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Quick answer

Nationally, most new concrete driveways cost $8 to $20 per square foot, and a plain, unfinished slab can come in lower, at $6 to $8. Most projects land between $2,700 and $14,500, a range the source says includes removing existing concrete, with an average of about $6,400 (Angi, accessed Oct 2026). HomeAdvisor, Angi’s sister site, publishes the same figures (HomeAdvisor). An independent guide puts driveways at $5 to $21 per square foot (Concrete Network).

A basic two-car driveway of 20 by 20 feet (400 sq ft) runs about $3,200 to $6,000 in the same data (Angi).

These are national figures, not Fort Wayne prices. The only way to get an actual price for your driveway is a written estimate from a contractor who has seen it.

Concrete driveway cost per square foot, by finish

Finish is the single biggest swing in price per square foot. Plain concrete costs roughly half as much as a high-end stamped finish because of the extra labor and skill (Angi).

Concrete driveway cost per square foot by finish (national, installed)
FinishCost per sq. ft.Typical average
Plain$6–$8$7
Broom finish$8–$12$10
Exposed aggregate$8–$12$10
Colored$8–$12$10
Stamped$12–$18$15
Stained or saw-cut$18–$20$19

Source: (Angi, accessed Oct 2026); HomeAdvisor lists the same ranges (HomeAdvisor). Angi’s overall $8–$20 headline covers most driveways; plain finishes fall below it. An independent source puts driveways overall at $5–$21 per sq ft and a plain slab at $6.50–$10.50 (Concrete Network, accessed Oct 2026).

Labor is about half of the total, roughly $2 to $10 per square foot (Angi). That’s why access, removal, and site prep move the price so much: they’re mostly labor.

Cost by driveway size

A two-car driveway is commonly planned at 20 by 20 feet minimum, with 20 by 24 feet preferred (Concrete Network, accessed Oct 2026). That’s about 400 to 480 square feet. A single-car drive is at least 10 feet wide, with 12 preferred so car doors can open onto pavement (Concrete Network).

Concrete driveway cost by size (national)
SizeAreaCost rangeAverage
10 × 20 ft (one car)200 sq ft$1,600–$3,000$2,300
12 × 24 ft288 sq ft$2,300–$4,300$3,300
20 × 20 ft (two car)400 sq ft$3,200–$6,000$4,600
24 × 24 ft576 sq ft$4,600–$8,600$6,600
24 × 36 ft864 sq ft$6,900–$13,000$9,950

Source: (Angi, accessed Oct 2026). “One car” and “two car” labels follow the sizing guidance from (Concrete Network).

The closest Indiana data point

The same national source lists a 600-square-foot driveway in Indianapolis at $3,000 to $7,800 (Angi, accessed Oct 2026). It doesn’t publish a Fort Wayne figure, and we don’t either. Labor rates, demand, and travel can differ between the two cities.

What raises or lowers the price

These are the line items that make two quotes for the “same” driveway come out thousands of dollars apart.

Removing the old driveway

Breaking out and hauling away old concrete runs about $2 to $6 per square foot (Angi, accessed Oct 2026). A thick or rebar-reinforced old slab takes longer to break up. Asphalt is cheaper to remove.

Excavation and base

Soft or organic soil has to be dug out and replaced with compacted crushed stone, at least 4 inches of it (Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association, accessed Oct 2026). If the old driveway sank, expect the contractor to recommend more base work. That costs more now and is usually what keeps the new slab from sinking.

Thickness and reinforcement

Four inches is the minimum; 5 inches is recommended where heavy vehicles or deliveries are expected (Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association, accessed Oct 2026). Thicker slabs take more concrete and labor. Rebar averages about $1.40 per linear foot for material (Angi, accessed Oct 2026), set in a grid about 12 inches apart on thicker slabs (Concrete Network, accessed Oct 2026).

Concrete mix

Air-entrained 4,500 psi concrete with a low water-cement ratio is the recommendation for freeze-thaw and deicer exposure (Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association, accessed Oct 2026). It’s not the place to save in a Fort Wayne winter.

Finish

Plain and broom finishes are cheapest; stamped and stained finishes can more than double the per-foot price (see the table above).

Access and site

Can a ready-mix truck back up to the forms, or does concrete have to be pumped or wheeled in? Is the lot sloped enough to need regrading? Tight access and grading add labor.

The approach and permits

Inside Fort Wayne, the section that connects to a public street needs a $50 residential access permit and a pre-pour inspection; public sidewalk work needs its own $15 to $30 permit (City of Fort Wayne, accessed Oct 2026). Nationally, the driveway apron itself costs about $1,530 to $4,320 (Angi, accessed Oct 2026).

Season

Booking outside the spring and summer peak can help (Angi), but concrete can’t be placed on a frozen base (Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association). Cold-weather pours need extra protection, which can add cost.

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Stamped concrete and patio costs compared

National cost ranges for common residential concrete projects
ProjectCost per sq. ft.Typical project totalSource
Plain concrete driveway$6–$8$2,700–$14,500 (all driveway finishes)(Angi)
Stamped concrete (driveways, patios, walks)$9–$22$2,961–$7,822(Angi)
Stamped driveway finish$12–$18Not listed separately(Angi)
Concrete patio$4–$30$1,919–$5,393(Angi)
Broom-finish patio$4–$7Depends on size(Angi)

Figures come from national cost guides, updated between April and October 2026. They are not Fort Wayne quotes.

The ranges overlap, so a plain patio and a plain driveway can cost about the same per square foot; size, prep, and finish decide the total. More on each: new concrete driveways, driveway replacement and repair, stamped concrete, and concrete patios.

How to read a contractor’s estimate

A good written estimate tells you what you’re paying for. If one of these isn’t on it, ask.

  • Scope and area. Square footage and a sketch or description of the shape.
  • Demolition. Removal and disposal of the old surface, as its own line or clearly included.
  • Base. Excavation depth and the type and thickness of stone.
  • Slab. Thickness, reinforcement, and concrete strength and air content.
  • Finish. Plain, broom, exposed aggregate, stamped, or colored, and where.
  • Joints and drainage. Joint layout and slope direction.
  • Permits. Whether the city approach or sidewalk permit is included, and who meets the inspector.
  • Curing and sealing. Curing method, and whether a sealer is applied and when.
  • Schedule and payment. Start window, deposit, and when the balance is due.
  • Warranty. What’s covered, for how long, in writing.

Compare bids line by line, not by the bottom number. Before you sign, confirm the contractor’s Allen County license and insurance, using the checklist of questions to ask a contractor.

Ways to save without cutting corners

  • Get more than one bid. Talking with at least three contractors is a standard recommendation (Angi).
  • Get estimates in the off-season and book early, rather than in the spring rush.
  • Put decoration where it shows. A plain broom-finished driveway with a stamped border or apron costs far less than stamping the whole thing.
  • Keep the shape simple. Curves and extra corners add form work and joint cuts.
  • Do the easy parts yourself. Moving landscaping out of the way or restoring the lawn afterward can be done by you instead of the crew (Angi).
  • Fix the drainage. Redirecting downspouts and grading so water leaves the slab protects the investment (Angi).

Where not to save: the base, the thickness, the concrete mix, and curing. Those are what keep a driveway flat and intact for 30 years or more (Concrete Network).

Cost questions

How much does a concrete driveway cost per square foot?

Most new concrete driveways run about $8 to $20 per square foot installed, though a plain finish can be as low as $6 to $8 (Angi). An independent source gives $5 to $21 (Concrete Network). Stamped and stained finishes sit at the top. Removal of an old slab, base work, and thickness add to that.

What does it cost to replace a concrete driveway?

Add removal to the cost of the new driveway. Concrete removal runs about $2 to $6 per square foot nationally (Angi), and replacement concrete about $8 to $20 per square foot (Angi). A thick, heavily reinforced old slab or a hard-to-reach driveway costs more to break out and haul away.

How much more does stamped concrete cost than plain?

For driveways, national figures put plain concrete at $6 to $8 per square foot and stamped at $12 to $18 (Angi), so roughly double. Stamping only a border or the apron gets part of the look for far less than stamping the whole driveway.

Is a concrete driveway cheaper in the off-season?

Scheduling outside the busy spring and summer season is one suggested way to save (Angi). In Fort Wayne, though, concrete can’t be poured on frozen ground (Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association), so the realistic version is getting estimates in winter and booking a pour for early spring or fall.

Why don’t you list Fort Wayne prices?

Because no reliable published source gives Fort Wayne-specific driveway prices, and we won’t make them up. The closest Indiana figure we found is for Indianapolis (Angi). Local quotes depend on removal, base, thickness, finish, access, and each contractor’s schedule. A written estimate is the only real number.

Does the city permit add much to the cost?

Not much. Inside Fort Wayne city limits, the residential driveway access permit is listed at $50, and a public sidewalk permit is $15 to reconstruct or $30 for a new sidewalk (City of Fort Wayne). Ask whether the contractor’s price includes pulling the permit and meeting the inspector.

Get a real number for your driveway

National ranges only get you so close. A real number needs a contractor to measure your driveway and check the base and drainage. We’ll work to match you with a local contractor and let you know either way. It’s free and there’s no obligation.