How Much Does a 50×80 Concrete Slab Cost in 2024?

A concrete slab is a horizontal surface of concrete, a standard fixture in construction projects. You can use it as a floor, roof, driveway, or walkway. If you are looking for a cheap flooring option for a warehouse or a large barndominium, a 50×80 concrete slab is an excellent option. 

Before making a concrete slab, it will be best to know how much it will cost. Before computing costs, you need to learn about the different factors that may affect it, like the thickness of the slab, cost of materials, size of the project, etc. We aim to help you compute the cost of a 50×80 concrete slab to prepare an adequate budget if you need to make one.

What Factors Determine the Cost of a 50×80 Concrete Slab?

The cost of a concrete slab can change depending on several factors. The first factor you need to consider is the size of the slab. A 50×80 concrete slab gives you a total floor area of 4,000 square feet. A concrete slab of this size can be an ideal floor for a pole barn home or a barndominium. Because of its size, it will require more building materials, driving its cost up. A large concrete slab will also have higher labor costs because it requires a large crew. 

Your location is another factor you need to consider. For one, some areas have higher labor rates than others, which can result in higher labor expenses. Labor rates can also be higher if your site is hard to access because some contractors add surcharges if they need to travel to hard-to-reach places. The location also affects the cost of building materials because some areas have higher inflation rates. The best way to counter this is by reaching out to several suppliers and asking for quotes. This lets you compare prices to order materials from the supplier offering the most competitive rates. 

How Much Does a 50×80 Concrete Slab Cost?

Let’s look at the different factors affecting a concrete slab’s cost. 

Per Thickness

You can make a thin or thick concrete slab, depending on the purpose of the slab. If the concrete slab supports heavy weights, aim for a thick concrete slab because it can handle heavy loads without cracking or breaking. A thick concrete slab uses more materials, making it more expensive. However, it will also last longer, so you get your money’s worth. A thin concrete slab is cheaper to make but can only handle light loads. A thin concrete slab should suffice if you need a base for your outdoor grill or floor for a pergola. 

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

Inclusions

An inclusion is a tool or material you need to make a 50×80 concrete slab. A concrete mixer is an example of inclusion. A 50×80 concrete slab requires a large amount of concrete, and you’ll need to rent a mixer or buy one. Aside from making the concrete mixing process faster, a mixer can help ensure you properly mix the concrete you will use. You can rent a mixer from a local contractor if you don’t own one. If you plan many construction projects, you can also consider buying a mixer. 

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

Some instances require you to make concrete slabs with additional features. For example, if your floor plan includes a basement, bare concrete will not do. For one, basements are prone to moisture and water leaks. If left unchecked, leaks can result in damage to furniture, appliances, and anything you have stored in your basement. 

Excessive moisture can also result in mold and mildew growth. Aside from causing damage to household items, mold can also result in wood rot that can weaken the structural integrity of your basement. It is also worth mentioning that mold can result in respiratory issues that can endanger the health of your structure’s occupants. You can prevent all these issues by using a vapor barrier on your concrete slab. A vapor barrier acts by preventing moisture from the ground from seeping through concrete and into your basement. 

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)

50×80 Concrete Slab Cost Breakdown

Let us now look at the breakdown of the costs of concrete slabs. 

Concrete Bag Cost Estimate

As its name implies, concrete is the main component of a concrete slab, costing between $4.50 and $27 per bag ⁽⁹⁾. You have probably noticed that we gave you a wide range when it comes to price estimates, and this is because the cost of a bag of concrete mix depends on the mixture type it contains and the size of the bag. 

Labor Cost Estimate

A 4,000-square-foot concrete slab is a major construction project, and expect to pay between $2 and $3 per square foot in labor costs ⁽¹⁰⁾. If you are building a barndominium with a 4,000-square-foot concrete slab floor, expect labor expenses to make up a large chunk of your barndominium cost. 

Truck Cost Estimate

Ordering wet concrete is one of the best ways to complete a concrete slab project within schedule. It helps you save time since you don’t need to mix concrete manually. Wet concrete costs between $125 and $133 per cubic yard ⁽¹¹⁾. Depending on the supplier and your location, there might also be fuel surcharges for delivering wet concrete to hard-to-reach areas ⁽⁸⁾. 

How Do You Calculate the Cost for a 50×80 Concrete Slab?

Now that we have discussed the characteristics and components of concrete slabs, we will show you how to compute their costs. We will present you with several price cost averages you can use in computing a 50×80 concrete slab’s cost in several ways. 

First, we need to find out how much wet concrete you need to make a 50×80 concrete slab. This calculator indicates that you need 74.074 cubic yards of wet concrete to make a 50×80 concrete slab that’s six inches thick. We will also add 10% to this figure as a waste allowance, so you will need a total of 81.48 cubic yards of wet concrete. A cubic yard of wet concrete costs $137, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) ⁽¹¹⁾. This means that 81.48 cubic yards of wet concrete will cost you $11,162.76. 

It is also possible to compute a concrete slab’s cost on a per-square-foot basis. A 50×80 concrete slab of concrete equals 4,000 square feet. One square foot of concrete that’s six inches thick costs $6.20 ⁽¹⁾. Your 50×80 concrete slab will cost $27,280, including the 10% waste allowance. 

Should You DIY or Hire a Contractor for Your 50×80 Concrete Slab Project?

Yes, it will be best to hire a contractor to make your 50×80 concrete slab. Getting a professional crew to make your slab will be more expensive, but it can ensure that you will have a properly-made concrete slab. 

Conclusion

Knowing how to compute the cost of a 50×80 concrete slab is critical because it allows you to prepare a proper budget. A proper budget ensures you complete your slab without delay and of the standards you aim for. Knowing how to compute costs can also help ensure that a contractor charges you correctly. Make sure that you follow our Facebook page for other articles about financing a barndominium, design ideas, and DIY tips.  

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