How Much Does a 40×60 Concrete Slab Cost in 2024?

Concrete slabs are vital to construction projects. They are versatile structures that can function as floors, roofs, and foundations. If you are building a barndominium and need a sturdy yet cheap floor, a 40×60 concrete slab will be an ideal option. 

The cost of a concrete slab hinges on several factors, including size, thickness, building materials, and special features. It is important to learn about these factors to know how they affect a concrete slab’s cost. We aim to tell you how to compute a concrete slab’s cost to aid you in preparing an accurate budget. 

What Factors Determine the Cost of a 40×60 Concrete Slab?

When computing the cost of a concrete slab, there are several factors you need to keep in mind. These factors are important because they influence how much your concrete slab will cost. In making a 40×60 concrete slab, the most influential factor is size. This is a large concrete slab that will cover an area of 2,400 square feet, so it will use more materials. A concrete slab of this size also requires the help of a professional contractor, so you will need to factor in the labor rates in your location. Speaking of location, location plays a crucial role in your computation. 

Aside from affecting labor rates, your location can also affect the price of the building materials you need. If you feel that the prices in your area are too high, consider sourcing from out-of-state suppliers. If you find a supplier from a neighboring county or state, ask for information about delivery rates to check if ordering from them will save you money even if you need to pay for delivery. 

How Much Does a 40×60 Concrete Slab Cost?

Let’s look at some of the characteristics of concrete slabs and see how they affect costs. 

Per Thickness

One of the things that you need to consider is the thickness of the concrete slab you are making because a thick concrete slab uses more materials. Why do you need a thick concrete slab? A thick slab is preferred for load-bearing because it is stronger and more durable. A thick slab is ideal for the floors of barndominiums and pole barn homes because they can support the weight of the buildings and the things inside them, like appliances and furniture. A thinner slab is enough if you need one to act as the base of an outdoor barbeque grill or as the floor of a pergola since it won’t bear heavy weight. 

Thickness	Cost per square foot
4 inches	$5.35
5 inches	$5.80
6 inches	$6.20
8 inches	$7

Inclusions

Inclusion refers to the tools and materials you need to make a basic concrete slab. Examples include rebars, concrete mix, cement-mixing equipment, and wire mesh. A reinforcing bar or rebar is a common inclusion because it helps provide the form to a concrete slab. In addition, using rebar in a concrete slab can help strengthen it. If you are making a concrete slab floor, using rebar will increase your barndominium cost, but it will also help ensure that the floor is more durable. Wire mesh is an excellent alternative to rebar if you are making a thin slab. A wire mesh is cheaper but also makes a concrete slab stronger. 

Inclusion	Cost
Site preparation	$1-$2 per square foot (2)
Concrete Rebar	$1.40 – $1.85 per 2 feet (3)
Wire Mesh	$0.28 per square foot (4)

With Additional Features

Expect to pay more if you want additional features for your 40×60 concrete slab. For example, if you are making a 2,400-foot concrete slab, you can have it polished and stained to make it more attractive. Polishing will make a concrete slab smoother and shinier. Staining will give it color, so it doesn’t look like an ordinary concrete slab. An alternative is to stamp your concrete slab. This is the process of making a concrete slab look like wood, tile, brick, or stone. It is cheaper than installing tiles, carpet, or marble, so you can reduce the cost of financing a barndominium while helping increase its market value. 

Features	Cost
Vapor barrier	$0.50-$0.70 per square foot (5)
Stamped concrete	$9 – $20 per square foot, inclusive of materials (6)
Stained concrete	$2 – $4 per square foot, staining only (7)

40×60 Concrete Slab Cost Breakdown

In this section, we will break down the cost of a concrete slab into its individual components. 

Concrete Bag Cost Estimate

Concrete bags cost between $4.50 and $27 each ⁽⁹⁾, depending on the size of the bag and the type of mixture they contain. This is probably the most important component since it is the main component of a concrete slab. 

Labor Cost Estimate

The labor costs of making a 40×60 concrete slab are between $2 and $3 per square foot ⁽¹⁰⁾. However, labor rates can differ depending on several factors, like your location and the qualifications of the contractor you are hiring. 

Truck Cost Estimate

Although it is possible to mix your own concrete, it is better to have wet concrete delivered for large projects like a concrete slab measuring 2,400 square feet. Wet concrete costs between $125 and $133 per cubic yard ⁽¹¹⁾. Some suppliers also have fuel charges of between $40 and $50 per truckload ⁽⁸⁾. 

How Do You Calculate the Cost of a 40×60 Concrete Slab?

Now that you know about the components and characteristics of concrete slabs, it’s time to learn how to compute their costs. We will present you with several price cost averages to allow you to compute a concrete slab’s cost in several ways. 

We will first check how to compute a concrete slab’s cost using the amount of wet concrete you will need. According to this calculator, you will need 44.44 cubic yards of concrete to make a 40×60 concrete slab. We will add a 10% waste allowance, so the final figure will be 48.89 cubic yards. A cubic yard of wet concrete costs $137, according to data from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association ⁽¹¹⁾. This means that 48.89 cubic yards of wet concrete will cost you $6,697.93. 

You can also compute costs on a per-square-foot basis. A square foot of 6-inch thick concrete costs $6.20 ⁽¹⁾. Since a 60×50 concrete slab has a total area of 2,400 square feet, expect to spend $16,368, including the 10% waste allowance. 

Should You DIY or Hire a Contractor for Your 40×60 Concrete Slab Project?

A 40×60 concrete slab is a large project better left to the professionals. This can help ensure the concrete slab gets finished quickly to keep your construction project on track. Professional handling can also help ensure that the concrete slab will be done correctly to make it durable. 

Conclusion

Estimating the cost of a concrete slab is a crucial step in construction projects because it helps ensure that you are not spending more than what is necessary to make your concrete slab. If you are hiring a contractor to make the concrete slab, it can help you avoid getting overcharged. Once you have mastered the process of computing a 40×60 concrete slab’s cost, you can use the formula to determine the cost of a concrete slab of any size. Follow our Facebook page for other informative articles like DIY tips, sample floor plans, and design ideas.  

References

1. How Much Does A Concrete Slab Cost In 2023? Homeadvisor.
2. Cost Of A Concrete Driveway ConcreteNetwork
3. What Are Common Rebar Prices for Concrete Projects? Angi
4. How to Compare the In-Place Cost of Wire Mesh Versus Synthetic Fibers ABC Polymer Industries
5. How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost? Angi 
6. Stamped Concrete Cost For Patios, Driveways & More ConcreteNetwork
7. Concrete Floor Cost – What You’ll Pay For Polished Or Stained Concrete ConcreteNetwork
8. How Much Does Concrete Cost? Angi
9. How Much Does a New Concrete Slab Cost? Angi
10. How Much Does It Cost to Have Concrete Delivered in Your Area? Fixr
11. Ready Mixed Concrete Industry Data Survey. NRMCA