Cost to Level a Concrete Slab – 2024 Price Guide
Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
Sarabeth is an expert in the home and garden industry and was formerly a certified kitchen and bathroom designer. She is a subject matter expert in home improvement and is often quoted in notable publications.
Concrete slabs are often used as a foundation for a garage, patio, pool deck, steps, walks, or driveway, but when they sink and crack, they can be unsightly or dangerous.
Thankfully, many slabs can be raised and leveled again, making them stable and longer lasting. Learn more about the price to raise and level a slab as a cost-effective alternative to demolition and replacement.
2024 Concrete Slab Leveling Costs
Calculate local project costs by entering your zip code.
Custom Location
| National Average Price | $950 |
| Typical Price Range | $500 - $1,500 |
| Average Price (per sq ft mudjacking) | $10 |
| Average Price (per sq ft foam-leveling) | $20 |
Get free estimates from contractors near you.
On this page:
How Much Does it Cost to Level a Slab?
Occasionally a concrete slab can sink due to a variety of reasons, usually due to settling. A process known as “slab jacking” or “mudjacking” is used to level a concrete slab or foundation.
The cost of leveling a slab costs an average of $3 to $25 per square foot, but it all depends on the size of the area to level, the materials used, and the labor involved.
Foam leveling has an average cost of $2,000 to $2,500 for a 100 square foot slab, while mudjacking costs less at around $300 to $800 for the same size slab. Larger slabs and more invasive lifts may have higher costs.
Leveling vs. Replacement
What you must ask yourself here is, does it make more sense to spend twice as much or more to demolish the old slab, haul it away, reform, and repour the concrete?
A new slab might be a good option, but the cost of repair will likely be significantly less. The price of hauling away the old slab could cost as much as leveling it, with costs averaging $32 to $40 per ton just for disposal.
Concrete leveling is less expensive, more convenient, and could give you a finished product in less than half time that is almost as good. Keep in mind that slabs that make up basements or other areas aren’t always good candidates for replacement without needing to raise or lift the structure on them, which has its own costs.
Granted, you might need to fill the cracks, sand, and polish the leveled slab, but you would have to do some finishing for a new slab anyway. Many homeowners are even getting creative with concrete slabs by using epoxy and other finishing products to make their slab look impressive without going to the expense of floor covering.
Leveling Options
Depending on your budget and what the leveled slab will get used for, leveling is an equally good option and cheaper than new.
Self-Leveling
This option gets used primarily for small sections of slab that have cracks or a small amount of sagging. This option is the cheapest method of leveling a concrete slab. New concrete gets poured over the surface, filling in the areas of depression and cracking and, when finished, looks the same as a new slab.
However, this process will not affect the footing around load-bearing walls, so if those are sagging, the settlement will continue unless the walls are lifted and reinforced.
Self-leveling uses a polymer compound that costs about $3 to $5 per square foot, on average. Depending on how much work is involved, the contractor will usually charge a flat rate for labor; typically two or three times what the materials cost.
Therefore, a 10′ x 10′ slab or 100 per square foot slab will cost an average of $300 to $500 in total.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking uses a process of drilling one or two-inch holes into the concrete and injecting concrete mix underneath to lift the slab and level it.[1] It can be used to raise any size slab and will even lift load-bearing walls somewhat. However, the effect may only be temporary, depending on the soil.
The settlement will continue if the soil underneath is not strong, and weather conditions during freezing and thawing will cause heaving and expedite settlement. Foam jacking is the preferred method when load-bearing walls need leveling.
Mudjacking uses a compound of concrete mix and pond sand to fill the holes drilled. This process generally costs $3 to $8 per square foot in total.
Therefore, a 10′ x 10′ slab or 100 per square foot slab will cost an average of $300 to $800 on average to perform.
Foam Jacking
Foam can also be used to fill holes and cracks, and push up areas under the slab that mud is too thick to fill. Foam can even lift load-bearing walls and is strong enough to resist sagging. Although it is much more expensive than mud jacking, it lasts longer and fills better than mud. In most cases, it is the preferred method.
In this process, lightweight foam is injected through 5/8″ holes in the slab. The polyurethane foam can be injected with more pressure. Therefore, when it expands, it lifts the slab before the foam hardens.[2]
Foam jacking costs about $25 per square foot, on average. Depending on how much work is involved, the contractor will usually charge a flat rate for labor. Labor costs are usually about the same as mud jacking; $365 to $400 for a one or two-hour project.
Therefore, a 10′ x 10′ slab or 100 per square foot will cost around $2,500 on average to lift.
Leveling Cost Factors
These figures are the average price across America and will vary depending on your location and the amount of work done. The cost in your area could be much less or more depending on the price of labor and materials.
A contractor who charges more than the average rate might use better quality products, pay more to laborers, or they are busy due to quality craftsmanship and personal references.
Keep in mind that there are many other factors that can impact your costs. How accessible the slab is, whether it’s load bearing, and the quality of the ground or soil beneath the slab are all considerations that will affect the final price.
When you get a price quote or estimate, you must consider everything the contractor will provide. Even when self-leveling a concrete slab, the process used to finish the concrete can affect the price.
Consider whether it will just get leveled, leveled, and brushed, or if the contractor guarantees a smooth surface. Contractors often add $4-10 per square foot to finish concrete, depending on the process.
We recommend getting at least three estimates from contractors experienced with this type of work.
Make sure they visit the site and see everything involved before giving you an estimate so that you can get a good idea of what will be involved, particularly if the slab in question is part of a foundation.
Are you thinking of installing a new slab? Try our concrete calculator to get a better idea of how much materials for a new slab will cost.
All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.
References
- Lift Right Concrete, What is Mudjacking?, https://liftrightconcrete.com/what-is-mudjacking/
- HMI, Polyurethane Concrete Raising, https://hmicompany.com/concrete-raising/polyurethane-concrete-raising/