- TCS Floors Inc.
- Published
Updated November 7, 2026 · 10-minute read · Prices from 6 published sources, linked at the end
Polished concrete usually costs $3 to $12 per square foot installed 1. A simple polish on a sound slab sits at the low end. A high gloss, exposed stone, repairs or old coatings to remove push it up.
Over ten years it often costs less than VCT. One 45,000-square-foot store model saved $395,000 5. Use the calculator below to price your own floor.
Price your polished concrete floor
Enter your square footage and pick what your floor needs. The calculator adds up the published market ranges for each choice. It runs in your browser and saves nothing.
Polished concrete cost calculator
- Matte or low sheen (Concrete Network basic tier): $3.00 to $5.00 per sq ft
Yearly care vs VCT: about $10,000 less each year, at $1.00 vs $2.00 per sq ft (Building and Construction, 2026).
Market ranges from the sources at the end of this guide, not a TCS quote. Your price depends on the slab, the layout and the schedule.
Polished concrete cost by finish level
Most of the price comes from how far the crew polishes. Each step uses a finer diamond. More steps mean more machine time and a brighter shine.
Concrete Network splits jobs into three tiers 1. Bob Vila adds that each extra level of polish costs about $0.35 to $0.75 more per square foot 2.
Which shine does your building need?
Match the shine to the space, not to the brochure. The Concrete Polishing Council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors defines four sheen levels and three classes of stone exposure 7. Ask your contractor to name the level and class in writing.
A matte or low sheen. It hides tire marks and costs the least.
A satin to semi-gloss shine. Bright enough to look clean, easy to keep that way.
A high gloss. Stores often want the mirror look, which takes the finest polish and the most steps.
Cost by how much stone shows
Concrete is cement paste with sand and stone mixed in. The deeper the crew grinds, the more stone shows, and the more the job costs.
| Look | What you see | Price per sq ft 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cream | Smooth paste, almost no stone. Light grinding | $4 to $7 |
| Salt and pepper | Fine sand specks across the floor | $3 to $8 |
| Full aggregate | Large stones on show. Deepest grind | $7 to $15 |
Read these as rough guides. Only one published source prices the three looks, and its own chart does not line up exactly. Cream depends on a flat, well-finished slab. Many older floors cannot give an even cream look.
What adds to the price
The polish is only part of the bill. These are the extras that turn a $4 floor into a $9 floor. Ask for each one as its own line on the quote.
About $2 more per sq ft when the slab needs extensive prep 1.
$1.50 to $3 per sq ft to dye the concrete 3.
$0.85 to $1.60 per sq ft for sealing 3. A guard helps the shine resist stains.
$2 to $5 more per sq ft for an above-grade floor 2. Machines and power have to go up.
Why big floors cost less per square foot
Every job has fixed costs: moving heavy grinders, setting up dust control, and trimming the edges by hand. On a large open floor those costs spread over many more square feet.
- Open areas run fast. Big machines cover them in long passes.
- Small rooms, edges and columns run slow. Hand tools do that work.
- Phased jobs cost a little more in setup but keep your building open. Polished concrete can be walked on as soon as each section is done.
So a 40,000-square-foot warehouse usually prices well below a 2,000-square-foot lobby per foot. When you compare quotes, compare the same scope: same level, same class, same repairs.
Ten-year cost: polished concrete vs VCT and tile
The price on day one is only part of the cost. Floors cost money every year after that, in cleaning, finish, stripping and replacement.
A 2026 industry review modeled a 45,000-square-foot store over ten years 5. Polished concrete cost about $2.00 more per square foot to put in than VCT. Yet its yearly care was half, $1.00 against $2.00 per square foot, and VCT needs full replacement every seven to ten years.
Result: $395,000 saved over ten years on one store 5. Plan for a refurbish polish along the way. The same review priced it at about $1.50 per square foot every ten years 5. Busier floors need it sooner: one cost guide says every two to three years 2.
Against tile, the gap opens on day one. On a 107,500-square-foot commercial project, ceramic tile priced at about $9.50 to $10 per square foot installed. Dyed and polished concrete came in near $4 6.
How to get an accurate quote
A contractor can only price what they can see. Send these five things and you get a firm number faster, with fewer surprises on site.
Square footage and a floor plan
Mark open areas, small rooms and any upper floors.
Photos of the slab
Two wide shots and close-ups of cracks, joints, stains and any coating or glue.
The look you want
Name the sheen level and how much stone you want to see. If you are not sure, say what the space is used for.
Your working hours
Tell the crew when the space is free: nights, weekends or phases.
Questions to ask every bidder
Which level and class is quoted? Are repairs, edges, densifier and guard included? What daily care do you recommend?
Get a firm price for your polished concrete floor
Send the square footage and two photos. We tell you the level, class and price that fit your building. TCS Floors works only on commercial floors, nationwide, with night and weekend crews so you stay open.
Related: commercial concrete polishing · concrete floor grinding · concrete sealing
Questions buyers ask
How much does polished concrete cost per square foot?
Most installed jobs run $3 to $12 per square foot (Concrete Network). A simple polish on a sound slab can cost $2 to $6 (This Old House). Repairs, coating removal, dye and a high gloss push the price up.
Is polished concrete cheaper than VCT?
It costs about $2.00 more per square foot to put in than VCT in a remodel, but yearly care runs about $1.00 against $2.00 per square foot. In a 2026 model of a 45,000 square foot store, polished concrete saved $395,000 over ten years (Building and Construction).
How much does a higher shine cost?
Each extra level of polish adds about $0.35 to $0.75 per square foot (Bob Vila). A high gloss can sit at $8 to $12 or more per square foot (Concrete Network).
Does a larger floor cost less per square foot?
Usually, yes. Setup, dust control and hand work at the edges are fixed costs, and a large open floor spreads them over more square feet. Small rooms and many edges cost more per foot.
How often does polished concrete need re-polishing?
It depends on traffic. One cost guide says every 2 to 3 years for most floors (Bob Vila). A 2026 industry model planned a refurbish polish every ten years at about $1.50 per square foot (Building and Construction).
Can you polish a floor that has old tile or coating on it?
Yes, once the old material is off. Removal costs about $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot (This Old House). Glue and epoxy residue slow the grind, so ask for removal as its own line on the quote.
Sources
- Concrete Network, Polished Concrete Floor Cost. Reviewed January 10, 2023.
- Bob Vila, How Much Does a Polished Concrete Floor Cost?. Updated November 30, 2022.
- This Old House, Polished Concrete Floors: Cost, Process and Upkeep. Updated April 1, 2026.
- Airtasker, Polished concrete floor cost. Updated June 3, 2025.
- Building and Construction, The state of maintenance and polished concrete floors. June 17, 2026.
- Building and Construction, Polished concrete floors deliver major cost savings for commercial projects. June 16, 2026.
- American Society of Concrete Contractors, How to Use CPC Classes and Levels to Specify Polished Concrete. July 15, 2024.
Prices are published market ranges, not TCS prices. Every quote was checked on the live page on November 7, 2026.
