Concrete PatioCost Guide

Complete 2026 Patio Cost Guide

Concrete Patio Cost in Australia

A concrete patio cost is usually discussed as a price per square metre, but the final quote is built from several separate decisions: how much ground must be prepared, how thick the slab needs to be, whether reinforcement is required, how the concrete reaches the site, what finish is selected and how much labour is needed to place and finish it.

For 2026, Hipages publishes a patio-specific guide of roughly A$60–A$85 per square metre for plain concrete, A$75–A$90/m² for coloured concrete, A$100–A$150/m² for exposed aggregate, A$100–A$150/m² for stencilled concrete and around A$120–A$200/m² for stamped concrete. These figures are useful for early budgeting, but real quotes may be lower or much higher depending on location, project scale and site conditions.

Broader concreting guides also show substantial variation. Oneflare reports standard concreting around A$75–A$100/m² on average, with premium finishes above A$170/m². Other contractors publish much higher rates in high-cost markets. This spread is a reminder that a national average should never be treated as a guaranteed local price.

2026 Concrete Patio Cost by Finish

What Does a 20 m² Concrete Patio Cost?

Using only the broad finish ranges above, a simple 20 m² patio might start around A$1,200–A$1,700 for plain concrete. Coloured concrete could be around A$1,500–A$1,800, exposed aggregate or stencil work around A$2,000–A$3,000, and stamped concrete roughly A$2,400–A$4,000.

These arithmetic examples do not guarantee that a contractor will quote those totals. Small jobs often carry minimum mobilisation, delivery or pump costs that make the price per square metre higher than a larger patio.

Example Patio Budgets by Area

Illustrative arithmetic only. Actual quotes can differ materially due to minimum job charges, site access, excavation, reinforcement, concrete specification, pumping, drainage, labour and local market conditions.

Concrete Quantity for a Patio

Patio cost is linked directly to concrete volume. To calculate a simple rectangular slab, multiply length by width by thickness after converting thickness to metres. A 5 m × 4 m patio has an area of 20 m². At 100 mm thick, that equals 2.00 m³ of concrete before any waste allowance.

How Thickness Changes Concrete Quantity

Do not select slab thickness only to hit a budget. Thickness depends on the intended use, loads, base preparation, reinforcement and design requirements. If the patio forms part of a structural or building project, use the project documents or appropriate professional advice.

Site Preparation Cost

Preparation can be one of the biggest differences between two patio quotes. A flat yard with easy machine access and suitable ground may require relatively little work. A sloping area with existing paving, tree roots, poor soil, drainage problems or limited access can require substantial excavation and hand labour.

Typical preparation can include removing turf or existing paving, excavating to level, disposing of spoil, installing and compacting base material, setting falls for drainage and preparing access for concrete delivery.

Excavation and Spoil Removal

If the patio area must be cut down, the job may involve machinery, skip bins or truck disposal. Excavated soil also expands when removed from the ground, so disposal volume can be greater than the compacted in-situ volume. Restricted backyard access can turn what would normally be machine work into manual labour.

Base Preparation

A stable, compacted base helps support the slab and reduce unwanted movement. Base preparation can include crushed rock or other specified material, moisture conditioning and mechanical compaction. The required base depends on soil, drainage, slab design and local conditions.

Reinforcement Cost

Patios commonly use reinforcing mesh or other reinforcement where specified. The cost includes not only the steel but also delivery, cutting, laps, chairs and labour. Decorative or highly shaped patios can require more cutting and waste than a simple rectangle.

Do not reduce reinforcement simply to lower the quote without checking the design. Concrete thickness, reinforcement, joint spacing and base preparation work as a system.

Formwork Cost

Formwork creates the patio perimeter, finished levels and any steps or upstands. A basic rectangle is relatively quick to form. Curves, multiple levels, steps, rebates, drainage channels and detailed edges increase labour and material use.

Concrete Delivery and Short-Load Charges

Ready-mix concrete is normally ordered by cubic metre. Small patios may need less concrete than a supplier's economic delivery size, so the quote can include short-load or minimum-order charges. Delivery distance and waiting time can also affect cost.

Hipages' broader 2026 concreting guide indicates concrete can be priced around A$200–A$300 per cubic metre as a general material guide, with higher-strength concrete reaching higher rates. This is a material-price reference only; the finished patio rate per square metre includes much more than the concrete itself.

When a Concrete Pump Adds Cost

If the truck cannot discharge close to the patio, a line pump or boom pump may be required. Pumping can make a difficult placement safer and faster, but it adds mobilisation and hire charges. A backyard behind a house, steep site or long distance from the street is more likely to need pumping than a front patio beside a driveway.

Labour Cost

Concrete must be placed, screeded, compacted where required, edged, jointed and finished within a limited working window. Decorative work adds more steps and often more experienced labour. Crew size also changes with patio area and access.

Labour is one reason tiny jobs can have a high cost per square metre. The contractor still has travel, setup, forming, delivery coordination, finishing and cleanup even when the area is small.

Plain Concrete Patio Cost

Plain concrete is generally the lowest-cost finish because it avoids decorative aggregate, patterning and complex colour systems. A broom finish can provide useful slip resistance, while a trowelled finish provides a smoother appearance.

The low end of the A$60–A$85/m² guide is most realistic for straightforward work with easy access and limited preparation. A difficult site can push a plain concrete patio well above the published national guide.

Coloured Concrete Patio Cost

Coloured concrete can create a warmer or more integrated outdoor finish without the patterning of stamped or stencilled concrete. The cost depends on the colouring system, colour choice, sealer and contractor method.

Hipages currently gives a broad guide of A$75–A$90/m² for coloured concrete patios. Premium colours, additional sealing or complex site work can raise the total.

Exposed Aggregate Patio Cost

Exposed aggregate patios are popular because they provide texture and decorative stone at the surface. The process involves selecting the concrete and aggregate appearance, then exposing the aggregate at the correct stage of set.

Current patio-specific guidance places exposed aggregate around A$100–A$150/m². Aggregate selection, colour, washing, sealing and detailed edges can move the quote within or beyond that range.

Stamped Concrete Patio Cost

Stamped concrete uses textured mats and colouring techniques to reproduce stone, tile or paver-style patterns. It is more labour intensive than plain concrete and typically requires careful sequencing while the concrete is at the correct stage for stamping.

Hipages currently lists stamped concrete from around A$120–A$200/m². Intricate patterns, multiple colours, borders and sealing can increase the installed cost.

Stencilled Concrete Patio Cost

Stencilled concrete uses a pattern system applied to the fresh surface, commonly combined with colour. It can imitate brick, pavers or tile layouts without installing individual units. Current patio guidance places stencilled concrete around A$100–A$150/m².

Polished or Honed Patio Finishes

Grinding and polishing concrete adds specialist equipment, labour and multiple finishing stages. Hipages notes polished concrete can add roughly A$50–A$100/m² on top of the concreting cost. Outdoor honed finishes, exposure levels and slip-resistance requirements should be discussed with the contractor because a highly polished indoor-style surface may not suit wet exterior conditions.

Drainage and Falls

A patio needs to drain water safely rather than directing it toward the house or creating ponding. Achieving the correct finished levels can require excavation, drainage channels, spoon drains or integration with existing stormwater systems.

Drainage is not just a cosmetic issue. Poor falls can create water problems around buildings and make a finished patio frustrating to use. Include drainage requirements in the quote rather than assuming the slab can be poured flat.

Patio Shape and Edge Complexity

A square or rectangle is faster to set out and form than a patio with curves, radiused corners, multiple returns, steps and integrated garden beds. Complex shapes increase formwork labour and can increase concrete waste.

Access and Location

Access affects nearly every stage of patio construction. Wide side access can allow machines and concrete equipment close to the work. Narrow gates may require mini equipment, wheelbarrows or pumping. Apartment courtyards and enclosed backyards can add even more handling.

Location matters as well. Contractor labour rates, concrete-plant distance, disposal charges, fuel and local demand differ between cities and regional areas. This is why the same 25 m² design may attract very different quotes in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or a regional town.

Existing Concrete Removal

If an old slab, paving or damaged patio must be removed first, demolition should be priced separately. Concrete cutting, breaking, loading and disposal can add a meaningful amount to the project, particularly if reinforced concrete or restricted access is involved.

Sealing Cost

Decorative concrete often benefits from an appropriate sealer, and some decorative systems effectively assume sealing as part of the finished appearance. Confirm whether the contractor's price includes the first seal coat and whether future resealing will be required as maintenance.

How Patio Size Changes Price per Square Metre

Large patios can sometimes achieve a lower unit rate because setup, travel and mobilisation are spread across more square metres. Small patios can experience the opposite effect: a contractor still has to form, order, place, finish and clean up even when the pour is only a few cubic metres.

This means multiplying a national A$/m² rate by 6 m² can underestimate the real cost of a tiny patio. Minimum job charges matter.

DIY Concrete Patio vs Hiring a Concreter

DIY can reduce paid labour but shifts responsibility for excavation, base compaction, formwork, reinforcement placement, concrete ordering, mixing or truck coordination, screeding, finishing, joints and curing to the homeowner. Concrete is time-sensitive once mixing begins, so a patio can become difficult very quickly if the crew or equipment is undersized.

For a very small slab, bagged concrete may be manageable. Larger patios can require dozens or hundreds of bags, and inconsistent water or batching can create finish and strength problems. Ready-mix with an experienced crew can provide a more continuous pour.

How to Compare Concrete Patio Quotes

1. Make sure every quote covers the same patio dimensions and thickness.
2. Confirm whether excavation and spoil removal are included.
3. Check the base material and compaction allowance.
4. Confirm concrete grade, volume and waste allowance.
5. Check reinforcement type and placement.
6. Confirm whether pumping or special access equipment is included.
7. Specify the finish clearly: plain, coloured, exposed, stamped or stencilled.
8. Check joints, edges, steps and drainage details.
9. Ask whether sealing and curing are included.
10. Confirm GST, disposal, delivery, minimum-load and other charges.

Common Concrete Patio Budget Mistakes

• Budgeting only for the concrete material and forgetting labour.
• Using a square-metre rate without allowing for a small-job minimum.
• Ignoring excavation and spoil disposal.
• Not pricing pump access before the pour.
• Comparing plain concrete with a decorative quote as if they are equivalent.
• Forgetting reinforcement, base preparation and formwork.
• Assuming every patio should use the same slab thickness.
• Failing to include drainage or finished-level adjustments.
• Ignoring sealing and future maintenance for decorative finishes.
• Choosing the lowest quote without checking inclusions.

Patio Cost Planning Checklist

How to Save Money on a Concrete Patio

The biggest savings often come from simplifying the project rather than compromising the concrete itself. A simple rectangular layout, practical access, fewer decorative borders and a standard finish can reduce labour. Combining nearby concrete work into one mobilisation may also improve value where practical.

Do not save money by reducing slab thickness, reinforcement, curing or base preparation below the project requirements. Those shortcuts can create cracking, settlement or durability problems that cost more later.

Related Concrete Cost & Patio Guides

Continue with the Concrete Slab Price Estimator, Total Concrete Cost Calculator, Concrete Volume Calculator, Concrete Patio Calculator, Concrete Thickness Calculator and How to Choose the Right Concrete Mix guide when planning quantities and specifications.