4x4 Concrete Slab, 4 Inches Thick
A 4 × 4 ft slab (16 sq ft) at 4 in thick takes about 0.22 cubic yards of concrete, with 10% extra for waste. For ready-mix, order 1 cu yd for the 4x4, about $200 – $290 delivered, short-load fee included. Bagged, the same 4x4 is 10 80 lb or 14 60 lb bags, about $70 – $98 for the concrete alone.
- Ready-mix order
- 1 cu yd
- Ready-mix cost
- $200 – $290
- 80 lb bags
- 10
- Bag cost
- $70 – $98
The 4x4 (4 in) prices are national material ranges as of 2026-09, not a quote from a supplier.
Where a 4x4 pad gets used
Sixteen square feet is the classic footprint for an air-conditioner condenser, a standby generator, a set of trash and recycling bins, or the landing outside a back door.
For a door landing, the IRC asks for a landing at least as wide as the door and at least 36 in deep in the direction you walk, so a 4x4 clears a standard 36 in door with a little to spare.
A condenser or generator usually needs clearance around it as well: the installation manual lists how far it has to sit from walls, windows and other equipment, and that can decide where the pad goes before its size does.
Before you pour the 4x4 at 4 in
- Pour the top an inch or two above the surrounding grade so rainwater runs off rather than pooling under the equipment.
- Slope a landing about 1/4 in per foot away from the door.
- For a generator, look up the clearance to openable windows in its manual before you set the forms.
Full plan for a 4x4 slab, 4 in
- Area
- 16 sq ft
- Thickness
- 4 in
- Volume
- 0.22 cu yd
Bagged concrete estimate (DIY)
$86 – $124
Est. as of 2026-09 — not a live quote
Ready-mix delivered, incl. short-load fee (materials only)
$200 – $290
Est. as of 2026-09 — not a live quote
Shopping list
- Concrete mix (60 lb bags) Or 20 × 40 lb, 16 × 50 lb or 10 × 80 lb bags. 14 bags
- Ready-mix concrete Alternative to bagged mix; most suppliers have a 1 cu yd order minimum. 1 cu yd
- Compactable gravel sub-base 4 in compacted base beneath the slab. 0.27 tons
- 6x6 welded wire mesh Reinforcement for crack control; not a substitute for engineered rebar on structural slabs. 18 sq ft
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Assumptions
- Waste allowance: 10% applied to account for over-excavation and spillage.
- Approx. wet weight: 880 lb (0.4 tons).
- Prices are national-average retail/delivery ranges as of 2026-09, not live quotes.
- Ready-mix orders under 10 cu yd usually carry a short-load fee; the ready-mix range includes a flat $60-$110. Some suppliers charge per yard instead, so ask for the full fee schedule.
Bags or ready-mix for a 4x4 slab, 4 in?
At 5.9 cu ft the 4x4 is a bag job: 10 80 lb bags, 800 lb in all, mixed in a wheelbarrow or tub. Ready-mix would mean a 1 cu yd minimum order, about 78% more concrete than the 4x4 needs, for $200 – $290, short-load fee included, against $70 – $98 in bags. On the 4x4, bags come out cheaper by about $161 at the middle of each range, before you count a mixer rental and your time.
Is 4 in thick enough for a 4x4 slab?
Foot traffic, patio furniture and a shed all sit fine on a 4x4 poured 4 in thick, the standard for slabs that don't carry vehicles.
Control joints for a 4x4 slab at 4 in
A 4x4 slab at 4 in shrinks as it cures, and without joints it cracks wherever it chooses. ACI and PCA guidance spaces joints 24 to 36 times the thickness, which for this 4x4 at 4 in is every 8 to 12 ft, sawn 1 in deep (a quarter of the slab) once the surface holds up to the blade, usually within a day.
No side of a 4x4 slab is longer than 10 ft, so at 4 in it can go without an interior joint. Tool one across the middle of the 4x4 anyway if you want a straight line for any crack to follow.
How much a 4x4 slab 4 in thick weighs
Wet concrete weighs about 150 lb per cubic foot, so the 4x4 pour is about 880 lb (0.4 tons). As bags, the 4x4 is 10 80 lb bags, 800 lb in all: one load in a pickup rated for 1,500 lb.
The 4x4 at 4 in against nearby sizes
Every row uses the same 10% waste and prices as the 4x4 at 4 in; costs are for the concrete only.
| Slab | Cu yd | 60 lb bags | 80 lb bags | Ready-mix order | Bags cost | Ready-mix cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4 slab, 4 in (this page) | 0.22 | 14 | 10 | 1 cu yd | $70 – $98 | $200 – $290 |
| 8x8 slab, 4 in | 0.87 | 53 | 40 | 1 cu yd | $265 – $371 | $200 – $290 |
Questions about a 4x4 slab, 4 in
How many bags of concrete for a 4x4 slab 4 inches thick?
A 4x4 slab at 4 in takes about 10 80 lb bags or 14 60 lb bags (or 16 50 lb, 20 40 lb), with 10% added for waste: 5.9 cubic feet in all.
How many yards of concrete for a 4x4 slab 4 inches thick?
The 4x4 measures out at 0.2 cubic yards, or 0.22 with 10% for waste. Order 1 cu yd for the 4x4, since ready-mix is sold in quarter yards with a 1 yard minimum at most plants.
How much does a 4x4 concrete slab 4 inches thick cost?
Concrete alone for the 4x4 runs about $200 – $290 for 1 cu yd of ready-mix delivered, short-load fee included, or $70 – $98 for 14 60 lb bags. Add a 4 in gravel base and wire mesh and the bagged 4x4 plan comes to $86 – $124. Labor, forms and finishing for a 4x4 at 4 in come on top of these national ranges (as of 2026-09), which are not quotes.
How much does a 4x4 concrete slab 4 inches thick weigh?
About 880 lb (0.4 tons) of wet concrete for the 4x4, at 150 lb per cubic foot. The 10 80 lb bags for a 4x4 weigh 800 lb: one load in a pickup rated for 1,500 lb.
Where do control joints go on a 4x4 slab 4 inches thick?
On a 4x4 at 4 in, every 8 to 12 ft (24 to 36 times the thickness), sawn 1 in deep. No side of a 4x4 slab is longer than 10 ft, so at 4 in it can go without an interior joint. Tool one across the middle of the 4x4 anyway if you want a straight line for any crack to follow.
Limitations
The 4x4 figures at 4 in are material estimates and typical price ranges, not a quote or a structural design. Confirm that 4 in, the reinforcement and the joint layout suit your soil, loads and local code for a 4x4 slab with a qualified professional.