Extruded Curb vs Poured Curb: Which Should You Specify?

Extruded curb is the right choice for any commercial parking-lot run over 200 linear feet of consistent profile, while poured (formed) curb wins for tight radii under 25 feet, custom cross-sections, and short tie-ins under 100 linear feet. The two methods produce structurally identical curb at the cured-concrete level — both can be specified at 4,000 PSI per ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete — but their production economics, surface finish, and field tolerances diverge sharply. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA Concrete Pavement Joints Technical Advisory T 5040.30) treats them as equivalent reinforced-concrete products, so the choice is operational, not structural.

This article gives you the side-by-side spec comparison, the production-rate math, and the four scenarios that determine the right method for your site.

Quick Verdict: Extruded vs Poured

Current Market Reality

Slipform mobilization in 2026 typically adds $1,500 to $3,000 per site to a curb proposal. That cost is amortized across linear feet — at 500 LF, it adds $3 to $6 per foot; at 2,000 LF, it adds $0.75 to $1.50 per foot. This is why most contractors won't quote slipform under about 300 LF.

What Is Extruded Curb?

Extruded curb is produced by a slipform paver such as the Power Curbers 5700-D or the Miller M-1500. The machine straddles the layout line, a low-slump mix (1 to 2 inch slump) is loaded into the hopper, and the slipform shoe at the back of the machine extrudes the curb in a continuous profile. The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA Slipform Paving Best Practices) governs the technique.

Production runs 50 to 100 linear feet per hour for a 6-inch barrier curb on a prepared subgrade. The machine handles straight runs and gentle curves down to about 25 feet inside radius. Tighter than that, the slipform shoe cannot follow the layout line without distorting the profile.

What Is Poured (Formed) Curb?

Poured curb is the traditional formwork method. Wood or steel forms are cut to the curb profile, staked along the layout string at 4-foot intervals, and braced against the inside of the curve. A higher-slump (4 to 5 inch) mix is poured by chute, screeded by hand against the form tops, and finished with a curb edger and broom.

Production runs 20 to 30 linear feet per hour. The crew can hand-form a 5-foot inside radius around a parking island, change profile mid-run, or tie into existing curb at any angle. The Oregon Standard Specification 00759 (ODOT Standard Specifications) accepts both extruded and poured curb at the same surface tolerance: 1/4 inch over a 10-foot straightedge.

Cost Per Linear Foot

Industry Baseline Range

For full pricing detail see parking lot curbing cost 2026 and the extruded curb cost vs poured deep dive.

When Should You Choose Extruded Curb?

Choose slipform extrusion when:

• The perimeter runs over 300 linear feet of consistent profile. Slipform mobilization breaks even around 300 LF.
• Inside radii stay above 25 feet. Most commercial drive aisles meet this without effort.
• Subgrade tolerances are within 1/2 inch. The slipform machine cannot self-correct large grade variations.
• Time pressure is real. Slipform finishes a 1,000 LF perimeter in 1.5 days; hand-forming takes 5 to 6.

On a 32,000 square foot Eugene retail center we curbed in April 2026, the perimeter ran 720 linear feet of barrier curb plus 180 linear feet of mountable curb at the drive-thru island. We slipformed the perimeter in one shift, then hand-formed the drive-thru island the next morning to handle the 18-foot inside radius. Total schedule: 1.5 days versus the 4 days hand-forming the entire site would have taken.

When Should You Choose Poured Curb?

Choose hand-forming when:

• The total curb run is under 100 linear feet. Slipform mobilization isn't justified.
• You have radii under 25 feet. Tight parking-island corners, drive-thru lanes, and ADA ramp tie-ins.
• Custom cross-sections are required. Architectural curbs with bullnose, chamfer, or non-standard heights.
• Existing curb has to be tied into mid-pour. A slipform machine cannot stop and start cleanly; hand-forming integrates seamlessly.

For step-by-step technique see how to install extruded curb for the slipform method or our concrete curb buyer's guide for the broader installation discussion. When curb work is part of a larger paving project, our asphalt paving services can sequence both crews.

Get the Right Method for Your Site

The extruded vs poured decision is rarely all-or-nothing. Most commercial sites use both — slipform on long straight runs, hand-form on corners, ADA ramps, and tie-ins. A walk-through with a contractor who quotes both methods is the fastest way to land on the right blend for your specific layout.

Get a custom quote and we'll walk your site to map the slipform-vs-hand-form split before pour day.