Concrete Removal Cost Calculator
Estimate concrete removal cost the way contractors think about it: square footage × slab thickness × demolition method × reinforcement × disposal. Compare jackhammer, excavator and saw-cut pricing, compute disposal tonnage from the 145 pcf density of concrete, price the haul-away, and check whether DIY actually beats a pro quote.
Concrete Demolition Cost Estimator
Editable price assumptions
Defaults sit in the middle of published 2026 ranges (see Methodology). Edit any figure to match a local quote.
Same job, all three methods
Per-method comparison for your inputs above (mid estimate, before disposal):
Concrete Haul-Away Calculator
How much does your broken concrete weigh, how many dumpster or pickup loads is that, and what will disposal cost by destination?
DIY vs Pro: Concrete Removal
DIY math: breaker rental days (125 sq ft/day pace) + optional saw rental & blade + disposal + $60 PPE/supplies — versus a pro jackhammer quote for the same job.
How concrete removal cost is calculated
Contractors price demolition in two parts. Breaking is quoted per square foot and moves with slab thickness, reinforcement, method, access and region. Disposal is quoted by weight — a 10-yard concrete dumpster, a per-ton tipping fee, or a bundled haul-off — because a broken patio is shockingly heavy. This calculator models both parts:
Demolition = area (sq ft) × method rate ($/sq ft at 4 in) × (thickness ÷ 4)0.85 × reinforcement factor × access factor × region factor, with a $300 small-job minimum.
Disposal weight = area × (thickness ÷ 12) × 145 lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000 lb/ton. Concrete weighs 145 pounds per cubic foot, so a 4-inch slab weighs about 48 lb per square foot — a 20 × 20 ft patio is nearly 10 tons of rubble.
Concrete demolition cost per square foot by method
Baseline rates at 4 in thick, unreinforced, standard access, Midwest. Published 2026 guides put overall removal at $2–$6/sq ft (Angi) and $2–$7/sq ft (LawnStarter); method, thickness and rebar move you inside — or in extreme stacks, above — that band.
| Demolition method | Low ($/sq ft) | Typical ($/sq ft) | High ($/sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackhammer / electric breaker | $2.50 | $3.50 | $4.50 |
| Excavator + hydraulic breaker | $3.00 | $4.25 | $5.50 |
| Saw-cut grid + break | $4.00 | $5.25 | $6.50 |
Jackhammer / electric breaker is the default for residential slabs up to ~6 in. Excavator + hydraulic breaker wins on large or thick slabs (driveways, foundations) where machine access exists. Saw-cut grid + break is for partial removal — cutting the slab into liftable sections keeps the rest of the patio or the foundation wall intact.
Concrete disposal weight and dumpster loads
Tonnage from the 145 pcf density. Concrete-only 10-yard containers typically allow ~10 tons; standard mixed-debris 10-yarders allow only 2–4 tons — confirm the weight limit before you order.
| Slab area | Weight at 4 in (tons) | Weight at 6 in (tons) | 10-yd concrete loads (4 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 2.42 | 3.62 | 1 |
| 200 sq ft | 4.83 | 7.25 | 1 |
| 400 sq ft | 9.67 | 14.50 | 1 |
| 600 sq ft | 14.50 | 21.75 | 2 |
| 1000 sq ft | 24.17 | 36.25 | 3 |
Worked examples
Example 1 — remove a 400 sq ft patio, 4 in, wire mesh
A 20 × 20 ft patio (400 sq ft) at 4 inches with wire mesh, broken with a jackhammer in the Midwest and hauled in a rented concrete dumpster: demolition $1,608.00 ($4.02/sq ft), disposal $450.00 (9.67 tons, 1 dumpster load), for a mid estimate of $2,058.00 (range $1,602.00 – $2,522.00). That sits inside the published $2–$6/sq ft band for the breaking work itself.
Example 2 — remove a 600 sq ft driveway, 6 in, rebar
A 20 × 30 ft driveway (600 sq ft) at 6 inches with a rebar grid, broken with an excavator on the West Coast, contractor hauling bundled: mid estimate $5,832.00 (range $4,116.00 – $7,548.00), or $9.72/sq ft. Thick + reinforced + high-cost region stacks every multiplier — this is the top end of residential work, and exactly when three local quotes pay for themselves.
How long does concrete removal take?
HomeGuide's contractor data: 2–4 hours for 100–200 sq ft of sidewalk or a small unreinforced slab; 1–2 days for most residential slabs; up to a week for retaining walls with footings. DIY runs 2–3× longer — the estimator above paces DIY breaking at 125 sq ft per day with a rented electric breaker.
Methodology and assumptions
Base method rates ($2.50–$6.50/sq ft across methods) are anchored to 2026 published guides (Angi, LawnStarter, HomeGuide, contractor pricing pages — full list in SOURCES.md). The multiplicative factors are modeling assumptions, labeled as such: thickness (t/4)0.85, wire mesh ×1.15, rebar ×1.35, tight access ×1.25 / easy ×0.95, region South ×0.90 / Northeast ×1.15 / West ×1.20, $300 small-job minimum, DIY pace 125 sq ft/day, breaker $95/day, concrete-only dumpster $375/7-day with 10-ton limit + $75 heavy-debris surcharge, tipping $75/ton landfill / $35 recycler / $60 transfer. Estimates are planning figures, not quotes — site conditions move real bids.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to remove concrete?
Published 2026 guides put concrete removal at $2–$6 per square foot (Angi) and $2–$7 (LawnStarter), covering breaking plus disposal. On a typical 400 sq ft, 4-inch patio with wire mesh, this calculator estimates $2,058.00 (range $1,602.00–$2,522.00) with a rented dumpster in the Midwest. Slab thickness, rebar, site access and region move you inside — or in extreme stacks, above — that band. Use the Demolition Estimator tab above with your own dimensions.
How much does it cost to remove a concrete patio?
For the classic 20 × 20 ft patio (400 sq ft) at 4 inches thick with wire mesh, broken with a jackhammer and hauled in a rented concrete dumpster in the Midwest: demolition $1,608.00 ($4.02/sq ft) plus disposal $450.00 (9.67 tons, one dumpster load), for a mid estimate of $2,058.00. That answers how much to remove a concrete patio for the most common residential case.
How much does concrete demolition cost per square foot?
At a 4-inch baseline (unreinforced, standard access, Midwest): jackhammer/electric breaker $2.50–$4.50, excavator + hydraulic breaker $3.00–$5.50, saw-cut grid + break $4.00–$6.50 per square foot. Thicker slabs cost more per foot — the estimator scales with (thickness ÷ 4)^0.85 — and rebar, tight access or a high-cost region stacks multipliers on top. Compare all three methods for your job in the estimator's comparison table.
How much does it cost to remove a concrete driveway?
A 20 × 30 ft driveway (600 sq ft) at 6 inches with a rebar grid, broken with an excavator on the West Coast with contractor haul-off bundled, estimates $5,832.00 (range $4,116.00–$7,548.00), or $9.72/sq ft. Thick plus reinforced plus a high-cost region is the top end of residential work — get three local quotes. Note: this is the demolition price only; the new driveway pour is a separate job.
How is this different from the Concrete Driveway Cost Calculator?
The Concrete Driveway Cost Calculator (/tools/concrete-driveway-cost-calculator/) prices pouring a NEW driveway — thickness, PSI, finishes, regional labor — with old-slab removal as a single checkbox at a flat $2.50/sq ft. THIS tool is the demolition engine: pick jackhammer, excavator or saw-cut, model thickness and rebar, compute disposal tonnage from the 145 pcf density of concrete, price dumpster vs self-haul, and compare DIY against a pro demolition quote. Use this page when the job IS the tear-out (patio, walkway, foundation, garage floor); use the driveway tool when you are replacing with new concrete.
How do you calculate concrete disposal weight?
Weight = area (sq ft) × (thickness in inches ÷ 12) × 145 lb/ft³ ÷ 2,000. Concrete weighs 145 pounds per cubic foot, so every inch of thickness adds about 12.1 lb per square foot. A 400 sq ft patio at 4 inches is 9.67 tons; at 6 inches the same patio would be 14.50 tons. The Haul-Away tab runs this math and converts it to dumpster and pickup-truck loads.
How much does it cost to haul away concrete?
Three paths: rent a concrete-only 10-yard dumpster (about $375 for 7 days plus a ~$75 heavy-debris surcharge in this calculator's defaults; published range $275–$425), haul it yourself to a landfill (about $75/ton tipping plus $50 trip fuel), or haul it yourself to a concrete recycler (about $35/ton — usually the cheapest for clean concrete). On the 400 sq ft patio example, one dumpster load handles all 9.67 tons for $450.00.
What does a concrete dumpster cost?
A 10-yard dumpster rents for roughly $275–$425 for 7 days (HomeGuide's national range). The catch is the weight limit: standard mixed-debris 10-yarders allow only 2–4 tons, while concrete-only containers typically allow about 10 tons — order the concrete-only kind or you will pay overage of $40–$100 per ton. The estimator defaults to a concrete-only 10-yard at $375 with a 10-ton limit; adjust both figures in the assumptions panel to match your hauler's quote.
Is it cheaper to remove concrete yourself?
Often on paper, less so in practice. For the 400 sq ft patio: DIY totals $890.00 (4 days of breaker rental at $95/day, dumpster disposal, $60 PPE/supplies) versus a pro jackhammer quote of $2,058.00 — a saving of $1,168.00 (56.75%). The DIY figure ignores your time and the learning curve: breaking 400 sq ft of 4-inch concrete is several hard days, and pros carry the disposal logistics. Run your own numbers in the DIY vs Pro tab.
How long does it take to remove concrete?
Contractor data (HomeGuide): 2–4 hours for 100–200 sq ft of sidewalk or a small unreinforced slab; 1–2 days for most residential slabs; up to a week for retaining walls with footings. DIY runs roughly 2–3× longer — the estimator paces DIY breaking at 125 sq ft per day with a rented electric breaker, so the 400 sq ft patio above is a 4-day DIY job.
Does rebar or wire mesh change concrete removal cost?
Yes. LawnStarter's 2026 data splits non-reinforced at $2–$4/sq ft versus reinforced at $4–$7/sq ft — steel forces slower breaking, blade and bit wear, and cut rebar to separate at the dump. This calculator applies ×1.15 for wire mesh and ×1.35 for a rebar grid (labeled modeling assumptions, conservative versus the published split). If your slab predates the 1960s it may be unreinforced; most modern driveways and foundations have steel.
Can broken concrete be recycled?
Yes — clean broken concrete (no trash, minimal rebar) is accepted by concrete recyclers and crushed into base aggregate. It is usually the cheapest disposal path: recycler tipping runs well below landfill rates, which is why the estimator defaults self-haul-to-recycler at $35/ton versus $75/ton at a landfill. Call ahead — some recyclers take homeowner loads free or nearly so.
How much does saw cutting concrete cost per linear foot?
For slab work: about $2–$6 per linear foot for basic cuts, $5–$15 per linear foot for a 4-inch residential slab with a $125–$400 minimum service fee, and $10–$55 per linear foot for pro work depending on depth; cutting a basement floor for plumbing (8–18 in deep) runs $25–65 per linear foot. DIY: saw rental $50–$100/day plus a $30–80 diamond blade. Saw-cutting is priced separately from breaking — the estimator's saw-cut method covers the cut-and-break workflow for partial removals.
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