Concrete Contractor in Chicago
A concrete driveway around Chicago runs anywhere from $7 to $15 a square foot, and stamped work up to $26, depending on the finish, the thickness and whether the old slab comes out first. Tell us about your driveway, patio or garage slab in Chicago, Naperville, Des Plaines, Joliet or Aurora, and our vetted local concrete pro looks at it and puts a price in writing.
Typical price in Chicago: Concrete driveway, broom finish, installed$7–$15 per sq ftSource: 4 Chicago-area contractor price pages, price data from September 17, 2026
Send the details and our vetted local concrete pro gets back to you. No obligation.
Quick facts
- Broom-finish driveway: $7–$15 per sq ft in the Chicago area; stamped concrete: $15–$26.
- Tearing out the old slab adds $1–$4 per sq ft to a replacement.
- Replacing a driveway in kind on your lot needs no Chicago building permit; the apron is city-controlled public way.
- The pouring season runs roughly May through October; cold-weather work can add $2–$5 per sq ft.
- Most driveway replacements take 2-3 days; a brand-new curb cut needs at least 30 days for the city permit.
- Outdoor concrete here needs an air-entrained mix, and 4,000 PSI where road salt reaches it.
- Price ranges from sourced dataUpdated September 17, 2026
- 4towns covered in Chicago
Concrete work for Chicago homes
Driveways and aprons
Replacing a worn driveway, or adding a new one with the curb cut and apron the city has to approve. Read about concrete driveways in Chicago.
Patios and walks
Backyard slabs, side walks and steps down to the yard, with the base and drainage details to check. See concrete patios.
Garage slabs
New floors for detached garages off the alley, shed pads and slab foundations, and the permit path for each. See garage slabs and foundations.
Stamped concrete
Patterned, colored and exposed-aggregate finishes, and what they add to the price. See stamped concrete in Chicago.
What's different about concrete work in Chicago?
Winter and the public way: outdoor concrete here has to survive freeze-thaw, and the apron in front of most homes belongs to the city. Chicagoland driveways need air-entrained concrete over a compacted stone base to survive freeze-thaw, local contractors say, and suburbs such as Des Plaines limit pours in cold weather. In the city, the apron between sidewalk and street belongs to the public way, so the city's transportation department sets the permit rules there. The housing is old, too: Census data puts the median Chicago home at 1953. The Chicago concrete FAQ covers salt, winter pours and repairs.
Who licenses concrete contractors in Chicago?
The city's Department of Buildings issues general contractor licenses, and it publishes an online lookup where anyone can check a company's license status. Suburbs keep their own contractor registrations. The guide to hiring a concrete contractor explains which checks matter, how we vet our pros covers the checks behind this site, and the Chicago concrete permit guide sorts out which jobs need a permit at all.
How it works
Tell us what needs pouring
Choose the kind of job, give your neighborhood or suburb and a phone number or email. It takes about a minute.
Our vetted local pro follows up
Your details go to one vetted local pro and nobody else — no lead lists, no five sales calls. Until our vetted local concrete pro is confirmed for your area, your request is held and not shared with anyone; once one is, that pro reaches out to you.
Site check and price in writing
Expect questions about alley access, drainage and the slab coming out, then a written price. You decide if the job goes ahead.
What does concrete work cost in the Chicago area?
A broom-finish driveway runs $7–$15 per square foot in the Chicago area and stamped concrete $15–$26, with tear-out of the old slab adding $1–$4. Garage slab figures come from two Chicago cost models. The Chicago concrete price guide explains what moves a quote up or down, and how we price explains where the ranges come from.
| Job | Price range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway, broom finish, installed | $7–$15 per sq ft | Source: 4 Chicago-area contractor price pages, price data from September 17, 2026 |
| Stamped concrete, installed | $15–$26 per sq ft | Source: 3 Chicago-area contractor price pages, price data from September 17, 2026 |
| Plain concrete patio, installed | $7–$23 per sq ft | Source: 2 Chicago-area contractor price pages, price data from September 17, 2026 |
| Garage floor or slab foundation, installed | $6.80–$14 per sq ft | Source: 2 Chicago cost models, price data from September 17, 2026 |
| Removing and replacing an old driveway or patio | $8–$20 per sq ft | Source: 2 Chicago-area contractor pages, price data from September 17, 2026 |
| Tear-out and haul-off of the old slab | $1–$4 per sq ft | Source: 3 Chicago-area contractor price pages, price data from September 17, 2026 |
Sources: 4 Chicago-area contractor price pages (Plainfield Concrete Co., ZBL Concrete, Shamblin Paving, Acme Concrete) (September 17, 2026); 3 Chicago-area contractor price pages (B.G. Concrete, Plainfield Concrete Co., ZBL Concrete) (September 17, 2026); 2 Chicago-area contractor price pages (B.G. Concrete, ZBL Concrete) (September 17, 2026); 2 Chicago cost models (ConstructlyTools, SlabCalc) (September 17, 2026); 2 Chicago-area contractor pages (Acme Concrete, U.S. Waterproofing) (September 17, 2026); 3 Chicago-area contractor price pages (B.G. Concrete, Plainfield Concrete Co., Acme Concrete) (September 17, 2026).
Prices are typical ranges, not quotes. Your price depends on the size, condition and access of the job.
Old driveway cracked, or a garage slab to pour?
Fill in the short form and our vetted local concrete pro follows up about your job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Chicago?
About $7–$15 per square foot for a broom finish, going by the prices Chicago-area contractors publish. A typical two-car driveway of 500 to 700 square feet works out to roughly $4,000 to $10,500, and tearing out the old slab adds $1–$4 per square foot. The Chicago concrete price guide breaks it down.
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway in Chicago?
Usually not for the slab on your lot: the city lists removing and replacing a driveway in kind as work that doesn't need a building permit, while expanding an off-street parking area does. The apron across the parkway is public way, where the city's driveway permit rules apply; the Chicago concrete permit guide has the steps.
What concrete holds up to Chicago freeze-thaw and road salt?
Air-entrained concrete, whose tiny air pockets absorb freeze-thaw expansion, over a 4-inch compacted CA-6 stone base. Any surface exposed to road salt calls for a 4,000 PSI mix, which adds about $0.50–$1.00 per square foot. More in Chicago concrete questions.
When is the best time to pour concrete in Chicago?
Roughly May through October. Outside that season, heated enclosures and insulated blankets can add $2–$5 per square foot. Suburbs set their own limits: Des Plaines won't allow flatwork on days forecast below 40 degrees, and Naperville only allows apron concrete from April 15 through November 15.
How long does it take to replace a concrete driveway?
Usually 2-3 days, from tearing out the old slab to sealing the new one, according to a Lockport contractor. A brand-new curb cut takes longer, because the city tells applicants to expect at least 30 days for the driveway permit.
Is stamped concrete worth the extra cost?
Stamped concrete runs $15–$26 per square foot on Chicago-area price pages, roughly double a plain broom finish. Integral color alone adds $2 to $4 per square foot with no pattern to maintain, and one local contractor calls it often the value pick; see stamped concrete in Chicago.
What should I have ready for the site visit?
Rough measurements, a few photos of the old concrete, whether the truck can reach from the street or only the alley, and any work planned on the apron or public sidewalk. Send a request and our vetted local concrete pro will look at the job.
Reviewed by: Patrik Lorentzson, Editor, Chicago Prime Concrete · Last reviewed
General information only, not advice for your project. Chicago Prime Concrete does not advise on, design or manage projects; the contractor you choose does.