Pre-loaded with concrete trade overhead defaults. Enter your job costs — get your exact bid price and profit margin.
Decorative concrete (stamped, polished, epoxy) commands significantly higher markup (30–50%) due to specialization and lower competition. If you offer these services, price them separately from standard flatwork.
Concrete contractors face a uniquely challenging pricing environment: thin margins on competitive flatwork bidding, high material cost volatility (concrete mix prices change with fuel and aggregate costs), and significant equipment overhead for larger operations. Industry benchmarks put concrete markup at 20–35% on direct costs, though specialty work — decorative concrete, polished floors, structural formwork — commands 30–50% due to skill scarcity and lower competition.
The split between commodity flatwork (driveways, sidewalks, slabs) and specialty concrete (stamped, stained, polished, exposed aggregate) is enormous in terms of pricing power. Commodity flatwork is one of the most price-competitive segments in construction — clients routinely get three bids and choose the lowest. Specialty decorative concrete has far fewer qualified competitors, and clients who want it are choosing a craftsman, not a commodity. If you offer decorative services, price them separately and protect that margin aggressively.
Concrete mix prices are tied to fuel, aggregate, and cement costs — all of which can shift 5–15% in a single quarter. On a large pour quoted three months in advance, a 10% material price increase can wipe out your entire profit. For projects longer than 30 days out, consider including a material price escalation clause in your contract, or build 8–12% contingency into the bid to absorb potential increases. This calculator includes a dedicated contingency field for exactly this purpose.
| Project Type | Typical Markup | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential driveway | 25–35% | Competitive, fairly standard scope |
| Flatwork / slab-on-grade | 20–30% | Volume competitive, thin margins |
| Stamped / decorative concrete | 40–55% | Specialty, skill premium, fewer competitors |
| Polished concrete floors | 35–50% | Equipment intensive, skilled labor |
| Structural / foundation | 20–30% | Complexity, formwork cost, risk |
| Concrete repair / patching | 40–60% | Small job overhead, minimum charge |
Concrete contractor overhead varies dramatically based on whether you own your own pump, mixer, or finishing equipment versus renting. A contractor who owns a boom pump carries significantly higher fixed overhead but can bid work that renters cannot and avoids the unpredictability of rental availability. Include all equipment payments, fuel, maintenance, and insurance in your overhead rate — and if you rent equipment per-job, include those costs as direct costs on each bid rather than overhead.