A 16x16 patio is 256 square feet, and this is the size where backyard furniture stops being a compromise. An outdoor sectional, a coffee table, and a walking path around all of it fit without the tape-measure anxiety. If the plan involves the word “sectional”, this is usually the floor.
The worked math
At the example rates from our demo calculator (examples for gut-checking, not market prices):
| Finish | Example rate | 16x16 (256 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard broom | $9 / sq ft | $2,304 |
| Exposed aggregate | $13 / sq ft | $3,328 |
| Stamped | $16 / sq ft | $4,096 |
Note what happens to the stamped number at this size: $4,096 at the example rate, which is more than a small patio costs in total. Stamped work is also slower to place and finish, so bigger stamped pours need bigger crews on pour day. If stamped is where you are leaning, the stamped concrete cost calculator is built around exactly that math.
The line items that sneak up
- Tear-out. An old slab or paver patio out first adds an example $4 per square foot, $1,024 at this size. Removal is the single most commonly forgotten line.
- Site prep and grading. An example $2 per square foot, $512, when the yard slopes or the soil is soft.
- Sealing. Another example $2, $512, cheap insurance over decorative finishes.
- Access. At the typical 4 inch patio thickness this pour needs a bit over 3 yards of concrete. A truck that can back up to the forms keeps that simple; a fenced backyard means pumping or wheeling, and that is labor on the quote.
One thickness note
Patios pour at 4 inches because they carry people and furniture, not vehicles. If part of this slab will ever hold a hot tub, say so up front. That corner gets designed differently, and it is much cheaper to plan than to retrofit.
For other footprints, the concrete patio cost calculator takes any dimensions. And if you want to understand the rates themselves, read what to charge per square foot for flatwork.
Contractors can run this exact calculator with their own rates on their phone. PriceDesk is free for 14 days, no card required.