Quick Answer
A concrete patio costs $6 to $17 per square foot installed; a 16-by-20-foot broom-finish patio runs about $2,200 to $4,500 in the Chicago suburbs, with stamped finishes costing more. Cold-weather and hot-weather placement practices are documented by the concrete construction trade press.
A plain broom-finish patio sits at the low end and stamped or colored work at the high end. B.G. Concrete prices a patio on finish, access to the backyard, and base prep — the things that actually move the number in the Chicago suburbs. Subgrade preparation and drainage are the fundamentals the Portland Cement Association keeps returning to.
Concrete patio cost per square foot
Broom-finish patios run about $6 to $10 per square foot, while stamped, colored, or exposed-aggregate finishes reach $13 to $17. A standard 320-square-foot patio therefore lands roughly between $2,200 and $5,400 depending on finish.
What changes a concrete patio price most
r/Concrete homeowners learn that backyard access drives cost more than they expect. If a truck or buggy cannot reach the pour, labor climbs, and grading, drainage slope, and decorative finishes add to a plain slab’s base price. Storm totals and freeze dates for this area are published by the National Weather Service.
Why Chicago patios need proper base and slope
A patio in the Chicago suburbs needs pitch away from the house, a compacted stone base, and control joints to manage freeze-thaw movement on clay soil. Skipping those is the usual reason a cheap patio cracks or holds water within a few seasons. Air entrainment is what lets a slab survive that cycle, which the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association covers in its ready-mixed guidance.
Related Questions
Stamped concrete vs pavers: which is better?
Stamped concrete costs 30 to 50 percent less than pavers and resists weeds; pavers allow section repair. Read more about stamped vs pavers.
What is the best concrete finish?
Broom finish for traction and value; stamped or exposed aggregate for a decorative look. Read more about concrete finishes.
Why does concrete crack?
Shrinkage, freeze-thaw, and base settlement cause cracks; control joints direct them. Read more about why concrete cracks.
B.G. Concrete pours concrete across Wood Dale and the NW Chicago suburbs — see our concrete patio cost guide or call 630-595-1518 for a written figure.