How Much Does It Cost to Stain Concrete?

Stain Concrete Cost Factors

The cost of your concrete stain project will depend on several factors ranging from the type of stain you want, the total square footage, and more. You should contact your local concrete contractor for exact quotes, but here are some guidelines to help you start budgeting for the job.

Stained Concrete Price per Square Foot

There are many types of concrete stains to choose from, and each offers its own aesthetic. You might be looking for a basic, single-color stain or something elaborate with stencil work. Here is a general pricing guide to help you see how much it’ll cost to bring your vision to life.

Home Location 

Depending on where you are in the country, you may find that your concrete stain job costs more than average. This is typically the case if you hire a company specializing in luxury home projects in large cities like Los Angeles, New York City, or Miami.

Otherwise, you can expect to pay anywhere between $2 to $25 per square foot with the biggest cost factors being the type of stain and square footage of your project.

Types of Stain

There are two types of stains available: acid-based and water-based. They each offer very different results. If you’re looking for something with a wow factor, you’re likely going to want an acid-based stain. On the other hand, water-based ones are easier to apply and are less toxic.

Acid

Acid-based concrete stains produce dramatic and eye-catching floors. The stains contain hydrochloric acid and metallic salts that interact chemically with the concrete. You can choose from earthy tones like light and dark brown hues or go with gold, orange, green, or blue. There are many textural options, as acid stains can emulate marble, natural stones, stained wood, and leather.

These stains cost around $2 to $6 per square foot for basic designs or as much as $12 to $25 per square foot for complex designs.

Water

Water-based stains—also called non-reactive stains—are made with polymers and pigments for color. It’s less toxic with easy cleanup, although proper prep work is important to a long-lasting application. While acid-based stains react chemically with the concrete, water-based stains simply seep into the pores. The color possibilities are quite vast and include black, white, metallic, and very bright hues.

The cost of water-based stains is similar to acid-based stains, and water-based stain projects are simpler than acid-based ones. Depending on the complexity, expect to pay an average of $2 to $15 per square foot for the cost to stain concrete using water-based stains.

Location Within the Home 

Generally speaking, the most elaborate and expensive concrete stain projects are done indoors. Although it’s possible to do the most basic, single-color stain job at $2 per square foot, it can cost as much as $25 per square foot for multi-colored, highly detailed work. The higher-end projects can include intricate stenciling or the stain can emulate expensive materials like marble or stone.

Additionally, if the stain job is in the basement, expect to pay around $11 per square foot.

On the other hand, outdoor projects like the patio or driveway range between $3 and $10 per square foot. Depending on the size of your patio or driveway, the project is likely to be more affordable than indoor projects with larger square footage.

Sealers 

Sealing your concrete floors can help them last 25 to 30 years longer and protect them from cracking, scaling, etc. Make sure to choose the right type of sealer according to the location of the floor.

• Polyaspartic clear coat sealers stay on top of the concrete (rather than seeping into it). It’s usually solvent-based and is an option for cracked surfaces. This sealer ranges from $0.25–$0.38 per square foot.

• Urethane sealers are one of the most durable options and are water- or solvent-based. You can use it indoors and out, but it’s not ideal for driveways. Urethane sealers don’t bond well to concrete, so it’s advisable to prime the surface with epoxy before using it. You can expect to pay about $0.11–$0.14 per square foot.

• Acrylic sealers create a film on top of the concrete and are either water- (for indoors) or solvent-based (for outdoors). It protects the surface against moisture and costs $0.05–$0.07 per square foot on average.

• Polyurethane sealers are twice as thick as acrylic sealers and come in water- or solvent-based formulas. Like with penetrating sealers, moisture cannot leave the surface, so don’t use it on driveways. These sealers cost about $0.26–$1.00 per square foot.

• Penetrating sealers chemically react with the concrete and are used for outdoor areas. It’s clear, so it doesn’t alter the appearance of the stain and protects the concrete from the weather while still being breathable. In other words, moisture can leave and doesn’t get trapped. It costs between $0.20–$0.75 per square foot.

Prep Work

Before applying the stain, you need to test the floor by spraying water onto it. If the water beads on the floor, you’ll need to sand it or chemically prepare it with a floor-prep product, which typically costs $17 per gallon. 

On the other hand, if the water has rainbow hues, you’ll need to clean the oil off the floor with a degreaser, which starts at $12 for 32 ounces. And finally, if the water absorbs easily into the floor, clean it with water and concrete cleaner, which you’ll find for about $8 to $14 a gallon.

Next, you’ll need to figure out if there are any sealers, adhesives, paints, or coatings on the concrete. If so, they all need to be removed for the stain to set properly:

• Use hot water and a sealer stripper that costs around $45 for 5 gallons to remove water-based sealers.

• You can remove solvent-based sealers with Xylene, which you can buy for about $12 a quart, and later cleaned with a pressure washer.

• Remove paint with a paint stripper. You can buy it for an average of $35 a gallon.

• If the floor has old carpet glue, you can sand it to remove the adhesives.

You’ll need to repair any cracks, which costs around $2 per square foot. If you need to resurface the floor, it costs $2 to $3 per square foot on average.

Stain Concrete Costs by Location 

The great thing about concrete staining is that you can do it indoors and outdoors. Here are some popular locations for concrete staining around your home.

Flooring

You might be staining the concrete floor in your living room, bedroom, or even the entire home. The total cost will depend on your job’s complexity. Basic stains are single-color, while high-end stains might involve stenciling. Use the tables below to estimate your stained concrete floor cost.

Stained Concrete Floor Cost

Basement

If your basement has poor ventilation, use water-based stains to reduce the risk of chemical exposure. Water-based stains have lower volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, which impact your home’s indoor air quality. 

Stained Concrete Basement Floor Cost

*Based on an average cost of $11 per square foot. Surface repairs prior to the staining cost approximately $2 per square foot, and resurfacing costs between $2 and $3 per square foot on top of that.

Driveway

A stained concrete driveway can increase your home’s curb appeal. The cost of a stained concrete driveway ranges from $4 to $10 per square foot for a basic design. Acrylic sealers work well for driveways.

Patios

Staining your concrete patio is a great way to elevate the space. Because it’s outdoors, you’ll need to use a sealer to ensure the stain’s longevity. The project will likely cost approximately $3 to $7 per square foot for the stain and sealer. The cost can be more if you’re looking for a complex design or if the company you hire has a minimum charge. If you’re considering the cost to install a concrete patio, the average price is $4,000.

Stained Concrete Patio Floor Cost

Cost to DIY Stain Floors

DIY concrete staining costs between $0.30 per square foot and $0.40 per square foot. Most projects will take about two days to complete, including prep work and sealing the surface. If you don’t have any experience, starting with a water-based stain might be a good call. Most people find that it’s as easy to apply as regular paint.

Use all required gear like goggles, gloves, rubber boots, and a mask or a respirator for your safety.

DIY vs. Pro Concrete Stainers

If you have the know-how and the time to devote to a concrete stain project, you might find that it’s another great DIY project that you can be proud of. However, if you’ve never stained concrete before or have a highly-detailed design in mind, hiring a local concrete contractor is a good idea.

There are many things you have to make sure you get right during a DIY job, especially during the prep work for the concrete. Failing to clean the surface and fix issues properly before staining can lead to blemishes in your flooring.

FAQs

How long does staining a floor last?

Stained concrete can last for as long as 100 years. However, if you’d like yours to last this long, you’ll have to do regular maintenance, including waxing and sealing once or twice a year.

Can you stain existing wood floors?

If you’d like to stain existing wood floors, use the right products. Don’t use concrete stains on wood.

Is it more expensive to stain concrete floors vs. tile?

Generally speaking, it costs more to install tile than to stain concrete. Installing ceramic or porcelain tile costs $15 to $20 per square foot on average. A 1,000-square-foot stained concrete project costs $11,000, and a tile project will run $17,500.

Is it more expensive to stain concrete floors vs. epoxy flooring?

If you opt for epoxy flooring over staining concrete floors, you can save some money. Epoxy coating costs about $3 to $12 per square foot. A 1,000-square-foot epoxy project costs about $7,500, which is $3,500 less than staining concrete.