Concrete Patio Cost in Missouri: 2026 Price Guide

A basic poured concrete patio in Missouri typically costs about $6.82 to $15.58 per square foot installed, according to 2026 Missouri figures from ProjectCosted. For a 400-square-foot (20 by 20 foot) patio, that works out to roughly $2,727 to $6,234, with most projects landing near $4,480. Stamped concrete and pavers cost more. Drainage, old concrete removal and a poorly prepared site can move your final number a lot.

At Precision Outdoor Solutions, we build patios in Wentzville and across St. Charles County, so this guide covers what drives the price, where homeowners overspend, and how to compare estimates fairly.

TL;DR

• Plain concrete patios in Missouri run about $6.82 to $15.58 per square foot installed. A 20 by 20 patio usually lands between roughly $2,700 and $6,200.
• Stamped concrete and pavers cost more per square foot. Pavers in Missouri are commonly quoted at $11 to $28 per square foot, depending on the source.
• Labor is the biggest share of the bill (about 52%), and base preparation, slope, drainage and demolition are what separate a low quote from a high one.
• St. Louis and Kansas City pricing runs a bit above the state average. Compare written estimates line by line, not by the bottom number.

Table of Contents

• What a concrete patio costs per square foot in Missouri
• What a 20 by 20 patio costs
• Where the money goes
• Factors that move your price up or down
• Concrete, stamped concrete and pavers compared
• Do you need a permit?
• How to compare patio estimates
• Our perspective: why we care about the part you cannot see
• Get a patio quote for your yard
• Ways to keep the cost under control
• FAQ
• Sources

What a concrete patio costs per square foot in Missouri

The most useful Missouri-specific range we found is $6.82 to $15.58 per square foot installed, from ProjectCosted’s 2026 Missouri analysis. That is a wide spread, and it is wide for a reason: “concrete patio” can mean a plain broom-finished slab on flat ground or a colored, textured, reinforced pad on a sloped lot with an old patio to haul away.

For a national benchmark, Forbes Home puts a basic concrete slab patio at $6 to $11 per square foot installed. It breaks that into roughly $4 to $7 per square foot for the concrete and $2 to $4 for labor. Finishes can add about $1 to $10 per square foot in labor.

The two sources agree on the low end and overlap in the middle. In practice, here is how we would read them:

• Low end (about $7 to $9): flat, easy-access yard, plain broom finish, no demolition, no drainage work.
• Middle (about $9 to $12): some grading, a properly built base, control joints and a decorative edge or light coloring.
• High end ($12 and up): slope, tight access, tear-out of an old slab, integral color or exposed aggregate, or drainage correction tied into the project.

These are market ranges from published cost guides, not our quotes. Every yard is different, and we price after seeing the site.

What a 20 by 20 patio costs

A 400-square-foot patio is the size most homeowners picture: enough for a dining table, grill and a few chairs. Here is how the published numbers stack up.

The St. Louis figure sits slightly under the Missouri midpoint, but it models a standard patio on a typical site. Treat it as a reasonable starting point for St. Charles County, not a promise. If your project has a slope, an old patio to remove or a drainage problem, plan above it.

If you are planning a different size, multiply your square footage by the per-foot range, then add the extras below. A 12 by 16 patio (192 square feet) at the Missouri range would run about $1,310 to $2,991 before extras.

Where the money goes

Understanding the split makes it easier to judge a quote. In the ProjectCosted Missouri analysis, labor accounts for about 52% of the installed cost and materials about 36%. The remainder covers things like equipment, disposal and overhead.

That tells you something useful: the cheapest way to cut a bid is usually to cut labor, and the labor that matters most is the work you cannot see afterward. Excavation, a compacted base, forms set to the right pitch and joints placed in the right spots all take time. Skipping them saves money on day one and costs you in cracks and settling later.

If you want a closer look at what happens under the slab, our guide to patio base preparation walks through the checks we make on a 4 to 6 inch base.

Factors that move your price up or down

Site preparation and slope

A flat, open yard with easy equipment access is the baseline. Slope, trees, tight gates and soft soil all add labor. One cost calculator notes that lawn removal, demolition, drainage, slope and difficult access can raise the total, and a 20 by 20 patio in its national model runs $3,200 to $8,800 before any old surface is removed.

Drainage

Water is the most common reason a patio fails early. A patio that sends runoff toward your house, or that sits where water already pools, needs grading changes, a drain or both. That work is easy to price when it is part of the patio plan and much more expensive to fix afterward. If your yard already holds water after rain, read our notes on signs you need a drainage solution before you set a budget.

Removing an old patio

Demolition and haul-away are usually separate line items. Breaking out and disposing of an old slab can add a meaningful amount, so make sure every estimate says whether it is included. Comparing one bid that includes removal with another that does not is the easiest way to be misled.

Thickness and reinforcement

More concrete is not always better. A properly compacted base and targeted reinforcement often do more for durability than adding inches of thickness. We explain the reasoning in our concrete patio thickness guide.

Finish and design

Broom finish is the budget option. Colored concrete, exposed aggregate, saw-cut patterns and stamping add labor and materials. Forbes Home says finishes can add about $1 to $10 per square foot in labor.

Where you live in Missouri

ProjectCosted reports that St. Louis and Kansas City pricing runs about 8 to 9% above the state average, while rural areas can run about 7% below. St. Charles County sits in the St. Louis market, so expect numbers in the upper half of the statewide range rather than the bottom.

Concrete, stamped concrete and pavers compared

Many people who search for concrete patio prices are really deciding between three materials. Here are the per-square-foot ranges published in national guides and Missouri estimates.

No single source is the last word, which is why the ranges are wide. The pattern is consistent, though: plain concrete is the lowest upfront cost, stamped concrete costs more because of the added labor and sealing, and pavers generally cost the most to install but offer repairability, since individual units can be lifted and replaced.

Bob Vila’s comparison notes that simple paver designs can cost less than complex stamped patterns, so the order is not always fixed. For more detail on each, see our guides to stamped concrete cost and paver patio cost.

Which one makes sense?

• Choose plain concrete if you want the lowest upfront cost and a clean, simple surface for furniture and a grill.
• Choose stamped or colored concrete if appearance matters and you want the look of stone or brick in one continuous slab.
• Choose pavers if you want a patterned surface that can be repaired in sections, and you are comfortable paying more for it.

Freeze-thaw cycles in Missouri make base preparation important for all three, which is why we rarely recommend shaving that part of the budget.

Do you need a permit?

It depends on your city. The City of Wentzville’s building division says no permit is needed for patios or non-driveway slabs, and it advises consulting the building inspector. A driveway is different and needs a miscellaneous building permit.

Other towns differ. Hometriva notes that Missouri has no statewide residential code and that paver patio permit costs can range from $60 to $240 depending on local requirements. Some St. Louis County municipalities require full review while nearby unincorporated areas require little. Call your city or county office before you sign, and check your HOA rules too. We can tell you what we have seen in the towns we work in, but your local office has the final say.

How to compare patio estimates

Two bids for the same patio can differ by thousands of dollars and still both be “fair.” The difference is usually in what is included. Ask each contractor to put these in writing:

1. Square footage and thickness. The size of the pour and the slab thickness.
2. Base depth and material. A compacted aggregate base is standard for durable work. For pavers, a good quote names the base depth, bedding sand, joint sand and edge restraint, and that source advises comparing quotes by base depth, not price alone.
3. Reinforcement and joints. Rebar or wire mesh, and where control joints go.
4. Demolition and disposal. Whether an old patio or sod removal is included.
5. Grading and drainage. Which direction the patio slopes and where water goes.
6. Finish and sealer. Broom, color, stamp pattern, and whether sealing is included.
7. Timeline and payment schedule. Start window, expected duration and when payments are due. Our patio installation timeline explains how long each phase usually takes.

It also helps to know how to choose a hardscape contractor before you start collecting bids. Ask about insurance, references and who will actually be on site.

Our perspective: why we care about the part you cannot see

We have been building outdoor spaces for over 25 years, and the pattern is clear. Homeowners focus on the finish, color and shape of a patio. The patios that still look good ten years later are the ones where someone took the time to build a stable base and think about where water will go.

That is why our approach starts with the site, not the surface. We look at slope, drainage and how you plan to use the space before we talk materials. A patio that is slightly more expensive to build correctly costs less over its life than a cheaper one that has to be repaired or replaced. We also keep communication simple: clear timelines, regular updates and a job site that stays orderly.

We would rather give you an honest range and explain what drives it than quote a low number that grows with change orders. If a plain concrete patio is the right answer for your yard and budget, we will say so.

— Precision Outdoor Solutions

Get a patio quote for your yard

Published ranges can tell you whether a bid is in the right area, but only a site visit can tell you what your patio will cost. Precision Outdoor Solutions handles hardscape and patio installation and concrete services for homeowners in Wentzville and throughout St. Charles County, including St. Peters, O’Fallon and Troy. We look at the site, talk through materials and give you a written scope you can compare against any other bid. If you are still shaping the idea, our backyard patio ideas can help you decide on size and layout first.

Ways to keep the cost under control

• Right-size the patio. Cost scales with square footage. Trimming a 20 by 20 to 16 by 20 removes 80 square feet, which at $9 per square foot is $720.
• Spend on the base, save on the finish. You can add color or a stamped border later in some cases. You cannot fix a weak base without tearing out the slab.
• Combine projects. If you need drainage correction, grading or a walkway, doing it in the same mobilization is often more efficient than doing it separately.
• Think about timing. Contractors are busiest in spring and early summer. Talking to us earlier gives us room to plan your project properly.
• Avoid DIY shortcuts on prep. Pouring is hard to correct once it is done, and a poor base is the most common cause of cracking and settling.

FAQ

How much does a 20×20 concrete patio cost in Missouri?

A 400-square-foot concrete patio in Missouri typically costs about $2,727 to $6,234, with most projects near $4,480, based on ProjectCosted’s 2026 data. Slope, demolition, drainage and decorative finishes push the price toward the top of that range. A written estimate after a site visit is the only way to know your number.

Is a concrete patio cheaper than pavers in Missouri?

Usually, yes. Basic concrete runs about $6.82 to $15.58 per square foot in Missouri, while Missouri paver estimates run about $13 to $28. Pavers can be repaired in sections, which some homeowners value, but a simple concrete slab is normally the lower upfront cost.

Is a concrete patio worth it?

For most homeowners, yes, if it is built on a compacted base with proper drainage. It gives you a durable, low-maintenance surface for furniture and cooking, and it extends the usable part of your yard. The value comes from build quality: a poorly prepared slab can crack and settle, which erases the savings.

Does stamped concrete cost much more than plain concrete?

Yes. Forbes Home lists stamped concrete at $11 to $21 per square foot versus $6 to $11 for a basic slab. The extra cost covers color, stamping tools, added labor and sealing. Our stamped concrete guide goes into the details.

Sources

• Concrete Patio Cost in Missouri (2026 Prices), ProjectCosted
• How Much Does A Patio Cost? Forbes Home
• St Louis Concrete Patio Cost 2026, TheFatBook
• Here’s How Much a Stamped Concrete Patio Costs, Bob Vila
• Missouri paver patio cost calculator, Hardscape Calculator
• Paver Patio & Walkway cost in Missouri, Hometriva
• Paver Patio Cost Calculator (2026), Pour Canvas
• Building Division, City of Wentzville

Recommended

• Paver Patio Cost In 2026: Realistic Budgets And Takeoffs
• Stamped Concrete Cost: 2026 Pricing Guide For Homeowners
• Backyard Patio Ideas: How To Transform Your Backyard In Wentzville, MO

This article was prepared with AI assistance for general information. For recommendations specific to your property, contact Precision Outdoor Solutions. Call or text us at (636) 358-8644.