How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost in Kentucky?
A new concrete slab costs about $4 to $8 a square foot, one national cost guide reports. Its state table puts Kentucky at $5.20 to $5.70 a square foot. On a 20 by 20 foot slab, that Kentucky range works out to about $2,080 to $2,280.
By the job, that guide’s average is $5,400. Its range runs from about $600 for a 100 square foot shed pad to $36,900 for a 2,000 square foot home foundation.
These are market numbers from published guides, not our price list. We pour concrete slabs and pads around Louisville, and every job gets a written quote.
What does a concrete slab cost per square foot in Kentucky?
Cost guides price a slab by the square foot, which is length times width. The table lists the published ranges, each with the kind of source and its date.
| What you are pricing | Market range per square foot | Kind of source |
|---|---|---|
| New concrete slab | $4 to $8 | National cost guide, April 2026 |
| Kentucky row of the state table | $5.20 to $5.70 | Same guide, April 2026 |
| Basic slab up to stamped or stained | $4 to $28 | Second national guide, 2026 |
| 4 inch slab, installed | $6 to $8 | Second national guide, 2026 |
| 6 inch slab, installed | $8 to $10 | Second national guide, 2026 |
| Labor only | $2 to $3, or $3 to $5 | The two national guides, 2026 |
Kentucky’s row is the lowest of the nine states in that table. The same guide puts the middle of the country around $5.35 a square foot. Coastal states run as high as $8.50.
What does a concrete slab cost by job?
Size sets the total, and the job sets the size. These figures come from national cost guides.
| Job | Size | Market range |
|---|---|---|
| Shed pad | 10 by 10 to 20 by 20 feet | $600 to $4,800 |
| Patio-size slab | 10 by 20 to 20 by 20 feet | $1,000 to $6,000 |
| Two-car garage floor | 20 by 20 to 24 by 24 feet | $2,400 to $6,900 |
| 30 by 30 foot slab, a small shop or pole barn floor | 900 square feet | $5,400 average |
| Generator pad, poured | 3 by 6 feet | About $1,000 |
| Generator pad, pre-cast | 3 to 4 inches thick | $150 to $400 |
Most shed slabs are about 4 inches thick, one guide says. Garage floors run 4 to 6 inches, in reinforced concrete. For a patio-size slab, our concrete patio cost guide breaks out plain and stamped prices.
A pole barn or shop floor is priced the same way, only bigger. At 6 inches thick, the second guide’s table runs $8 to $10 a square foot installed. On 900 square feet, that comes to about $7,200 to $9,000.
HVAC and generator pads are the smallest slabs here. One guide prices a poured generator pad at $50 to $75 a square foot, site prep included. That is far above the $4 to $8 for a full-size slab. Installers sometimes use pre-cast slabs on small, simple jobs, the other guide notes.
What does concrete cost per cubic yard?
Ready-mix concrete is sold by the cubic yard. One national guide puts it at $119 to $147 a yard, delivered up to 20 miles. It cites an industry association average of $108 a yard.
| Item | Market price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete, delivered | $119 to $147 per cubic yard | Up to 20 miles from the plant |
| Industry association average | $108 per cubic yard | Cited by the same guide |
| Short load | Add about $53 per cubic yard | Any order under a full truck |
| Distance | Add about $9.50 per mile | Past 20 miles from the plant |
| Small trailer pump | $15 per cubic yard, $125 minimum | 200 foot hose |
A full truck holds about 10 cubic yards. Anything less counts as a short load in that guide.
How do you figure the yards for a slab?
Take a 24 by 24 foot garage floor at 4 inches thick. That is 576 square feet. One guide notes that a cubic yard covers about 81 square feet of a 4 inch slab. So the floor needs about 7.1 cubic yards.
At $119 to $147 a yard, that concrete runs about $850 to $1,050 delivered. The order is under a full truck, so the short load fee of about $53 a yard applies. That brings it to about $1,220 to $1,420. Labor, forms, steel and the base come on top.
At 6 inches, the same floor needs half again as much concrete, about 10.7 yards. That is more than one full truck. The guide also says to add 5 to 10 percent for waste and spills.
What moves the price of a concrete slab?
Size comes first, since every square foot needs concrete and labor. Thickness comes next. Thicker slabs use more concrete per square foot, one guide notes, and more labor to pour.
| Price factor | Market range | Kind of source |
|---|---|---|
| Rebar | Adds $0.50 to $1 per square foot | National cost guide, April 2026 |
| Fiber mesh | Adds $2 to $3 per square foot | National cost guide, April 2026 |
| Gravel base | $1 to $3 per square foot | Second national guide, 2026 |
| Grading | $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot | Second national guide, 2026 |
| Tear out of an old slab | $3 to $8 per square foot, disposal included | Second national guide, 2026 |
| Broom finish | $1 to $3 per square foot, or in the base price | National cost guide, April 2026 |
| Stamped finish | $10 to $18 per square foot | National cost guide, April 2026 |
Reinforcement depends on the load. Most shed slabs do not typically need it, one guide says. Large slabs and foundations may need added steel or thicker edges.
Some large projects also need a gravel base to prevent shifting and cracking, that guide says. Our site grading page covers the dirt work under a slab.
Replacing an old slab adds tear out. Removing a 10 by 10 foot slab runs $300 to $800, depending on the rebar inside.
Access matters too. If a mixer truck cannot get close, crews move and pour the concrete by hand, which raises labor costs. A decorative finish adds cost as well. Our stamped concrete page covers those finishes.
Do you need a permit for a concrete slab in Kentucky?
Kentucky’s residential code lists sidewalks and driveways among the work that needs no building permit. The list does not name slabs. Local ordinances, right of way and floodplain rules still apply.
A slab under a new garage or shop is part of that building, so ask the building office whether the building’s permit covers it. In Louisville Metro, the Division of Construction Review issues building permits and inspections.
In Jefferson County, MSD requires a site disturbance permit for land disturbance over 2,000 square feet. A large shop floor and its grading can pass that mark.
The Kentucky Residential Code sets a minimum frost protection depth of 24 inches for footings in most counties. Jefferson County is one of them. Our concrete foundations page covers footings. Ask the building office what your slab needs before the work starts.
How do you get a real price for your slab?
Every range above is a market number from published guides, not our price list. Your real price comes from your slab’s size, thickness, base and access.
We pour concrete slabs and pads around Louisville. We look at the job and put the quote in writing. See how we pour concrete slabs, or call or text (502) 889-1624 for a free estimate.