A 10x12 patio is 120 square feet. In a backyard, that is a bistro table, two chairs, and a grill with room to move, the classic starter patio off a back door or slider. Small footprint, but it changes how the yard gets used.
The math at example rates
Patio pricing is square footage times a finish rate. Here is 120 square feet at the example rates from our demo calculator. They are examples to sanity-check against, not market prices.
| Finish | Example rate | 10x12 (120 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard broom | $9 / sq ft | $1,080 |
| Colored | $12 / sq ft | $1,440 |
| Stamped | $16 / sq ft | $1,920 |
One thing worth noticing at this size: the jump from broom to stamped is $840 at these example rates. A small patio is the cheapest place to get the finish you actually want, because every extra dollar per square foot only gets multiplied by 120.
Why small pours quote high per foot
At the typical patio thickness of 4 inches, 120 square feet needs about a yard and a half of concrete. That is short-load territory for a ready-mix truck, and the fixed costs of the job (mobilization, forming, a finishing crew for the day) do not shrink just because the slab did. A real quote on a 10x12 can land above the straight table math, and that is not padding. It is what small pours cost to do right.
What moves the number
- Tear-out. Getting old concrete or pavers out first adds $4 per square foot in the example add-ons, which is $480 on this size.
- Site prep and grading. A sloped or soft spot adds $2 per square foot in the example, $240 here.
- Sealing. Another $2 per square foot in the example, $240, and worth discussing on colored or stamped work.
- Access. If the truck cannot get near the forms, the mud moves by wheelbarrow or pump, and that is labor.
Need a different size? The concrete patio cost calculator takes any dimensions and finish. If you are one size up, see the 12x12 concrete patio page, and for the full method, read how to price a concrete patio.
Those are example numbers. If you pour patios for a living, PriceDesk runs this same calculator with your own rates, on your phone, free for 14 days.