Nobody in this trade likes publishing prices, because every site is different and a number without a scope is meaningless. But refusing to say anything is worse — it leaves you comparing quotes with no idea what normal looks like.
So: here are the ranges the Hamilton market generally runs at, what drives them, and how to tell a thin quote from a complete one. These are market observations for orientation, not our prices and not a quote. What your project costs depends on access, excavation, soil, grades and finish, which is what a site visit is for.
Typical Hamilton-area ranges, by finish
Published figures from contractors in this market in 2026 put plain broom-finish concrete around $12–18 per square foot, coloured or stamped around $18–28, and high-end decorative work above $25.
On a two-car driveway of roughly 600 square feet that works out to something in the region of $7,200–$16,800 depending entirely on finish and site.
Treat those as the shape of the market rather than gospel. Material costs move, and a difficult site can put a broom-finish job above a straightforward stamped one.
The line items underneath
A real quote breaks into these. If yours doesn’t, you can’t compare it to anything.
Demolition and disposal. Breaking out the existing driveway and hauling it. Reinforced concrete and a long carry cost more than a thin slab beside the street.
Excavation. Depth depends on soil and loading. More depth, more spoil to remove.
Granular base. Material and compaction. This is the line that silently separates quotes — base depth is invisible at handover and decides the next twenty years.
Forming. Straight runs are cheap; curves, radii and multiple levels are not.
Reinforcement. Rebar or mesh, sized and chaired. Cheap quotes omit it or lay mesh on the ground.
Concrete. Volume, strength and whether the mix is air-entrained and in the right exposure class for de-icer.
Finishing. Broom is labour-light. Stamped and exposed aggregate are labour-heavy and need more hands on site the same day.
Jointing, curing and sealing. Saw-cut control joints, curing protection, and sealer on decorative work.
Drainage and grading. Where the water goes. Occasionally the biggest line on the job, and the one that stops the driveway destroying the basement.
What pushes a Hamilton job up
Access. Dundas and lower-city lots where a truck can’t reach mean pumping, buggying or barrowing. Real money.
Poor subgrade. Clay, organic fill or a previous driveway built on nothing means deeper excavation and more granular.
Engineered fill. Newer Stoney Creek and Binbrook subdivisions sit on placed fill that keeps settling; base depth goes up accordingly.
Grade changes. Steps, landings or a sloped approach add forming and reinforcement.
The City ramp. If you’re widening, the boulevard section is a separate City process with its own fee. We cover that in a separate article.
Why the cheapest quote is cheaper
Sometimes it’s lower overhead and you’ve found a good deal. Often it’s one of: a thinner slab, a shallower base, no reinforcement, a cheaper non-air-entrained mix, no saw-cut joints, no disposal included, or no WSIB and insurance.
None of that is visible on the day it’s finished. All of it is visible in year three.
If one quote is dramatically below the others, don’t assume it’s wrong — ask it to specify slab thickness, base depth, mix and reinforcement, and compare those directly. Usually the difference explains itself.
Getting a number for your driveway
Measure it roughly, take a few photos including where water currently goes, and note whether a truck can reach it. That’s enough for a realistic ballpark over the phone.
For a firm price we walk the site. The quote comes back line by line with what’s excluded stated plainly, because the exclusions are where most invoice surprises live.