Measure the drop
Lay a straightedge across the joint and measure the gap. Under an inch is routine; three inches or more needs more fill and a careful lift.
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Mudjacking · Foam lifting · Joint sealing · Lift or replaceConcrete leveling cost calculator
Lifting a sunken driveway, sidewalk or patio panel usually costs $650 to $1,900, and the average job is about $1,200. Mudjacking runs about $3 to $6 per square foot. Polyurethane foam is closer to $6 to $15 for most home jobs and can reach $25 on hard access. Tearing the slab out and pouring new costs roughly $6.50 to $16.50 per square foot, so leveling only makes sense while the panel is still in one piece.
Reviewed 25 October 2026 · Written by Mantu Kumar
See the illustration · See the live cost diagram · Open the calculator
Written and maintained byMantu Kumar
Evidence review18 October 2026
Calculation rulesRead the methodology
Quality standardEditorial policy
Key facts at a glance
- Mudjacking: about $3–$6 per sq ft; holes about 1½ inches; often lasts 5–10 years.
- Foam (polyjacking): about $6–$15 per sq ft for most homes; holes about ⅝ inch; often 20 years or more.
- Typical job: about $1,200; a 200 sq ft section of driveway is often $650–$1,300 by mudjacking.
- Replace instead when the slab is broken into pieces: about $6.50–$16.50 per sq ft.
- Insurance: settling and earth movement are usually excluded. Fix the water that washed the soil out, or it sinks again.
2026 planning bands from published concrete-leveling cost guides. Minimum trip charges apply to small jobs.
2026 planning ranges
- 1Sunken panel lifted back to level
- 2Void filled under the slab
- 3Injection holes, patched after
- 4Mudjacking or foam
- 5Joints & cracks sealed
- 6Downspout moved off the slab
- 7Broken slab: replace
- 8Driveway, walk, patio or garage
- 9Soil sloped away
Lift or replace?: Lift: $3–$15 per sq ft Replace: $6.50–$16.50 Broken in pieces? Replace.
- Lift a panel that is sunken but whole.
- Replace one that is broken into pieces.
- Water washed the soil out. Move the downspout.
Concrete leveling estimator
No email · nothing sentDiagram, part by part
Concrete leveling: every numbered part explained
The concrete leveling drawing above has 9 numbered parts, from Sunken panel lifted back to Regrade the soil. Each card below frames one of them, and after you run the calculator it shows what that part adds to your estimate.
1 Sunken panel lifted back to level
Included in the lift price
The sunken panel is raised back to level by filling the space underneath it through small holes. Lifting works only while the slab is still in one piece; once it is broken into loose sections, the pieces rock and settle again and replacement is the better spend.
What moves it: How far the panel has dropped and whether it is still in one piece.
On the quote: Ask how many inches the panel will be lifted and how they will check it is level with the next panel.
2 Void filled under the slab
Included in the lift price
Water running off a roof or along a crack washes soil out from under the slab and leaves an empty void. Filling that void is what actually supports the panel afterwards, so the volume of the void drives how much material is pumped.
What moves it: The size of the void and how loose the soil underneath is.
On the quote: Ask whether the crew will fill voids under neighboring panels that have not dropped yet.
3 Injection holes, patched after
Included in the lift price
Holes are drilled through the slab to pump in the fill, then patched with matching cement. Foam needs holes about the size of a coin; mudjacking needs larger holes, so the patches are more visible afterwards.
What moves it: The method chosen and the number of holes needed.
On the quote: Ask how many holes will be drilled, their size and how the patches will be colored.
4 Mudjacking or foam
Mudjacking $3–$6 · foam $6–$15 per sq ft
Mudjacking pumps a cement and soil slurry under the slab; polyurethane foam expands into the void and weighs far less, so it adds little load to soft soil. Foam costs more per square foot but usually lasts longer and cures within minutes.
What moves it: Area to lift, the method and the depth of the void.
On the quote: Ask which method is used, how many square feet are priced and whether there is a warranty against settling again.
5 Joints & cracks sealed
Sealing control joints and cracks with flexible sealant keeps rain from running under the slab and washing out the fill. It is the cheapest step that protects the lift.
What moves it: Linear feet of joints and cracks.
On the quote: Ask for a flexible polyurethane or self-leveling sealant, not rigid mortar.
6 Downspout moved off the slab
A downspout dumping water at the edge of the slab is the most common cause of sinking. Moving the discharge several feet away, or burying an extension, stops the slab from sinking again.
What moves it: Number of downspouts and how far the water must be carried.
On the quote: Ask where each downspout will discharge after the job.
7 Broken slabs: replace instead
Tear out and pour new
When a slab has broken into loose pieces, lifting it only levels fragments that will rock and crack again. The calculator switches to tear-out and a new pour, which costs more per square foot but gives a solid surface.
What moves it: How many pieces the slab is in and the area to replace.
On the quote: Ask for both a lift price and a replacement price when the slab has a crack running through it.
8 What is sinking
Changes the base rate
Driveways and garage floors carry vehicles and are thicker, while sidewalks, patios and steps carry only foot traffic. Steps and pool decks are harder to reach and lift evenly, so the slab type changes both the method and the price.
What moves it: The slab type, its thickness and the load it carries.
On the quote: Tell the contractor exactly which slab is sinking and what drives or sits on it.
9 Regrade the soil
Priced with the downspout line
Soil that slopes toward the slab sends rainwater straight under it. Regrading so the ground falls away from the concrete, about an inch per foot for the first few feet, keeps the void from coming back.
What moves it: How much soil must be moved and how much the yard slopes now.
On the quote: Ask whether regrading is included or only the downspout extension.
Lift or replace
Check the slab before anyone drills a hole
Leveling fills the empty space under a slab and pushes it back up. It works on a panel that has dropped but is still in one piece. A slab cracked through in several places will lift unevenly, and a new pour is the honest bid.
Three things to check on your own slab first. These close-ups are crops of the same AI-generated illustration.
Find where the water comes from
Sinking almost always starts with water: a downspout, a sprinkler or a low spot that drains under the slab. Fix that in the same job.
Look for cracks right through
Hairline surface cracks are fine. A panel split into several loose pieces will not lift as one and should be replaced.
Before you sign a quote, verify these three details
- Method
- Mudjacking or foam, and the hole size.
- Area
- Square feet lifted, panel by panel.
- Joints
- Who seals the joints and patches the holes.
On this page
- 2026 leveling costs
- Mudjacking or foam
- Why slabs sink
- Worked example
- Insurance
- Concrete leveling cost by region
- What “Condition of the slab” does to the price
- What “Method” does to the price
- How age changes the concrete leveling claim payout
- Quote checklist: 6 items to verify
- How long the job takes
- Ways to keep the cost down
- Sources
- Questions
Concrete leveling cost by job (2026)
| Job | Mudjacking | Foam |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk section, about 100 sq ft | $320 – $650 | $650 – $1,500 |
| Part of a driveway, about 200 sq ft | $650 – $1,300 | $1,500 – $3,200 |
| Whole driveway, about 450 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,000 | $3,200 – $7,500 |
| Patio | $650 – $3,400 | Often 1.5–2× |
| Garage floor, one section | $550 – $1,100 | About 2× |
| Concrete steps | $220 – $550 | $450 – $950 |
| Replace instead of lift | $6.50 – $16.50 per sq ft | |
Mudjacking or foam: what you are paying for
Mudjacking pumps a cement, sand and soil slurry through holes about an inch and a half across. The slurry is heavy, cheap and fills large voids well. It adds weight to soil that already gave way once, and the bigger holes stay visible after they are patched. Expect five to ten years from it on a driveway, more on a sidewalk that carries less load.
Polyurethane foam goes in through holes about the size of a pencil eraser. It expands, weighs a fraction of the slurry and cures in minutes, so you can drive on it the same day. It costs roughly twice as much per square foot. Contractors prefer it for garage floors, pool decks and slabs near the house, where extra weight and big holes are a problem.
Either method needs a slab that is still one piece. If the panel has broken into loose sections, the lift will crack it further and the quote should be for removal and a new pour, priced on the driveway calculator.
Why slabs sink in the first place
Concrete rarely sinks on its own. Water does it. A downspout that empties at the edge of the driveway, a sprinkler head aimed at a sidewalk, or a patio that slopes toward the house all wash fine soil out from under the slab, and the panel settles into the gap. Poorly compacted fill around a newer house does the same thing over the first few years.
That is why a good leveling quote includes the drainage fix. Extending a downspout ten feet costs a fraction of the lift and is the difference between a five-year repair and a twenty-year one. A slab next to the foundation that keeps dropping is also worth a look at the foundation itself; the foundation calculator covers piers and drainage.
Worked example: 200 square feet of driveway by mudjacking
One sunken panel, drainage fixed
Worked example| Line | Range |
|---|---|
| Mudjacking, 200 sq ft at $3–$6 | $600 – $1,200 |
| Joint sealing, about 60 ft | $120 – $240 |
| Downspout extension or regrade | $150 – $600 |
| Planning total | $870 – $2,040 |
The same panel lifted with foam lands closer to $1,470 to $3,840. Replacing it instead would be about $1,300 to $3,300 before the drainage work, which is why a whole, sunken panel is almost always cheaper to lift.
Insurance and sinking concrete
- Settling, shrinking and earth movement are excluded under most homeowners policies, so a sunken driveway is usually your bill.
- A sudden covered event can change that. If a water main break or a covered plumbing leak washed the soil out, ask the adjuster whether the resulting damage is covered; the policy wording decides.
- Sinkhole and catastrophic ground cover collapse are separate coverages in some states, such as Florida. Read your declarations page.
- A trip edge on a public sidewalk in front of your house may be your responsibility under local rules. Many cities share or set the repair method.
Concrete leveling cost by region
The calculator's default concrete leveling job, repriced for each of its six regions. At the national average it runs $870 – $2,040; South / Lower Midwest is the lowest at $757 – $1,775, and West Coast metro is the highest at $1,131 – $2,652, a gap of about $626 at the midpoint.
| Region | Planning range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| National average | $870 – $2,040 | $1,455 |
| South / Lower Midwest | $757 – $1,775 | $1,266 |
| Mountain / Plains | $827 – $1,938 | $1,382 |
| Mid-Atlantic / Upper Midwest | $974 – $2,285 | $1,630 |
| Northeast metro | $1,096 – $2,570 | $1,833 |
| West Coast metro | $1,131 – $2,652 | $1,892 |
What “Condition of the slab” does to the price
Every other input stays at its default and only “Condition of the slab” changes. The cheapest choice, Sunken but in one piece, comes to $870 – $2,040; the most expensive, Broken into loose pieces, comes to $1,570 – $4,140.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Sunken but in one piece (default) | $870 – $2,040 | — |
| Sunken with a crack through it | $1,020 – $2,540 | +$325 |
| Broken into loose pieces | $1,570 – $4,140 | +$1,400 |
What “Method” does to the price
Every other input stays at its default and only “Method” changes. The cheapest choice, Mudjacking (cement slurry), comes to $870 – $2,040; the most expensive, Polyurethane foam, comes to $1,470 – $3,840.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Mudjacking (cement slurry) (default) | $870 – $2,040 | — |
| Polyurethane foam | $1,470 – $3,840 | +$1,200 |
How age changes the concrete leveling claim payout
Using the default job, a $1,000 deductible and a 10-year expected life. At 10 years old, about $1,164 is held back as depreciation; a replacement cost policy releases it after the work is finished, while an actual cash value policy keeps it.
| Age | Wear | First check | Held back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 20% | $164 | $291 |
| 5 years | 50% | $0 | $728 |
| 10 years | 80% | $0 | $1,164 |
| 15 years | 80% | $0 | $1,164 |
| 20 years | 80% | $0 | $1,164 |
| 30 years | 80% | $0 | $1,164 |
Quote checklist: 6 items to verify
Leveling quotes are easiest to compare by area and method.
- Method. Mudjacking or polyurethane foam.
- Area and lift. Square feet and inches of lift.
- Holes. Number, size and patch color.
- Joint sealing. Flexible sealant at joints and cracks.
- Drainage fix. Downspouts and grading.
- Warranty. Against settling again.
How long the job takes
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | 30 minutes | Voids and cracks checked. |
| Lifting | 1 – 4 hours | Most jobs are one visit. |
| Curing | Minutes – 1 day | Foam cures fast; mudjacking needs a day. |
| Joint sealing | 1 – 2 hours | After lifting. |
Avoid driving on a mudjacked slab for about a day; foam-lifted slabs can usually take traffic sooner.
Ways to keep the cost down
Leveling costs less than replacement when slabs are whole.
- Act before cracking. Lifting works on whole slabs.
- Fix downspouts. Stops sinking.
- Seal joints. Keeps water out.
- Do several slabs together. Shared setup.
- Compare methods. Foam or mudjacking.
- Regrade soil. Prevent voids.
Sources and further reading
- HomeAdvisor — Concrete leveling and mudjacking cost
- Angi — Concrete leveling cost
- InterNACHI — Mudjacking
- NAIC — Actual cash value vs replacement cost coverage
Frequently asked questions
How much does concrete leveling cost in 2026?
Most jobs cost about $650 to $1,900, with an average near $1,200. Mudjacking is about $3 to $6 per square foot and polyurethane foam about $6 to $15 for typical home jobs.
Is mudjacking or foam leveling better?
Foam uses smaller holes, weighs less, cures in minutes and usually lasts longer, but costs about twice as much. Mudjacking is cheaper and fills big voids well. Both need a slab that is still in one piece.
How long does concrete leveling last?
Mudjacking often lasts 5 to 10 years and foam 20 years or more, as long as the water that washed out the soil is fixed.
When should I replace concrete instead of leveling it?
When the slab is broken into several loose pieces, crumbling, or has dropped so far that lifting would crack it. Replacement runs about $6.50 to $16.50 per square foot.
Can I drive on the driveway after it is lifted?
After foam, usually within an hour. After mudjacking, most contractors ask you to wait a day or so.
Does homeowners insurance pay to level concrete?
Usually not. Settling and earth movement are standard exclusions. A sudden covered water loss that washed the soil out is the main exception, depending on the policy.
Will the injection holes show?
They are patched with grout. Mudjacking holes are about 1½ inches and stay visible; foam holes are about ⅝ inch and much harder to spot.
Can a garage floor be leveled?
Yes, usually with foam, because it is light and needs small holes. Very large or badly cracked floors may need replacement.
Are mudjacking, slabjacking and concrete jacking the same thing?
Yes. Mudjacking, slabjacking, concrete jacking and concrete lifting all describe the same method: pumping a cement and soil slurry through holes in the slab to raise it, at about $3 to $6 per square foot. Polyjacking, also called foam leveling, is the different method. It uses expanding polyurethane through smaller holes and costs roughly twice as much. When you compare quotes, check which material is named, not just the word on the estimate.
How much does it cost to level a sidewalk or a section of driveway?
Measure the square feet that sank, not the length. A 200 sq ft section of driveway is often $650 to $1,300 by mudjacking. A 4-foot-wide sidewalk is about 4 square feet per running foot, which works out to roughly $12 to $24 per foot by mudjacking or $24 to $60 per foot with foam. Most contractors also have a minimum charge for the trip and setup, so lifting two or three panels in one visit costs little more than lifting one.
Can cracked slabs be lifted?
Slabs with small cracks can often be lifted as one piece. Slabs broken into several loose pieces usually rock and settle again and are better replaced.
Does leveling fix the cause?
No. Leveling fills the void and raises the slab, but downspouts, grading and joint sealing must also be fixed or the soil will wash out again.
Can concrete steps be leveled?
Often yes. Sunken steps can be lifted with foam or slurry if the step is still in one piece.
Related planning tools
Next steps for your estimate
Use the companion calculators when the job touches another part of the house or the claim.
Driveway replacement calculatorWhen the slab is too broken to lift.Foundation calculatorA slab by the house that keeps dropping.Gutter calculatorMove the water that washed the soil out.French drain calculatorCarry yard water away from the slab.Private road calculatorLong gravel or asphalt drives.Should I file a claim?Check a water loss against your deductible.
Key topics covered
Popular concrete leveling searches answered on this page
Planning topics covered in the calculator and guide above.
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