8%.

The air entrainment is the detail that separates concrete that survives Canadian winters from concrete that doesn't. Tiny air bubbles, less than 1 mm in diameter, are introduced into the mix using chemical admixtures. They give water room to expand when it freezes inside the slab. Without adequate air entrainment, surface scaling and spalling are almost inevitable within a few winters.

Some contractors will use 25 MPa concrete to save on material costs. For an interior garage slab, that might be acceptable. For a patio exposed to weather, salt, and furniture loads, 32 MPa with proper air entrainment is the spec to insist on. If the quote doesn't mention concrete strength or air entrainment, ask.

How to Write a Scope That Gets You Comparable Quotes

The single most useful thing you can do before contacting contractors is write down exactly what you want. Not a Pinterest board. Not a photo. A written scope.

Size and shape. Specific dimensions in feet. "Approximately 12 by 18 feet, rectangular" is clear. "A medium-sized patio" is not.

Finish type. Broom finish, stamped, exposed aggregate, or coloured. Pick one before you call.

Slab thickness and concrete spec. Specify 4 inches minimum, 32 MPa, air-entrained. This tells the contractor you've done your homework.

Base preparation. State whether there's an existing surface to remove. Describe current ground conditions: grass, gravel, old pavers, slope.

Reinforcement. State that you expect rebar or wire mesh. If a quote doesn't include reinforcement, you need to know that before comparing prices.

Drainage. Concrete needs to slope away from the house at roughly 1/8 inch per foot. Note the direction water currently flows and whether the patio needs to manage runoff.

Sealing. Specify whether the slab should be sealed as part of the job. In regions with harsh winters, sealing extends the life of the surface and is worth including.

When three contractors are bidding on the same written scope, you can actually compare their numbers. Without it, you're comparing different projects at different prices and learning nothing useful from the exercise.

What to Watch for in the Quotes

Once quotes come in, the temptation is to pick the lowest number. Resist it.

A quote that's $2,000 cheaper might exclude base preparation, reinforcement, or sealing. That's not a savings: it's a transfer of cost and risk onto you. Line items matter more than the total at the bottom of the page.

Look at the payment schedule. A reasonable structure for a patio project is 10% to 15% deposit, a progress payment at pour, and final payment on completion and inspection. Any contractor asking for 50% or more upfront on a project this size warrants scrutiny. Front-loaded payment schedules are a well-documented risk indicator in residential construction, and provincial consumer protection agencies across Canada consistently flag them in their contractor-hiring guidance.

Check the warranty. Most reputable contractors offer 1 to 2 years on workmanship for concrete flatwork. The concrete itself, if it meets spec and is properly poured, should last 25 to 30 years with basic maintenance. If there's no warranty mentioned in the quote, that's a conversation to have before signing.

The Bottom Line

A simple concrete patio is a $2,000 to $5,000 project for most Canadian homeowners, assuming a 200-square-foot broom-finish or exposed-aggregate slab with proper base preparation, reinforcement, and the right concrete spec. The price goes up from there based on finish, size, and site conditions.

The way to keep it from becoming a $10,000 surprise is to write a scope before you talk to anyone. Pin down the size, finish, thickness, concrete strength, base prep, reinforcement, drainage, and sealing. Send the same document to every contractor you invite to quote. Compare what comes back line by line.

You're not looking for the cheapest patio. You're looking for the one where you know exactly what you're paying for and exactly what you're getting.

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Sources

Source	Data Referenced
HomeStars	Concrete slab cost per square foot, regional pricing (Calgary, Edmonton, Oshawa, Ottawa), labour cost breakdown, stamped concrete estimates (2026 pricing guide)
HomeStars (Calgary)	Calgary-specific concrete slab pricing: $6 to $12 per square foot; concrete specialist rates: $7 to $16 per square foot across project types
HomeStars (Edmonton)	Edmonton-specific concrete contractor pricing: $8 to $12 per square foot
CSA Group	CSA A23.1:24/A23.2:24, Concrete Materials and Methods of Concrete Construction: Class C-2 specifications for exterior slabs (32 MPa minimum, 5-8% air entrainment, 0.45 max w/cm ratio)
Concrete Ontario (RMCAO)	Residential Concrete Technical Specifications: slab thickness, base preparation, and reinforcement requirements for Ontario residential projects
Concrete Alberta	Recommended Procedures for Proper Preparation, Placement, and Finishing of Residential Concrete

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This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional construction, legal, or financial advice. buy better does not provide price quotes, cost benchmarks, or contractor recommendations. Costs referenced in this article are drawn from third-party sources and will vary based on your location, site conditions, and project specifications. Consult a qualified contractor or building professional for advice specific to your project.