Before you build a shed, a shop or a house, you need to know what the ground work will cost. In Bryan-College Station, that usually means a pad. A concrete pad runs about $5 to $10 per square foot. Fill dirt for a dirt pad is about $33 per cubic yard. A 20x20 slab comes to roughly $3,200 to $5,400, and a 30x40 shop pad is closer to $9,500 to $16,300. The price moves with the size of the pad, what it is made of and the ground it sits on. Below, we explain what to expect so you can budget before you call anyone.
What is a pad?
People use the word for two different things. A dirt pad, also called a building pad, is packed fill dirt that has been leveled and raised. A house, barn or shop sits on it, and it keeps water away from the building. A concrete pad is a poured slab, usually 4 to 6 inches thick. It works as the floor for a garage, shed, carport, patio or equipment area. Many jobs use both. The dirt goes down first and the concrete goes on top.
How much does a concrete pad cost in College Station?
The concrete slab cost depends mostly on size and on whether the slab has reinforcement. With rebar or wire mesh, expect $6 to $10 per square foot. Without it, the price is about $5 to $9. These are the totals for a 4 to 6 inch slab:
| Pad size | Good for | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10x10 ft | Small shed, AC pad | $800 to $1,400 |
| 20x20 ft | Two-car garage, carport | $3,200 to $5,400 |
| 20x30 ft | Large garage, workshop | $4,700 to $8,100 |
| 30x40 ft | Shop, small barn | $9,500 to $16,300 |
| 40x60 ft | Large shop, equipment pad | $19,000 to $32,500 |
If there is an old slab in the way, breaking it out adds $1.00 to $1.60 per square foot. Staining and stamping are not included. All prices are estimates as of November 2026, and your site may come in higher or lower.
Building pad cost: the dirt side
The building pad cost starts with the fill dirt. Locally it sells for about $33 per cubic yard, and many suppliers want a 3-yard minimum. To figure out how much you need, multiply the length, width and height of the pad in feet, then divide by 27. A 30x40 pad built up 12 inches takes about 45 yards, so around $1,500 in dirt. Order a little extra, because fill settles. The dirt is the smaller part of the bill. Delivery, spreading, grading and packing it down come on top, and those depend on how far the truck has to drive and how rough your lot is.
What changes the price
Size comes first, but other things matter. Rebar and mesh add cost. A thicker slab adds cost too. A 4 to 5 inch slab is fine for cars and light use, while heavy trucks and equipment need 6 to 8 inches or more. Slopes, wet spots, trees, rocks and hardpan all mean extra clearing, grading and hauling. Narrow gates and soft ground slow the crew down. Concrete itself is about $105 to $125 per yard here, and that is only the material. Labor, forms and prep make up the rest.
Permits are the other thing to check. A structural slab, like one under a shed or pavilion, may need one, so ask the city before you pour.
The clay in our area
The ground around College Station is clay. It swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and that movement can crack a slab or leave low spots in a dirt pad. A pad built to hold up here usually means:
- Fill placed in layers, with each layer packed down before the next
- Time for new fill to settle, a couple of weeks or more after heavy rain
- A slope that sends water away from the pad
- A thicker slab when the soil is poor
This is why the cheapest quote is not always the best one. Cutting these steps saves money now and costs more later.
Costs people forget
Land clearing, tree and rock removal, hauling away extra dirt or old concrete, topsoil if you want grass around the pad, permits and inspections, and delivery fees on small dirt orders can all add up. Ask for each one on its own line in a written quote. That way you can compare two quotes properly. You can also save money with a plain 4 to 5 inch slab for light use, a site that is easy for trucks to reach and one crew doing the clearing, dirt and pour together.
FAQs
How much does a 20x20 concrete pad cost in College Station?
About $3,200 to $5,400 for a reinforced 4 to 6 inch slab.
How much does a concrete slab cost per square foot in College Station?
About $6 to $10 with rebar or mesh, and $5 to $9 without.
How much does a building pad cost in College Station?
Fill dirt alone is about $33 per cubic yard. A 30x40 pad built up 12 inches needs about 45 yards, so around $1,500 in dirt before delivery, grading and compaction.
How much is fill dirt per yard?
Around $33 per cubic yard locally, plus delivery.
How thick should a concrete pad be?
4 to 5 inches for cars and light use. 6 to 8 inches or more for heavy vehicles or commercial traffic.
Do I need a permit?
Often yes for structural slabs. Check with the city, or ask your contractor to confirm and pull it.
How long does a pad take?
Site prep and forming come first, and fill needs time to settle before the pour. Allow extra time after rain.
Get a quote from NR Construction and Services
We build pads for homes and businesses across Bryan-College Station and the Brazos Valley. Clearing, fill dirt, grading and concrete are all handled by one crew. Call 979-450-5747 or fill out the form on our site with your address and the size of the pad, and we will send you a written quote that lists each cost separately.