Concrete Sidewalk Cost: Per Square Foot and Linear Foot (2026)

A new concrete sidewalk costs $7 to $17 per square foot installed, or $1,400 to $3,400 for a 200-square-foot walk, according to HomeGuide (February 2026). For a 4-foot-wide path that works out to $28 to $68 per linear foot. HomeAdvisor (updated June 2026) is narrower: a 200-square-foot walkway averages $2,000, which is “an average of $10 per square foot, or between $8 and $12 with standard finishes.” Two lines may be missing from those numbers: HomeGuide’s table excludes “prep work like a gravel base, grading, or ground compaction,” and tearing out an old walk is a separate line.

Sidewalk cost at a glance

Compare within a column: each guide prices a slightly different scope. HomeGuide’s removal figure is from its removal guide (May 2025).

Step 1: measure it and turn it into cubic yards

A 4-by-50-foot walk is 200 square feet. For volume, multiply by the thickness in feet and divide by 27: 200 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = about 2.5 cubic yards. HomeAdvisor uses the same example: “For a 200-square-foot sidewalk at four inches thick, expect to pay $250 for 2.5 cubic yards of concrete, not including labor.”

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) advises: “Include an allowance of 4 to 10 percent over plan dimensions for waste, over-excavation and other contingencies.” That makes the 200-square-foot walk roughly 2.6 to 2.7 yards.

Small pours cost more per foot. HomeGuide notes that prices are “slightly higher for projects smaller than 200 square feet due to minimum concrete delivery fees,” and its ready-mix guide says a load under a full truck “is considered a short load which adds $53 per cubic yard to your final price.” More on that in concrete cost per yard.

How thick, and how wide

HomeAdvisor: “The standard walkway is four inches thick.” HomeGuide says “Most concrete walkways are 4” to 6” thick.” This Old House, citing its contractor Tom Silva, says: “For large slabs serving as a porch, sidewalk, or patio, have your contractor pour a minimum of 4 inches of concrete.”

Cities can ask for more where a walk crosses a driveway. In Ankeny, Iowa, city sidewalks “shall be a minimum of four (4) inches in thickness except through driveways where they shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in thickness,” and new sidewalks are “a minimum of five (5) feet wide (unless directed otherwise by the City).” That is one city’s rule for walks in the public right-of-way; yours may differ. HomeAdvisor lists a 200-square-foot walk at $1,600–$2,400 at 4 inches and $1,800–$2,600 at 6 inches.

What the square-foot price covers, and what it doesn’t

HomeGuide splits a 4-by-50-foot sidewalk into concrete materials ($2–$6 per square foot, $400–$1,200) and installation labor and supplies ($5–$11, $1,000–$2,200).

Lines that may come on top:

• Base: HomeGuide prices a 4-inch gravel base at $10 to $15 per linear foot for walkways up to 4 feet wide, and says contractors may use sand instead over “low-to-average draining soil.”
• Reinforcement: HomeAdvisor gives wire mesh at $50 to $200 for a 200-square-foot walk, or rebar at about $100. HomeGuide’s removal guide, pricing tear-outs of old walks, notes that “Most sidewalks aren’t reinforced, which reduces labor time.”
• Vapor barrier: HomeGuide lists one at $0.50 to $1.00+ per square foot and says “The barrier prevents concrete cracking in freeze-thaw cycles”; HomeAdvisor says one “can help prevent cracking from freeze-thaw cycles in colder climates.” The 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) does not require a vapor retarder under “Driveways, walks, patios and other flatwork not likely to be enclosed and heated at a later date,” so ask why it’s in the bid.

What raises the price

• Finish: HomeGuide prices a stamped sidewalk at $10 to $21 per square foot installed for a 4-foot path; HomeAdvisor lists stamped at $8 to $12 and acid-stained at $12 to $25. See stamped concrete cost.
• Shape and slope: curves need custom forms and more labor (HomeAdvisor, Concrete Network); grading the ground first runs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot (HomeGuide).

Replacing an old sidewalk: tear-out is its own line

HomeGuide’s removal guide gives $3 to $8 per square foot including disposal, and $750 to $1,250 to remove a 50-foot-long sidewalk; it adds that “Prices increase for sidewalks more than 6” thick.” For the whole job, HomeGuide says “The cost to remove and replace a concrete sidewalk is $10 to $25+ per square foot,” and that “Digging up to 8” deep is common when replacing an old sidewalk.”

The sidewalk out front: permits and who owns it

The model building code exempts “Sidewalks and driveways” from a building permit (2021 IRC R105.2), though towns can amend that chapter locally. Work in the public right-of-way is a separate matter: in Ankeny, “A permit is required for the removal, construction or reconstruction of a sidewalk and/or driveway within the public right-of-way,” with an inspection after the forms are set. HomeGuide suggests contacting “the local building department or public works office” to find out who is responsible for the walk next to your property. Before anyone digs, contact 811 “a few business days before you begin any digging” (call811.com).

Joints and slope a good bid spells out

NRMCA recommends that “The maximum joint spacing should be 24 to 36 times the thickness of the slab,” which for a 4-inch slab is “about 10 feet,” with contraction-joint grooves at least a quarter of the slab thickness “but not less than 1 inch.” The same sheet says “All panels should be square or nearly so. The length should not exceed 1.5 times the width.” On a 4-foot-wide walk that means a joint about every 4 to 6 feet, not every 10; Ankeny, for example, asks for joints “four (4) feet on center for four (4) feet wide walks.” Near the house, in its exception for lots where 6 inches of fall within 10 feet isn’t possible, the 2021 IRC (R401.3) adds: “Impervious surfaces within 10 feet of the building foundation shall be sloped not less than 2 percent away from the building.” Local editions of the code can differ.

What should be in the written quote

• Length, width and thickness, including any thicker section at a driveway crossing
• Base material and depth, and whether grading is included
• Reinforcement (none, wire mesh, rebar or fiber) and finish
• Joint spacing
• Tear-out and haul-away as a separate line, if there’s an old walk
• Who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection

Questions to ask before you sign

1. Does your price per square foot include the gravel base and grading?
2. How thick will the walk be where it crosses the driveway?
3. Is there a minimum charge or short-load fee for a job this size?
4. Is removal of the old walk priced per square foot, and does it include disposal?
5. Will you request the 811 locate and the right-of-way permit, or should I?

To turn your own measurements into cubic yards and a price range from these sources, use the concrete cost calculator. If the walk ends at a stoop, see concrete steps cost.

Have your own measurements? Run the concrete cost calculator — cubic yards, bags and a sourced price range for your size.

Sources

1. HomeGuide — How Much Does a Concrete Sidewalk Cost? (2026) (Sarah Noel, Feb 3, 2026)
2. HomeAdvisor — How Much Does a Concrete Walkway Cost in 2026? (updated Jun 20, 2026)
3. Concrete Network (industry site) — Concrete Walkway Cost (+ Sidewalk Cost) (updated May 21, 2020)
4. HomeGuide — How Much Does Concrete Removal Cost? (2026 Prices) (Sarah Noel, May 27, 2025)
5. HomeGuide — How Much Does Concrete Cost Per Yard? (2026) (Tom Grupa, Jan 6, 2026)
6. This Old House — How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost? (2026 Prices) (updated Mar 17, 2026)
7. NRMCA — CIP 8, Discrepancies in Yield (rev. 2016), p. 2
8. NRMCA — CIP 6, Joints in Concrete Slabs on Grade (rev. 2014), pp. 1–2
9. ICC — 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 1 (R105.2 Work exempt from permit)
10. ICC — 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 4 (R401.3 Drainage)
11. ICC — 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 5 (R506.2.3 Vapor retarder)
12. City of Ankeny, Iowa — SFD Residential Guidelines: City Sidewalk & Driveway (no update date shown; checked Nov 2, 2026)
13. Call 811 (Common Ground Alliance) — 811 Before You Dig (checked Nov 2, 2026)

Updated November 2, 2026