Stamped Concrete Patio Cost

Do you have a patio idea you’re ready to turn into a reality? If so, you’re most likely wondering what a concrete patio costs. Maybe you already have a patio but you want to make it look like it’s made out of stone or brick pavers without paying the higher concrete patio cost that comes with actually using brick or stones. Whatever your situation, a stamped concrete patio is the way to go. This type of patio uses a base layer of concrete that gets pressed with stamps and layered with textures and colors to make it look like different materials. It can look like brick or stone, but a wooden look is also possible. 

You can have a very decorative or highly elaborate design, or you can go simple and sleek. The look and your total concrete patio cost will depend heavily on which pattern you pick out, the color, and the type. This is why there is a broad range of prices when it comes to your concrete patio cost, but it’s possible to slowly narrow them down until you find the one that is going to work best for your situation. No matter if you want a large or small patio, you can get this look by either DIYing it or hiring a professional company to come in and complete it for you. 

On average, your stamped patio cost will fall right around $4,000. The concrete patio cost range starts at around $2,500 and goes up to $6,000. For a 200-square foot octagon-stamped patio, you can expect to pay right around $3,000. Per square foot, any contractor will charge between $8.00 and $28.00, so labor costs can quickly drive your concrete patio costs up. The labor costs will fluctuate depending on the size of the project, the complexity, and your location. If you want to create a patio, your costs will stay around $2,500 and a driveway will cost around $11,500. An interior room’s floor is around $6,000 with a walkway sitting at $3,500. 

Since a patio is one of the most popular options, we’re going to outline the biggest factors that go into figuring out your concrete patio cost. You can look through and see which ones apply to your situation, and this will give you a rough estimate. You can take this estimate to local contractors and see how it stacks up, and you can create a working budget for this project. 

Stamping concrete is one way to get a polished look to your patio without having to break your budget. There are several designs and colors you can choose from, and it can mimic stone or wood. Stamped Concrete by Tim Seay / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Figuring Out Your Concrete Patio Cost Per Square Foot

One of the first things you have to do when it comes to figuring out your concrete patio cost is to find out how many square feet the project will be. If you’re going to set up several outdoor benches, tables, and an entertainment area, you’ll need more space than if you just want a small area to relax. There is a wide cost range per square foot, and the biggest factor will be the pattern’s complexity. For common designs, you can expect to pay between $12.00 and $18.00 per square foot. 

To get the square footage of the space you want your patio in, you’ll measure the length and width along one side. Multiply the length by the width to get the square footage. So, if you wanted a 10 by 10 square, you’d have 100 square feet. The following prices cover a range of square feet, and it gives you solid foundation to find out your concrete patio costs: 

• 100 Square Feet – $1,200 to $1,800
• 150 Square Feet – $1,800 to $2,700
• 200 Square Feet – $2,400 to $3,600
• 250 Square Feet – $3,000 to $4,500
• 400 Square Feet – $4,800 to $7,200
• 500 Square Feet – $6,000 to $9,000

Price Points for the Different Patterns

Once you get the square footage, you want to settle on a pattern. Your pattern will play a large role in determining your concrete patio cost because it directly relates to how complex and time-consuming the project will be. A cobblestone design that has no border and a single color, and it’ll cost around $8.00 a square foot. If you want to add another color to this design, the price jumps to $12.00 a square foot. If you choose to add a border, the concrete patio cost goes even higher. You can make it make your walkway flooring pick, or it can stand out. 

Cobblestone

First up is cobblestone, and this is historically a very simple and straightforward pattern. Your patio will mimic the look of an old cobbled street, and it’s nice for rustic or classic design aesthetics. You usually only have single or dual colors with it, and the average concrete patio cost with this design ranges from $8.00 to $12.00 per square foot without a border. 

European Fan

Incorporating a European Fan allows you to imitate a whole range of materials from limestone to cobblestone. This is a repeating pattern that you’ll make by using cobbles and slowly widening them out into a fan shape. You can use a single color, but it’s more popular to use two or more to make it pop. On average, your concrete patio cost will go up by $12.00 to $18.00 a square foot. 

Fractured Earth

This is another very popular look for outdoor patio settings, especially if you want to set up an outdoor entertainment area with an outdoor movie screen or an outdoor kitchen. You use slate colors that have an embossing skin pressed over the tops of them to add more texture. It gives your patio a rough stone finish, and you can use a single color or multiple colors. Costs start at $8.00 per square foot, but they can go up to $18.00 a square foot. 

Fractured Slate

This is a second slate pattern that uses deeper slate colors with an embossing skin pressed over the top of the concrete to lend more interest and texture to the space. This design uses two molds with colors that you have to apply by hand, so it drives the concrete patio cost up. Costs will start around $25.00 per square foot and quickly climb. 

Riverstone

Better known as a natural stone rock garden or random stone, riverstone mimics the look of laying down flat stones in several sizes. It can use one color and look smooth, but it generally looks much better to use a pattern that incorporates a texture and a host of color that gets hand painted. This will give it a more natural look, and it starts at $8.00 a square foot. If you want complex colors and textures, the cost jumps to $30.00 a square foot. 

Sandstone

This is a very specific look and color that you can apply to any pattern, including ashlar or yorkstone and riverstone. You will need to use at least two different colors, and there is also usually an embossing membrane to give it depth and texture. A concrete patio cost using this design ranges from $12.00 to $18.00 a square foot for the average price. 

Yorkstone

Most people use Ashlar and Yorkstone interchangeably, and it’s a mixture of stones of different sizes that will interlock to create a fun repeating pattern. You can choose to have it in one color or several colors, and it can have a single or embossed texture. This lends to a broad cost range that starts at $8.00 and goes up to $30.00 per square foot. Your concrete patio cost will depend on how detailed you want to get. 

You can easily create the look of a stone pathway leading away from your patio and around your yard to create a continuous and cohesive look that can tie your yard together and boost your home’s curb appeal. Stamped Concrete by Tim Seay / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Concrete Patio Design Costs

The complexity of your design will be the biggest factor in your concrete patio cost. Stamped concrete can be extremely complex or extraordinarily simple. So, the more labor and time that you need to create the design and pattern, the higher your concrete patio cost will go. 

Basic

If you go for a more basic design, you’ll usually only have a single color with a very simple pattern that repeats. It’s a cheaper flooring option that allows you to use almost any pattern as long as you don’t need hand-edging around the border to make the pattern look complete. So, a square pattern or patio design that uses a rectangular or square mat to finish it would be one of the least expensive options. It includes brick running bonds, cobble, and some limestone or slate patterns. For a basic design, the average concrete patio cost ranges from $8.00 to $12.00 a square foot. 

Mid-Range

If you go with a mid-range design, you can create more interest for your patio area. You could have a pattern with a separate border, two different patterns, or two or more colors. This adds depth to your patio while creating a more dramatic design. Patterns usually include limestone Ashlar or slate patterns, wood, European fan patterns, or random stones. It’s common to use at least two colors in mid-range designs, and this will give you a finished pattern a subtle variation. The concrete patio cost ranges from $12.00 to $18.00 a square foot. 

High-End

High-end designs will create some of the most expensive concrete patio costs because they usually have several textures and patterns with different patterns. You could use a random stone pattern with a second stamp laid over the first to give it more texture. Then, you’d hand color the stones to give the design better depth and color. You could add a border with a contrasting color or pattern, and you can pack in more detail or texture. It can incorporate medallions, or you could stamp small animals or partners into random sections. Per square foot, the average concrete patio cost ranges between $18.00 to $30.00. 

Stamped Concrete Versus Pavers – Cost Range

If you don’t think you can swing a stamped concrete patio cost, you may consider pavers. Stamped concrete allows you to have a look that mimics different materials, and this includes stone pavers. Pavers are individual pieces of brick or stone that you lay beside one another to create a driveway or patio. It’s a nice low-maintenance landscaping idea. Pavers come in several colors, and you can lay them out in different patterns. You do have more limits on the style and color than you do with concrete, but it can mimic the look of stone or wood. 

However, pavers are slightly more expensive than a basic stamped concrete patio cost. On average, pavers will cost between $11.00 and $15.00 a square foot. So, this makes them less expensive than a more complex stamped concrete design, and it puts them right up to the cost for a mid-range concrete patio. Pavers also offer the benefit of being more authentic because you use actual brick or stone rather than attempt to recreate them. This allows you to get a natural variation that you’ll pay a nice price for to try and recreate by hand painting concrete. They also don’t crack like concrete. Pavers do shift and loosen, so this means you’ll have more maintenance. You can compare prices below: 

• 100 Square Feet
  • Pavers – $1,100 to $1,500
  • Stamped Concrete – $1,200 to $1,800
• 150 Square Feet
  • Pavers – $1,600 to $2,300
  • Stamped Concrete – $1,800 to $2,700
• 200 Square Feet
  • Pavers – $2,200 to $3,000
  • Stamped Concrete – $2,400 to $3,600
• 400 Square Feet 
  • Pavers – $4,400 to $6,000
  • Stamped Concrete – $4,800 to $7,200
• 500 Square Feet 
  • Pavers – $5,500 to $7,500
  • Stamped Concrete – $6,000 to $9,000

If you don’t mind spending more, you can get a colorful and eye-catching patio that can incorporate your home’s colors. This will drive up your costs due to the complexity, but it can be worth it when you see the finished product. Stamped Concrete in Virginia by Tim Seay / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Price to Pour a Concrete Slab for Your Patio

If you don’t have a concrete slab ready to go in your backyard or space, you’ll want to know how much pouring a concrete slab will impact your concrete patio cost. Per cubic yard poured, you’ll pay between $90.00 and $100, and this works out to around $400 for a 200-square foot slab of concrete that is four inches thick. You’ll also have to add in the cost of any pigments that get used during the pouring process. 

• 100 Square Feet (1 Yard) – $90.00 to $100
• 150 Square Feet (2 Yards) – $180 to $200
• 200 Square Feet (3 Yards) – $270 to $300
• 400 Square Feet (4 Yards) – $360 to $400
• 500 Square Feet (5 Yards) – $450 to $500

If you want to add steps going up to your patio to create a seamless transition between the yard and the patio, you’ll pay between $250 and $325. You can use concrete paint to make them blend in or stand out. 

Cost to Create Different Concrete Elements

Maybe you want to budget for a concrete patio cost and a few other upgrades around your home at the same time. If so, you have to know how much each different concrete element will cost to get a comprehensive quote from any company you contact. 

Basement Flooring

Maybe you want to add a decorative concrete floor to your basement. If so, this can add between $5,600 and $19,600 to your concrete patio cost. On average, most people pay $12,600 to cover 700 square feet in a mid-range design. The bigger your space is, the more you’ll pay. This is especially true if your contractor can’t complete the project using smaller sections. 

Driveway

For a 16-foot by 40-foot driveway, you’d pay between $5,100 and $18,000 for a concrete on. This averages out to $11,500. The much higher cost comes from covering a bigger space at 640 square feet. Any company you hire typically has to bring in several people to help stamp in the design before the concrete hardens, and this is especially true if you choose a complex design. 

Flooring

If you want to add a stamped concrete flooring in your space as part of your kitchen remodel, the costs will range from $2,600 to $9,000 for a 320-square foot area. The colors you choose and the design will factor into the cost, and the average amount you should budget for is $5,800. 

Patio with a Firepit

You can create a firepit with the same material and colors of your patio when you use stamped concrete. This will lend to a much neater and more cohesive look in the finished product. If you choose to add a firepit to your patio, it’ll increase the costs by $1,000 for a 200-square foot area. While this isn’t a huge amount, it can be difficult to budget for if you’re tight on costs. 

Sidewalk

Anyone who wants to put a 200-square foot sidewalk in around your home or garden should expect to pay between $1,600 and $5,600. This averages out to $3,600, but more complex designs or longer paths will increase your total costs. 

Walkways

To create a 50-foot walkway that is two feet wide, you’ll pay between $800 and $2,800. Even though this is a broad price range, it covers everything from a basic to high-end design. If you make your pathways wider or longer, your costs will increase. 

Once you level an area, you have to set up edges so you know exactly where the concrete will end. This can help you plan out your pattern and get a neat finished look that continues down the edging. Concrete Stamping by Tim Seay / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Concrete Patio Edging Costs

Edging is a fast way to increase your concrete patio costs because they have to be done by hand. The molds the contractors use don’t fold, bend, or allow them to use them on any surface that isn’t totally flat. So, you have to bring the molds as close to the edge of the patio as you can before you continue the pattern by hand. The cost range has a large fluctuation depending on the pattern, whether or not you have a border, and the patio’s shape. You’ll usually price out edging as a separate entity from your original concrete patio cost, and it starts around $6.00 per linear foot. 

Cost to Color Your Concrete

Any stamped concrete patio cost will include one color. However, this can look flat and one-dimensional, especially if it’s an odd color choice. You can add more pigments to your concrete and hand color it to give it an overall better appearance and more depth. To do this, you will have to budget for around $18.00 a square foot. So, if you have a 200-square foot patio, it adds up to an extra $3,600 to add more colors. This can really add up quickly on larger projects. 

Labor Expenses

Labor expenses will make up the biggest parts of your concrete patio costs. There are sealer, pigment, and material costs to consider, but labor is going to drive it up relatively quickly. The more details and colors you want, the longer the project will take and the more you’ll pay in labor costs. 

To create a stamped patio, they’ll mix the concrete and tint it with a base color. They’ll then pour it into a four to six-inch thick slab. If you want a second color, they’ll scatter it on the wet concrete before getting a mold and pressing it in to create a pattern. Edging is usually done by hand to keep the pattern going over the edge of your patio. Once they give the concrete time to cure, they’ll cut expansion joints in specific areas before pressure washing the excess color away. If you have a mid-range pattern, they’ll then seal the patio. A complex pattern requires adding more textures and colors to the wet concrete after it has time to cure but before they add a sealer. 

Labor will typically range from $6.00 to $25.00 a square foot. The pattern and complexity will dictate which end of the spectrum labor costs fall under. If you want a mid-range pattern on a 200-square foot patio, your total will be around $3,600 with $2,800 going to labor. 

Concrete Patio Considerations

If you’re trying to figure out your concrete patio cost, there are a few considerations you want to keep in mind to help justify your upfront expenses. If you clean it regularly to help prevent stains and look for damage, your patio can easily last up to 25 years. However, it is prone to staining if you don’t wash it. You can use a pressure washer once or twice a year with regular sweeping to keep it nice. 

You should be ready to hire a professional company to come in because concrete can be very finicky to work with, especially if you’ve never done it before. It’ll dry quickly, so you’re racing against the clock to get your design stamped in before it cures. If you screw up, your concrete patio cost will go up because professionals will have to come in and fix it. 

Finally, to help save on your concrete patio costs, consider mixing stamped and plain concrete sections. You could have a plain slab patio with a decorative pathway or edging through and around it. Just be aware that it can get slick in the rain, so be careful on areas that don’t have the extra texture from the stamps. 

Where to Find Concrete Installation Experts Near You

While it’s possible to pour a concrete patio yourself, adding stamped designs to it is much more labor-intensive, so it’s a good idea to search for local experts. The following resources will help you find reputable concrete patio contractors near you: 

• Concrete Contractors

Frequently Asked Questions

Asking questions before and during the process will give you a good idea on how you can create this look on your own. It can also ensure you get a good rate because you know the right questions to ask your contractor. Stamped Concrete by Tim Seay / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

1. How long does a stamped concrete patio cost?

It’s easier to justify your concrete patio cost when you realize that your new patio can easily last up to 25 years with the proper care and maintenance. You should make a point to pressure wash it once or twice a year and sweep it regularly to keep it looking nice. 

2. Can you add stamped concrete to an existing patio?

Yes. If you already have a concrete slab patio and you want to upgrade the look, you can have someone come in and add a stamped concrete overlay. This can help you save on your concrete patio cost because you won’t have to pour a whole new slab. 

3. How much will you pay to seal stamped concrete?

Per square foot, sealing your new area will increase your concrete patio cost by $0.15 to $0.20 per square foot. The sealant type you choose is the biggest cost factor. A water-based clear coat will give a natural finish, and an acrylic finish makes the surface look wet constantly so it costs the most. The cheapest sealant gives your patio a smooth appearance. 

Bottom Line

Your concrete patio cost will fluctuate depending on a large variety of factors, but you can use this comprehensive guide to help narrow down your costs to get a rough estimate. You can then take this estimate to contractors in your area and find one that works with your budget and get a stunning new patio that lasts for decades.