A 100-square-foot concrete slab for a backyard shed pad often costs more per square foot than a 500-square-foot driveway. The reason is mobilization cost — the fixed cost of getting equipment, material, and crew to the site — spreads over fewer square feet on small projects.
Mobilization cost is largely fixed
Whether the project is a 10x10 pad or a 500-square-foot patio, a concrete truck has to be ordered, a crew has to show up, forms have to be set, and the site has to be cleaned up after. Those fixed costs spread over 100 square feet make the per-square-foot cost higher.
Access to small project locations
Small utility slabs are often located in the most inaccessible parts of a property — behind a narrow gate, in a backyard shed location, against the back fence. Getting a concrete truck close enough, or setting up a pump to reach the pour area, adds cost that does not scale with the slab size.
Minimum project economics
Most concrete contractors have a minimum project charge — a floor below which a project is not economical to mobilize for. If your project is very small, expect to pay at or above the minimum regardless of the actual material quantity.
Related: Slabs & Flatwork · Pricing guide · Cost guide · FAQ