Concrete Sidewalk Cost Calculator
Order 1.54-1.63 yd³
Plan volume 1.48 yd³ (40 ft³); range = NRMCA CIP-8 4-10% ordering allowance.
Typical crew rate for this trade: $41-$68/hr (modeled from BLS median wage × published burden/markup band). How we model costs.
Reference material price: SAKRETE 60 lb Gray Concrete Mix, $4.68/bag (typical retail, sampled 2026-08-15; local prices vary). How we model costs.
- Volume is plan geometry; NRMCA CIP 8 says order 4-10% over plan (subgrade, forms, spillage).
- A 1/8" thickness variation on a 4" slab is a ±3% volume swing; measure thickness honestly.
- Ready-mix increments and short-load fees are vendor practice; confirm with your plant.
Want quotes from local pros for this project? We’re gauging demand for a pro-matching service. No contractor network exists yet: this is a get-notified list, not a quote request.
Why This One Is Different
The concrete itself is almost never the expensive part of a new sidewalk; the crew's time forming and finishing a narrow ribbon of slab is. This calculator prices your run two ways: a modeled labor band built from a masonry crew's bare wage plus overhead and profit, and a sampled bag-material range sized for smaller patch jobs. A public sidewalk runs a fixed 4 feet wide in most municipal specs, which is exactly why linear footage, not concrete volume, drives your quote. This calculator defaults to a 30-foot run at 4 feet wide. Neither number is a promise; get a written bid before you sign anything, since local crew rates and permitting requirements both move the total.
Where the Numbers Come From
- A unit labor cost decomposes into bare labor plus an O&P add-on (workers' comp, fixed overhead, overhead, profit); a masonry crew's sidewalk rate is built the same way, not as a single flat number. Source: Wiley, How to Estimate with RSMeans Data (4th ed.)
- A 60 lb bag of concrete mix yields approximately 0.45 cubic feet, giving roughly 60 bags per cubic yard, the reference used for patch-scale sidewalk sections bought by the bag. Source: QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 TDS (rev. 2022)
- A sidewalk is a long narrow ribbon of slab, which makes it especially sensitive to subgrade irregularity along its run: order 4-10% more concrete than the plan volume calls for, the standard NRMCA allowance for any formed pour. Source: NRMCA, CIP 8: Discrepancies in Yield (2021 reprint)
More Questions
Do I need a permit for a new sidewalk?
Often yes, especially for sidewalks in the public right-of-way, which may also require specific mix, thickness, or expansion-joint spacing set by the municipality. Confirm requirements with your local public works department before pouring.
Related Calculators
Formulas, waste factors, and cost models on this page follow the sourced conventions on our methodology page. Estimates only; verify with your supplier and local code.