Concrete mow strip cost typically runs $10-$30 per linear foot installed, with many residential projects totaling $500-$2,500. Price depends on strip width and length, concrete finish, site access, excavation, and local labor; short runs often cost more per foot because contractors have minimum charges.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed price per linear foot | $10 | $18 | $30 | Usually for a 6-12-inch-wide strip |
| Typical residential project | $500 | $1,200 | $2,500 | About 30-100 linear feet |
| Concrete and basic supplies | $3 | $6 | $10 | Per linear foot, varies with width and delivery |
| Labor and forming | $5 | $10 | $18 | Per linear foot; access and preparation matter |
What a 6- to 12-Inch Concrete Mow Strip Costs
For a basic, straight concrete strip beside a lawn or planting bed, homeowners commonly pay $10-$30 per linear foot installed. A 50-foot run may cost about $600-$1,500, while a 100-foot run may land around $1,000-$2,500. The larger job can have a lower unit rate because setup and mobilization are spread over more footage.
A practical planning figure is about $18 per linear foot for a standard-width strip with ordinary access. A narrow, unreinforced strip on level ground may approach $10-$15 per foot. A wider strip, decorative finish, difficult excavation, or complicated curves can push the quote toward $25-$30 or more per foot.
For comparison by area, a 12-inch-wide strip covers about one square foot per linear foot, so its installed rate is roughly $10-$30 per square foot. An 18-inch width covers 1.5 square feet per foot; its area-based rate may be similar, but the total per-foot price rises because it needs more concrete and forming.
Assumptions: U.S. residential pricing, standard ready-mix concrete, 6-12-inch width, roughly 4 inches thick, ordinary soil, and no major drainage or access problems. Regional labor, project minimums, and finish choices can change the quote.
How Concrete, Forms, and Labor Shape the Quote
Contractors may quote one installed price or list separate charges for excavation, forming, concrete, finishing, and cleanup. The itemized breakdown below gives reasonable planning ranges; actual bids vary by project size and whether the contractor can combine the pour with other work.
| Quote component | Low | Average | High | Pricing basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete and delivery | $3 | $6 | $10 | Per linear foot for a typical narrow strip |
| Excavation and base preparation | $2 | $5 | $9 | Per linear foot; more for roots or hard soil |
| Forms, placement, and finishing labor | $5 | $10 | $18 | Per linear foot, depending on shape and crew |
| Removal and disposal | $0 | $3 | $8 | Per linear foot when old edging or concrete must go |
| Color or stamped finish | $2 | $5 | $10 | Added per linear foot, depending on finish |
Labor and site preparation often account for as much of the quote as the concrete itself. A small strip may require a contractor minimum of $400-$900 even when material quantities are modest. A separate mobilization, short-load concrete delivery, or disposal charge can also appear on a small job.
Some contractors include a compacted gravel base, control joints, and cleanup in the installed rate; others itemize them. Ask whether the quote includes excavation to the specified depth, removal of spoil, reinforcement if needed, and protection of nearby lawn or irrigation lines.
How Width, Thickness, and Curves Change the Price
Width is a major material driver. A 6-inch strip uses less concrete and may be less expensive than a 12-inch strip, while an 18-inch strip can cost substantially more per linear foot. For a straightforward rectangular strip, concrete volume can be estimated as length × width × thickness. A 50-foot strip that is 12 inches wide and 4 inches thick takes about 0.62 cubic yards before allowing for waste.
Increasing width from 12 to 18 inches raises concrete volume by 50% at the same thickness. It does not necessarily raise the full installed price by 50%, because layout, mobilization, and some labor remain similar. Thickness also matters: moving from 4 inches to 6 inches adds 50% more concrete volume and may require additional excavation or reinforcement.
Site conditions can alter labor more than material. Straight runs are simpler to form than tight curves, frequent corners, or changing widths. Roots, buried irrigation, uneven grades, rocky soil, and narrow access for a mixer or wheelbarrow may add $3-$10 per foot or a separate site-preparation charge. A strip intended to carry vehicle weight needs an appropriate design rather than a basic lawn-edge specification.
Reinforcement is not automatically required for every mow strip. A contractor may recommend wire mesh, fiber reinforcement, or a thicker section where soil movement, loading, or local practice warrants it. Ask what the reinforcement is intended to address and whether it is included in the price.
Ways to Lower the Mow Strip Price Without Cutting Corners
Keep the layout simple and settle the width before requesting bids. Straight sections, consistent dimensions, and fewer decorative curves reduce forming and finishing time. If the strip is only intended to separate grass from a bed, confirm that a wider or thicker design is actually needed instead of paying for dimensions meant for foot or vehicle traffic.
Reducing unnecessary footage and avoiding specialty finishes usually saves more than bargaining over concrete alone. Mark the proposed route and measure it before contractors visit. A clear plan helps prevent differences in quoted scope and makes per-foot comparisons more meaningful.
Ask whether the contractor can schedule the strip with a nearby concrete pour or another project on the property. This may reduce mobilization or delivery charges, although timing depends on availability. Prepare access by moving movable obstacles and identifying irrigation lines, but leave excavation and grading to the crew unless the contractor approves owner preparation.
Get at least three written quotes with the same width, thickness, finish, base preparation, and removal scope. Compare the full total, not just the advertised rate per foot. A low bid that excludes old edging disposal, concrete delivery, or cleanup may cost more after add-ons.
Regional Labor Rates and Concrete Delivery Differences
Pricing varies by metro area, contractor workload, and the distance from a ready-mix plant. In high-cost urban markets, installed mow strips may run about 15%-30% above a national-style planning estimate. Rural areas can be 5%-20% lower for labor, but remote delivery, a small concrete order, or limited contractor availability may erase that difference.
Local delivery logistics can outweigh regional material-price differences on a small pour. Concrete suppliers may charge extra for short loads or long travel, while contractors may add travel time outside their normal service area. Those charges have a larger per-foot effect on a 20-foot strip than on a 150-foot run.
Cold-weather scheduling, heavy rain, and saturated soil can delay excavation or pouring. In hot, dry climates, crews may need to manage curing carefully, but weather does not create a fixed surcharge everywhere. Obtain local quotes with a stated start window and ask whether the price changes if site conditions require additional preparation.
Regional averages are best used to check whether a bid deserves another look, not as a guarantee. A quote above $30 per foot may be reasonable for a broad, curved, reinforced strip with removal; the same rate for a narrow straight strip with easy access may warrant clarification.
Three Sample Quotes for Common Lawn Edging Projects
These examples show how length, width, and job scope affect total price. They are planning scenarios rather than fixed national rates. Each assumes ordinary residential access and standard concrete unless the description says otherwise.
| Project | Scope | Estimated total | Approximate rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small garden bed | 30 feet, 6 inches wide, straight, no removal | $500-$850 | $17-$28 per foot |
| Typical side yard | 60 feet, 12 inches wide, basic finish, moderate prep | $900-$1,700 | $15-$28 per foot |
| Long curved border | 120 feet, 18 inches wide, old edging removed, color added | $2,600-$4,500 | $22-$38 per foot |
Short runs can have the highest unit rate even when the total is lowest. In the first example, a $500 minimum would equal nearly $17 per foot before any unusual extras. In the long curved example, added width, removal, and color account for the higher total and rate.
For a rough labor check, a two-person crew might spend 6-10 hours on a modest, accessible run, including layout, forming, placement, and cleanup. At a combined crew charge of $100-$180 per hour, that represents $600-$1,800 of labor value before materials and overhead. Actual crew rates and hours vary; the formula is a cross-check, not a substitute for a written bid.
Concrete Versus Plastic, Brick, and Existing Edging
Concrete is a durable, continuous edge, but it is not the only way to keep grass out of a bed. Plastic landscape edging can cost about $1-$5 per linear foot for materials, with installed prices often around $3-$10 per foot. It is less expensive upfront but may shift, become exposed, or require periodic repair.
Concrete generally costs more initially than flexible edging but creates a firm, mowable boundary. Brick or paver edging often runs about $10-$30 per linear foot installed, depending on excavation, base, pattern, and material. It can be repaired in sections, while a cracked concrete strip may require patching or replacement of a longer segment to match the finish.
If an existing concrete edge is mostly sound, repair may cost less than replacement. Minor patching or crack repair can run roughly $150-$600 for a small area; extensive damage, lifting, or poor drainage may make replacement more practical. Ask the contractor to distinguish surface cracks from movement that indicates a base or drainage problem.
A mow strip is not the same as a structural sidewalk or driveway apron. If it will support vehicle loads, connect to a public sidewalk, or alter drainage near a property line, its thickness, reinforcement, and local requirements may differ. A low-cost landscape-edge quote should not be treated as a load-bearing installation price.
Removal, Drainage, and Other Charges to Check Before Signing
Removing an old concrete or stone border can add roughly $5-$15 per linear foot, depending on thickness, reinforcement, access, and disposal distance. Removing light plastic edging may cost less, but roots or buried debris can still add labor. Confirm whether the contractor hauls away material or leaves it on site.
Drainage changes and buried utilities are common reasons a simple edging quote grows. A strip that blocks an existing runoff path may need grading changes, a gap, or a separate drainage solution. Regrading or adding a short drain can add several hundred dollars, with larger drainage work priced separately.
Mark sprinkler heads and lines before work begins, and ask whether the crew will locate or protect irrigation. Repairs to damaged irrigation are not always included in a concrete bid. Likewise, tree roots, buried cable, unexpected fill, and limited wheelbarrow access can trigger extra charges if the contract does not define how such conditions are handled.
Permits are not commonly needed for a small private lawn edging project, but local rules can apply when work affects a public right-of-way, drainage easement, or shared boundary. Check with the local building department or contractor when the strip meets a sidewalk or changes runoff. Request written approval before paying for a scope change.
Questions That Clarify a Concrete Mow Strip Estimate
Ask for the strip’s exact length, width, and thickness in the quote, along with the concrete mix or finish if specified. A bid that says only “concrete edging” is difficult to compare because it may describe a 6-inch border in one proposal and an 18-inch strip in another.
A complete estimate states what is included and how unexpected site work will be priced. Verify excavation depth, base material, reinforcement, control joints, finishing, curing protection, disposal, delivery, and cleanup. Ask whether the contractor includes a warranty and what it covers; cosmetic cracking and damage from soil movement may be treated differently from workmanship defects.
Check whether the price is fixed or an allowance, when payment is due, and what conditions permit additional charges. If a contractor expects possible roots or irrigation conflicts, request unit prices for extra excavation, disposal, or repair before the crew starts.
Compare total price and scope across bids, then use the per-foot rate as a secondary check. A quote near $18 per foot for a simple 12-inch-wide run may be reasonable in many markets, while a small-job minimum, premium finish, removal, or difficult access can justify a higher total.