How to Bid a Concrete Driveway

A good driveway bid does two things. It wins the job. And it makes you money. Here is how to build one in five steps.

Step 1: Measure the job

Get the length, the width, and the thickness. Most driveways for cars and pickups are poured 4 inches thick. Many crews go 5 or 6 inches where heavy trucks or RVs will park.

Example: a driveway 40 feet long and 20 feet wide is 800 square feet.

Step 2: Figure your yards

Length × width × thickness (in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Four inches is 0.333 feet.

Step 3: Add up every cost

These are example numbers. Use your own.

Don't forget tear-out, dump fees, a pump, or a short-load fee if the job needs them. Missed costs come out of your pocket.

Step 4: Add your margin the right way

Margin and markup are not the same thing. Mixing them up costs real money.

• Markup: $3,840 × 1.25 = $4,800. You keep $960. That is only 20% of the price.
• Margin: $3,840 ÷ 0.75 = $5,120. You keep $1,280. That is a true 25%.

Same job. A $320 difference. To hit a 25% margin, divide your cost by 0.75.

Step 5: Check your price per square foot

$5,120 ÷ 800 square feet = $6.40 a square foot.

Homeowner price guides like Angi and LawnStarter list plain concrete driveways from about $6 to $20 a square foot in 2026. If your number is far from what jobs go for in your area, check your costs again before you send it.

More guides: Concrete price per square foot · How to estimate a concrete slab