Serving El Cajon and Nearby
Free concrete estimates for homes in El Cajon, CA and nearby.
What Concrete Work Costs in El Cajon
This El Cajon concrete cost guide uses public prices we checked on October 31, 2026. Every number has a source, and none of it is our quote.
At a Glance
- A 400 sq ft driveway slab runs $3,992 to $7,328.
- A 90 lb bag is $6.87 at the El Cajon Home Depot.
- A new apron adds a $450 city permit.
- Cement masons here average $35.73 an hour.
Three East County Jobs
| Job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Tear out and replace a 400 sq ft driveway slab | Low $3,992 | High $7,328 |
| New 200 sq ft patio, 10 by 20 ft | Low $1,568 | High $2,928 |
| Tear out and replace a 4 by 50 ft walk | Low $1,996 | High $3,664 |
All three are 4 inches thick. The low end uses the County of San Diego unit price list from July 2024. The high end uses the City of Carlsbad unit price list from November 2024. Agencies use these lists to size bonds on street work. They are installed prices, with labor and material, not bids.
The math is simple. A new 4 inch slab is $7.84 to $14.64 a sq ft. Taking out the old one is $2.14 to $3.68. Add them and multiply by the size.
Then Add the Street Permit
Your own driveway or walk at 30 inches or less above grade needs no building permit in El Cajon. The apron and sidewalk out front need an encroachment permit. The city handout lists $135 to fix an apron or a sidewalk panel and $450 for a new driveway, sidewalk or curb. Read the permit guide for the levels.
So a 400 sq ft driveway with a new apron runs the slab range above, plus the apron work, plus $450 to the city.
What a Yard of Concrete Costs
No ready mix plant in the County posts a retail price. The closest public number is a city contract. The City of San Diego buys from Pedroza Ready Mix under a supply contract signed in October 2024. It lists $205.50 a cubic yard for 3,250 psi and $212.50 for 4,000 psi. Color in the truck is $30 more per yard.
That is a bulk rate for a big public buyer. A single El Cajon driveway, about 5 yards with extra, will pay more per yard. A small order can carry a short load charge. Ask for both before you compare bids.
Bags and Supplies in El Cajon
At the El Cajon Home Depot, a 90 lb bag of Quikrete concrete mix was $6.87 on October 31, 2026, with 1,319 in stock. The Quikrete data sheet says it makes about 0.675 cubic feet. One cubic yard takes 40 bags, or $274.80, before you mix a thing.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| #4 rebar, 10 ft | $6.32, or $5.37 each for 50 or more |
| Remesh sheet, 42 by 84 in | $21.67 |
| 2x4 by 8 ft form board | $3.95 |
| 24 in grade stakes, 12 pack | $12.98 |
| Clear sealer, 1 gallon | $28.98 |
The bag and the rebar were checked at the El Cajon store. The other items are Home Depot prices from the same day that matched at every county store we checked. Steel for a 400 sq ft slab on an 18 inch grid is 60 ten foot bars, about $322.
Breaking Out and Hauling Off
Old concrete is heavy. The FHWA uses 145 pounds per cubic foot. A 400 sq ft slab at 4 inches is 133 cubic feet, close to 9.7 tons.
The Miramar Landfill fee schedule from July 1, 2026 charges $257 a ton for C&D debris from outside the City of San Diego. That makes the old slab about $2,490 to landfill. A small load under one ton is $122 flat.
The City of San Diego list of certified C&D recycling facilities, updated October 2026, includes EDCO Station on Commercial Street in La Mesa and Alpine Asphalt and Concrete Recycling on Willows Road in Alpine. Call ahead for the rate and what they take.
Local Wages
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports May 2025 pay for the San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad area, which takes in El Cajon. Cement masons and concrete finishers average $35.73 an hour, with a median of $31.98. Construction laborers average $29.08.
One day of wages for a mason and two laborers at the average is $751.12. A contractor also pays payroll tax, trucks, tools and the office. That is why the labor line on a bid runs higher than the wage math.
What Moves an El Cajon Price
- Valley heat on pour day, which can mean an early start
- Slopes on hillside lots, which can add steps or a wall
- Clay soil that needs more base
- Apron and sidewalk work, which brings the city permit
- Stamping, color or exposed aggregate
- Truck access, or a pump when the truck cannot reach
Send photos and rough sizes with your request. We use them to give you a written price for your lot.