how much does a concrete driveway cost

A concrete driveway costs from $6 to $8 dollars per square foot to install for plain gray concrete and from $10 to $20 dollars per square foot for a colored and stamped concrete driveway.

If you're going to "do it yourself", you will save some money on the labor costs. Labor costs of a concrete driveway usually range from 50% to 60% of the total costs of installation.

the average costs of a concrete driveway

The average concrete driveway costs between $2400.00 and $4800.00 to install based on a 400 square foot to 600 square foot driveway size. That's based on a thickness of 4 inches with a 2 foot mat of rebar for reinforcement.

The gravel sub-base preparation could add  $1000.00 to $4000.00 to the total cost depending on how much gravel you need and if you have to demo and haul off an existing driveway.

Doing the work yourself you could save half of the costs above. Material costs for concrete and rebar for a 16' x 25' x 4" concrete driveway will cost between $1000 and $1200 dollars.  

how much it costs to pour a 12' x 40' concrete driveway

Design and Gravel Prep
Forming and Reinforcement
Pouring the concrete
Finished concrete driveway

The costs breakdown for a 12' by 40' concrete driveway like the one we did above are below:

  1. Remove existing driveway and gravel prep - Labor 600.00 - Materials $600.00
  2. Forming & install reinforcement - Labor $750 - Materials $150
  3. Pouring & Finishing the concrete - Labor $1500 - Concrete $1100 (5" thick)

Total cost of the concrete driveway: $4700.00

Deduct labor costs if you do it yourself: $4700 - $2850 = $1850.00 diy concrete driveway cost.

NOTE: These are my costs of labor and materials in my area, your actual costs for both of these may vary greatly depending on your situation.

basic tools for pouring a concrete driveway

Here's a list of tools we use to pour and finish a basic plain gray broom finished concrete driveway:

Please note, these are affiliate links and I may make a small commission if you click through to Amazon and purchase these tools.

can i pour my own concrete driveway?

The basic steps for pouring a new concrete driveway are:

  1. Remove or demo the existing driveway (if needed)
  2. Design & Permits - Check with local building codes for permits & design specifications
  3. Excavation and gravel prep - install and compact gravel for the sub-base (the amount of gravel needed will vary depending on your conditions and climate.) 1 foot minimum gravel base.
  4. Install forms based on your design. Use 2x4's or 2x6's for straight forms and PVC boards for curves.
  5. Lay your reinforcement - Use 3/8" or 1/2" rebar and tie a mat 2 foot on center throughout the driveway then place bricks under it to hold it up in the middle of the concrete. Or use wire mesh.
  6. Calculate and order your concrete from the local ready mix concrete plant. (give them at least a weeks notice.)
  7. Pour the concrete level with the top of your forms, screed and bull float it smooth.
  8. Finishing the concrete - wait for the concrete to set up and use an edger to round the edges, mag float the surface, then drag a fine broom across the concrete to give it it's final finish/texture.
  9. Saw contraction joints in the concrete the next day to help prevent cracking.
  10. Seal the concrete to protect it.

To learn how to work with concrete and the basic skills needed to install your own concrete driveway, check out  my concrete training academy The Concrete Underground.

Here's how to pour your own diy concrete driveway.

other factors that add to the cost of installing a driveway

  • Your landscape - Is the area flat, slightly sloped, or steep. A steep sloped concrete driveway is more difficult to prep, pour, and finish which could add to the cost of installation.
  • The Driveway Size - A large driveway or a very long driveway would greatly add to the final cost. Concrete is a very expensive building material and adds about $150 per 65 sq. ft. of driveway.
  • How thick your concrete is - Driveway thickness contributes a large percentage  to the cost of a driveway. Concrete costs about $150 per yard - At 4" thick that will cover 80 sq. ft. At 5" thick that covers 65 sq. ft. At 6" thick that covers 50 sq. ft.
  • Driveway design - Curved, circular, half moon shaped, or irregular angles may increase the material (and labor) costs. 
  • Adding color to the mix - Adding 1 bag of color per yard of concrete can add up to $80 per yard of concrete.
  • Stamping the concrete - Stamped concrete averages about $15 - $20 dollars per sq. ft. for labor and materials. 

how to build and pour a concrete driveway

The video below by Odell's Complete Concrete will show you the basic steps it takes to build and install your own concrete driveway.

It shows you the demo and prep work, forming, pouring, and finishing process.

Conclusion: 

The diy concrete driveway costs above are figures I use when I give estimates for my customers in my area. 

These costs may change considerably depending on the cost of materials and labor in your area.

Please use these costs as a guide to help you consider whether or not you want to attempt to do your own concrete driveway or not.

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