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Cost of a 12 x 20 Concrete Slab

A 12 x 20 concrete slab costs $1,922 to $3,203 installed at 4 inches ($8.01 – $13.35 per square foot). Edit the size, finish or ZIP in the calculator to rework the figure.

Optional. Adds local labor rates.

Thickness
More optionsbroom · wire mesh · 4 in gravel
Finish
Reinforcement
Gravel base

LIKELY INSTALLED PRICE

$2,563

Our installed range for this 12×20 ft, 4-inch slab: $1,922 – $3,203 ($8.01 – $13.35 per sq ft)

In plain terms: that's about the size of a one-car garage or a roomy patio, and roughly 47% of the price is the crew's labor.

DIY materials
$1,175
Concrete
2.96 yd³
Check a quote against this

An estimate, not a bid. A contractor's price depends on your site, access and timing.

Where the numbers come from

What changes the price

Where the money goes

  • Materials$1,138
  • Labor$998
  • Overhead and profit (20%)$427
All 9 line items
ItemQtyMaterialLaborTotal
Site setup, layout and cleanup1 job$100$56$156
Excavate and grade subgrade240 sqft$0$266$266
Forms, stakes and form release64 lf$77$142$219
Compacted crushed-stone base4.15 ton$187$77$263
6x6 W1.4 welded wire mesh240 sqft$88$53$141
Ready-mix concrete, 3,500 psi, delivered3.11 yd3$541$69$610
Short-load delivery fee1 job$85$0$85
Place, screed and broom finish240 sqft$12$311$323
Sawn control joints32 lf$48$24$72
Subtotal × overhead and profit (20%) = midpoint$2,563

National prices until you enter a ZIP.

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What next

Get two or three quotes and compare them with $1,922 – $3,203. DIY: 147 bags or 3.11 yd³ of ready-mix.

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Cost by thickness for 12x20 (240 sq ft)

  • 4 in · patios, sheds

    $1,922 – $3,203

    2.96 yd³ · 147 bags · about $2,563

  • 5 in · garages, driveways

    $2,019 – $3,365

    3.70 yd³ · 184 bags · about $2,692

  • 6 in · shops, RV pads

    $2,080 – $3,466

    4.44 yd³ · 220 bags · about $2,773

Typical use
Most often a large shed or a garden workshop.
Thickness
4 inches with mesh for storage; add thickness under any spot where a heavy machine will sit.
Planning note
Mark where the doors go so the finisher can keep the threshold flat and the slab edge square there.

12 x 20 slab for a large shed or workshop

A 240-square-foot base takes a garden workshop, a lean-to carport or a two-door storage building. If you'll run a table saw or park a mower, add an outlet conduit before the pour.

How the 12 x 20 cost adds up

Concrete, 4.1 tons of gravel, 240 sq ft of wire mesh and forming along 64 linear ft are the main materials. The rest is labor and contractor overhead, listed line by line above.

Ordering concrete for 240 sq ft

Order 3.11 yd³ with waste, one delivery on 1 truck. Mixing 147 bags by hand is possible, but a truck is usually cheaper at this size.

Why a written bid may differ

This is a planning estimate, not a contractor quote. A bid can be higher for a sloped yard, poor truck access or old concrete to remove.

DIY vs pro for this 12x20 pour

Materials alone come to $1,175, about 46% of the $2,563 midpoint contractor price. The difference is $1,388 of labor, equipment, delivery and contractor overhead across 9 line items. At 3.11 yd³ the pour is under the short-load threshold, so bagged mix or a shared truck avoids a delivery fee.

Other popular slab sizes

Compare with the next sizes

Shed concrete slab cost calculatorAll slab sizes and the full calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is 12x20 too big to pour with bags?

It's possible but hard: 147 bags means a mixer and a crew all day. Most people order ready-mix at this size.

Does a 12x20 shed slab need a building permit?

Buildings this size are over the exemption limit in many towns. Ask before pouring, because an inspector may want to see the forms and base.

How much gravel goes under a 12x20 slab?

The estimate uses 4.1 tons for a compacted base. Change the base depth in the calculator to see the effect.

Can a 12x20 slab be a garage floor?

It fits one compact car, but a garage floor is usually thicker and rebar-reinforced. Price it on the garage calculator instead.

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Methodology. Quantities use the formulas on the methodology page; labor rates are BLS OEWS May 2025 medians for cement masons, material prices are our national estimates, marked estimated, until local prices are sampled, and the range widens with less local data. Prices updated September 2026.

Built and checked by the founder of American Build Rate. Page updated .