How much does a concrete driveway cost in Pittsburgh?
Concrete driveway cost in Pittsburgh is usually $8 to $14 per square foot for a broom finish, with the old surface removed. That comes to about $4,000 to $7,000 for a 500 square foot driveway. Concrete driveway replacement cost and installation cost land in the same range, and here is what moves your number.
Updated
| Driveway | Size | Broom finish | Stamped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short city pad | 10 by 20 ft | $1,600 to $2,800 | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| Single-car driveway | 10 by 40 ft | $3,200 to $5,600 | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| Long single driveway | 12 by 60 ft | $5,800 to $10,100 | $10,800 to $18,000 |
| Two-car driveway | 20 by 40 ft | $6,400 to $11,200 | $12,000 to $20,000 |
| Large suburban driveway | 24 by 60 ft | $11,500 to $20,200 | $21,600 to $36,000 |
How contractors price a driveway
Most contractors in Pittsburgh quote by the square foot, and that rate has to cover a lot. Figures below are a guide to how a broom-finish price per foot usually breaks down, and they'll shift from job to job. Concrete itself is less than you might think. At around $170 to $200 per cubic yard delivered, a 5-inch slab uses about $3 of concrete per square foot. The rest pays for removal, stone, forms, steel, a skilled crew, equipment, insurance and overhead.
To get a rough number, multiply the length by the width to find the square feet, then multiply by your rate. A 12 by 40 foot driveway is 480 square feet, so that's about $3,800 to $6,700. You can try different sizes and finishes with our concrete driveway cost estimator, which also draws the slab and works out the yards of concrete.
Small jobs cost more per foot. A crew, a truck and a pump cost about the same to send out, whatever the size of the pour, so most contractors have a minimum charge. A 100 square foot patch may run $20 per foot or more.
What it costs to replace a driveway
The cost to replace a cement driveway includes the removal, and that's a bigger share than people expect. Breaking out and hauling a slab typically costs $2 to $4 per square foot, more if it's thick or full of steel. Disposal is charged by the load, and concrete is heavy. A 500 square foot slab, 5 inches thick, weighs around 15 tons.
Replacing an asphalt driveway with concrete costs about the same, though asphalt comes up faster. Going from gravel saves a little, as there's less to remove and you may be able to reuse some of the stone. Still, a new concrete driveway needs a proper compacted base, so old gravel isn't always good enough. See concrete driveway replacement for what's included.
What finishes add to the price
A broom finish is the plainest choice, and it's also the one with the best grip for the money. Each step up in finish adds labor, materials or both.
| Finish | Per square foot | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Broom | $8 to $14 | The local standard, with good grip |
| Colored | $11 to $17 | Color runs all the way through |
| Exposed aggregate | $12 to $18 | Stone at the surface, strong on hills |
| Stamped | $15 to $25 | Needs resealing every few years |
What makes a Pittsburgh driveway cost more
Two driveways with the same size can be thousands of dollars apart. These are the things that make the difference here.
- Slope: steep driveways take more forms, more care in the pour and sometimes a pump
- Access: if a truck can't reach the site, concrete has to be pumped or moved by buggy, at $500 to $1,500 extra
- Soft ground: clay or old fill may need to be dug out and replaced with stone
- Thickness: going from 4 to 6 inches adds about half again as much concrete
- Steel: rebar or mesh adds about $1 per square foot
- Drainage: a trench drain runs $70 to $150 per foot
- The street: aprons, curb cuts and sidewalks need extra work and often permits
- Winter pours: blankets, heated water and accelerators add to the bill
How to compare quotes
Low quotes are usually low for a reason, and the reason is normally under the concrete. Before you compare prices, make sure each quote has the same things in it. You want to see the thickness, the stone depth, the strength and air content of the mix, the type of steel, the joint layout, the finish and who is paying for permits. If a quote just says 'pour new driveway,' ask for details.
It's fair to ask what happens if the crew hits soft ground. A good contractor will give you a unit price for extra stone or digging, so that you know the worst case up front. A 10 percent gap between quotes for the same scope isn't much across 30 years, but a slab that fails early will cost you the whole price again.
Ways to keep the cost down
You have more options than just picking the cheapest bid. Keep the layout simple, since straight runs need less form work and fewer cuts. Stay with a broom finish, and spend the money you save on base and thickness. If you only want a nicer look, a stamped border around a plain field gives you much of the effect for a smaller bill.
Timing matters too. Late spring and early fall are the best weather, but contractors can book up quickly, so try to get quotes in winter for a spring start. If your slab is in fair shape, see whether concrete driveway repair or resurfacing will buy you a few more years.
Common questions
How much does a concrete driveway increase home value?
It's hard to put a fixed number on it. Buyers notice a clean driveway, but you won't always get back the full cost.
How much for a 20x20 concrete driveway?
That's 400 square feet, so about $3,200 to $5,600 for a broom finish here, or $6,000 to $10,000 if it's stamped.
How much is a concrete driveway cost?
Most Pittsburgh driveways run $3,500 to $11,000, depending on size, slope and finish.
How much should I expect to pay for concrete?
For the material alone, about $170 to $200 per yard delivered. Placed and finished, it comes to $8 to $14 per square foot.
How much does it cost to redo concrete driveway?
Plan on the same $8 to $14 per square foot, as most of that price covers removal, base and finishing.
How much does a concrete pad cost?
A simple parking pad runs about $8 to $14 per square foot, and small pads may cost a bit more per foot.
How much does concrete cost per yard?
Ready-mix is about $170 to $200 per cubic yard around Pittsburgh, plus short-load fees on small orders.
More driveway services
- concrete driveway installation
- concrete driveway replacement
- concrete driveway repair
- concrete driveway resurfacing
- stamped concrete driveway
- exposed aggregate concrete driveway
- driveway trench drain
- driveway drainage
- driveway apron
- concrete driveway sealing
- driveway crack repair
- sunken driveway repair
- driveway extension