Concrete curb ramp work in progress during an accessibility upgrade

MUDJACKING COST

Mudjacking Cost: The Cheapest Way to Lift a Slab

Mudjacking pumps cement slurry under a sunk slab and floats it back up. It’s the cheapest way to lift concrete, but one panel can still cost you a $300–$700 minimum.

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Photo: Oregon DOT / Wikimedia Commons · License

HOW MUDJACKING WORKS

Drill, pump, lift, patch.

01Find the void
Soil under the low end washed out or packed down. The slab is hanging over an empty pocket and has tipped into it.
02Drill 1–2 in. holes
The crew drills a pattern of holes about the size of a quarter to a half-dollar through the low section.
03Pump the slurry
A cement, sand, and soil slurry is pumped under pressure. It fills the void first, then pushes the slab up.
04Patch and use it
Holes are packed with grout. Plan on about 24 hours before driving on it.

Slurry is heavy, about 100 lb per cubic foot, and fills big voids cheaply.

BEFORE / AFTER

What the crew is actually fixing.

Sidewalk panels that dropped below the curb and the next slab, leaving a raised edge — **Trip edge, water pooling.** One end sank into a washed-out pocket. Panels no longer line up and rain runs the wrong way.

Technician injecting polyurethane foam through a slab while a dial gauge on the next panel tracks the lift — **Lift while watching a gauge.** The tech injects through the slab while a dial indicator on the next panel shows exactly when it’s level.

After

Flush joints, drainage restored. The void is filled, the slab sits back at grade, and the holes are patched. Same concrete, no tear-out.

Photos: credits & licenses. Diagrams are illustrations, not to scale.

NATIONAL PRICE CONTEXT

$4–$9 per square foot, typical nationally

Most crews charge a $300–$700 minimum, so one sunk sidewalk panel can cost close to what three would. Group your problem spots into one visit.

These are national reference figures, not local market data, a guarantee, or a substitute for a written estimate after an on-site inspection.

What shapes an estimate?

A good quote names the panels, the material, the hole layout and what’s not included. If it just says “level driveway, $1,800,” ask for the rest in writing.

Factor	National reference / question
Typical material	Cement-based slurry
Common estimate factors	Repair area, lift height, access, voids, and scope
Reported minimums	$300–$700; contractor and project conditions vary

Questions to bring to a quote

What may be causing this section to settle, and how will you assess the area below it?
Which lifting method and material do you recommend for this slab—and why?
How will you handle drainage, nearby panels, cracks, or access limitations?
What is included in the written price, and what could add cost?
What curing, use, and maintenance guidance should I follow?
What warranty applies, and what conditions are excluded?

SOURCE NOTES

National ranges, linked to their source.

Cost figures were checked against these HomeGuide pages. Estimates are broad national ranges and may change over time.