Core drilling a 2-inch hole through a 4-inch concrete slab costs $105–$130 per hole in 2026, and a 4-inch hole through a 6-inch slab $225–$275. Saw cutting a plain slab up to 4 inches deep runs $5.75–$7.25 per linear foot, or $12–$14.75 with rebar. Coring and saw cutting jobs start at the $3,750 minimum.
Concrete cutting cost per linear foot and core drilling cost per hole
Estimates for budgeting only, not an offer, bid or quote. Permits, government fees and testing are extra unless listed; your signed written proposal sets the price.
| Item | Price | Unit | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core drilling, 2-inch hole, concrete up to 4 in. thick | $105 – $130 | per hole | Drilling, core removal and slurry cleanup |
| Core drilling, 4-inch hole, concrete up to 4 in. thick | $200 – $245 | per hole | Drilling, core removal and slurry cleanup |
| Core drilling, 4-inch hole, concrete 4 to 6 in. thick | $225 – $275 | per hole | Drilling, core removal and slurry cleanup |
| Saw cutting, plain concrete slab or paving, up to 4 in. deep | $5.75 – $7.25 | per linear foot | |
| Saw cutting, slab with wire mesh, up to 4 in. deep | $7.50 – $9.25 | per linear foot | |
| Saw cutting, slab with rebar, up to 4 in. deep | $12 – $14.75 | per linear foot | |
| Saw cutting, plain concrete wall, up to 4 in. deep | $23 – $27.50 | per linear foot | |
| Opening in a 4-inch reinforced slab on grade, under 24 SF | $105 – $130 | per square foot | |
| Opening in a 6-inch reinforced concrete wall, under 24 SF | $140 – $170 | per square foot |
Budget ranges for 2026, not a quote. Prices include what the Includes column lists. Not included: permits and other government fees, and testing, engineering and utility disconnects by others. Minimum charge: $3,750 per job.
Permit or notice: Usually none; new openings in structural walls or slabs need an engineer’s detail and a building permit. Permit fees are not included; we pull or coordinate the permits our work needs, billed at cost plus administrative time.
What’s in the price
An operator with a water-cooled core rig or flat saw, water and slurry control, removing the cores or cut pieces, and cleanup.
Included
- Layout from your marks
- Water and slurry control
- Removing cores and cut pieces
- Cleanup of the work area
Not included
- Scanning for rebar, post-tension cables and conduit (quoted separately)
- Patching, firestopping or sleeves after coring
- Structural engineering for new openings
- After-hours work in occupied buildings unless quoted
How we measure
Core holes are priced each, by diameter and slab or wall thickness. Saw cuts are per linear foot at the stated depth; wall and slab openings per square foot of opening.
Before the saw touches the slab
Most coring and cutting problems are decided before the first cut. Here is what gets checked.
- Post-tensioned slabs get scanned. Each tendon is stressed to roughly 33,000 pounds, and cutting one can injure workers and weaken the slab, so tendons are located and marked first. Scanning is quoted separately.
- Radar and X-ray see different things. Ground-penetrating radar finds most rebar, tendons and conduit from one side; X-ray imaging shows more detail but needs access to both sides and the area cleared of people.
- Rebar roughly doubles the cost per foot. On this page, a 4-inch cut runs $5.75 to $7.25 per foot in plain concrete and $12 to $14.75 with rebar, because steel slows the blade and wears it faster.
- Wet cutting controls silica. Cal/OSHA’s silica table calls for water on saws and core drills, which keeps the dust down at the blade.
- Slurry stays out of drains. Cutting water turns into a gray slurry that is vacuumed up, because stormwater rules don’t allow it to reach a storm drain.
Concrete cutting and coring questions
How much does it cost to core drill concrete?
$105–$130 for a 2-inch hole through a 4-inch slab and $225–$275 for a 4-inch hole through a 6-inch slab, in 2026. Larger and deeper holes cost more, and coring jobs start at the $3,750 minimum.
How much does it cost per linear foot to saw cut concrete?
$5.75–$7.25 per linear foot for a plain slab up to 4 inches deep, $7.50–$9.25 with welded wire mesh and $12–$14.75 with rebar. Plain concrete walls run $23–$27.50 per linear foot.
How much does it cost to cut an opening in a concrete wall or slab?
Openings under 24 square feet are priced per square foot of opening: $105–$130 for a 4-inch reinforced slab on grade and $140–$170 for a 6-inch reinforced wall. New openings in structural walls and slabs need an engineer’s detail first.
For architects, engineers and contractors
Scope: Selective removal for renovation and utilities
Coring and cutting rates can be used as budget unit prices per hole, per foot or per square foot of opening, which suits utility planning and change orders; contract unit prices are set in the proposal or bid. Cost terms glossary · Printable unit-price sheet · Scanning and detection instruments
What to send for a firm quote
- Number of holes, diameters and slab or wall thickness
- Photos or a marked-up plan
- Whether the slab is post-tensioned
- Working hours and access
Request a project review or call (949) 446-0000
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Disclaimer: a guide, not a quote.
These prices are a guide for budgeting, not a quote. They are our 2026 price ranges for common projects in Southern California. Your written price depends on the site, access, quantities, the materials found, the schedule and the documents you provide, and it can come in above or below these ranges; the written proposal governs.
Permits, inspections and other government fees vary from city to city and county to county and are not included. Neither are plan preparation, engineering, utility planning, agency submittals and coordination, inspector standby, return trips or administrative time, other than the asbestos air-district notice we prepare and file. Testing is priced on the testing page. Worked examples illustrate their stated assumptions and are not quotes. When a project needs any of these, they’re listed in the written proposal.
A written proposal follows a site walk or a review of your plans, reports and photos.
SoCal Removal is the business name of Abajian Enterprise, a California corporation. CSLB #980451 (A, B, C-21). Certifications: HAZ, ASB (ASB for bidding only). Verify the license · Insurance and project bonding