Sizing a concrete patio
Set your furniture out on the lawn where the patio will go, pull the chairs back as if people were sitting, and leave room to walk around. Measure that, then add space for a grill and the path to the door. A rectangle is the cheapest shape to form; curves cost a little more.
- Below the door. The patio sits below the threshold so rain can't run inside.
- Pitched to drain. A gentle slope away from the house. Near Murfreesboro the normal yearly rainfall is 55.92 inches (NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), so the water needs somewhere to go.
- Away from sinkholes. The Center for Cedar Glade Studies at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) warns that building in sinkholes can plug their outlets and raise flood heights. Don't pour where your yard drains to a low spot or a sinkhole.
- Plan what's underneath. Pipes for outdoor lights, hot tub power or a gas grill must be laid before the concrete goes down.
- Thickness for the load. A hot tub needs a thicker pad than chairs and a table; check the maker's instructions and mention it when you ask for a quote.
Concrete patio finishes
- Broom finish: simple, affordable and grippy when wet.
- Colored concrete: tinted through or on top, to suit the house.
- Exposed aggregate: the surface washed back to show the stone.
- Stamped: slate, flagstone or brick patterns. See stamped concrete.
Patio permits around Murfreesboro
| Where | Open patio (flatwork) | Covered patio, porch or shed |
|---|---|---|
| City of Murfreesboro | Ask Building and Codes before you pour | The City requires permits for accessory structures, decks and pools, with the fee based on the value of the work |
| Unincorporated Rutherford County | No permit, unless the slab will later be built on (then a foundation permit) | Ask the County's Building Codes office |
| Smyrna | No permit for open patios | Permit required for a covered porch, deck, shed, garage or carport |
Details and sources are in the permits and licenses guide.
What a patio costs per square foot
| Type | Price per square foot | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio, Murfreesboro estimate | about $12 | Woogoro, 2026 |
| Plain concrete, national | $4–$12 | HomeGuide, July 2025 |
| Stamped or stained, national | $8–$30 | HomeGuide, July 2025 |
| Pavers, national | $10–$30 | HomeGuide, July 2025 |
Estimates from published guides, not quotes. The price you're quoted may be different. Calculator: Murfreesboro concrete costs.
Sources
- HomeGuide, Concrete Patio Cost (July 10, 2025); Fixr, Pavers vs Concrete (no date shown; checked October 27, 2026); Woogoro, Murfreesboro concrete cost (2026)
- City of Murfreesboro, Accessory Structure and Fence Permits (checked October 27, 2026); Rutherford County, Building Codes FAQ (checked October 27, 2026); Town of Smyrna, residential permit packet (checked October 27, 2026)
- MTSU Center for Cedar Glade Studies, Karst (checked October 27, 2026); NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020 normals, station Murfreesboro 5 N (checked October 27, 2026)
- Keeneland HOA, ARC Approval Request (checked October 27, 2026)