How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost?

Cost Factors to Lay Pavers

Many variables influence the cost to build a patio, from materials and labor and the size of your patio to the prep work, the design, landscaping, utilities, and more. When planning your budget for this project, remember to factor in these elements to get an accurate price.

Size

The size of the patio is the biggest cost influencer. A small bistro-style patio can cost as little as $250, while a large patio of 864 square feet, built for outdoor living and entertaining, can cost as much as $26,000. Take a look at the cost of installing a patio by size.

Type of Paver

The type of paver you choose is one of the biggest cost influencers for a paver or patio project. Simple concrete pavers start at $1 per square foot while natural stone like bluestone or flagstone can cost up to $15 per square foot. 

The type of paver also impacts the cost of labor. While labor for most paver installations costs around $5 to $10 per square foot, materials that are more challenging to work with, such as bluestone, slate, or flagstone, and those that are more time-consuming, such as stamped concrete, can cost up to $25 per square foot. 

Other Materials 

Aside from the pavers themselves, you'll also need to account for the cost of building a solid foundation for your paver project. This includes sand and gravel at around $1 per square foot. You may also need to factor in the use of specialist equipment for adding drainage, grading, and compacting the area.

Labor

Labor costs vary by material and range from $5 to $25 per square foot. For concrete, brick, tile, and stone pavers, you'll pay $5 to $10 per square foot, on average. But for stamped concrete, flagstone, bluestone, and other challenging materials, you'll pay up to $25 per square foot. 

Intricate designs, like herringbone, also increase labor costs substantially because they're so labor-intensive. Adding drainage, whether a drain slope or a French drain setup will also increase costs, but it's necessary to ensure rainwater runs away from your home to avoid foundation problems and issues with standing water on the patio itself.

Intricate Designs

Intricate designs could increase your project’s price; it varies by installer and design. Interlocking bricks are popular with many builders since they create a cohesive, flowing pattern throughout the patio.

These make it possible to design unique circular or angular patterns within a space, which blend well with landscaped gardens. Of course, you can also use square and rectangular bricks to create beautiful patio designs, especially if you use mixed sizes.

Landscaping and Regrading

Often overlooked and not included in the price of a patio, landscaping can elevate the look of your new paver project. In many cases, you’ll hire a landscaper to do your entire outdoor area. Check with them to see if they include any of this in the price.

• Landscaping costs $1,350–$5,700.

• Leveling or regrading a lawn costs $1,000–$3,250. You’ll need to consider grading for drainage purposes.

Utility Installation

Depending on your outdoor needs, you might need to install utilities under your patio. Homeowners often wish to add outlets to power outdoor features like grills and other items to elevate their outdoor experiences. Generally, adding water, gas, or electrical lines doesn’t come as part of a patio install.

• Electrical wiring costs $600–$2,300.

• Plumbing fees run $400–$2,000.

• Gas Lines cost $15–$25 per linear foot.

Fire Pit and Outdoor Living Options

You can spend anywhere from $300 to $2,000 or more on fire pits and other built-in outdoor living options. Pools, kitchens, and spas can run up to $50,000 or more.

• Firepit installation costs $300–$1,400. You’ll spend on the lower end when you install one as part of your patio.

• Outdoor kitchen costs $5,600–$22,500. The range includes all plumbing, electrical, and gas lines needed.

• Pool installation costs $18,500–$47,000. One of the most popular things to put a patio around, you’ll want to consider it when you plan your backyard.

• Hot tub costs range from $650–$6,100. No room for a pool? Consider integrating a hot tub into your design.

• Patio cover costs $8,400–$26,000+. These can even hit $50,000 or more if you have a fully enclosed and insulated room that essentially becomes part of your home.

Paver Prices by Type

The prices of pavers vary significantly, with half concrete pavers starting at around $2.50 per square foot, and natural stone pavers costing as much as $16 per square foot. The table below shows you the most common paver types and their costs individually and per square foot, so you can plan your materials budget accurately.

*Some natural stone pavers, like flagstone, marble, and tumbled granite, cost more at about $15, $20, and $25 per square foot, respectively.

Brick Paver

Brick pavers typically cost $6 per square foot, and can cost anywhere from $4 to $8 per square foot. This price is for the bricks alone and only covers standard red bricks. Unusual shapes, colors, or sizes will cost more. 

Clay Brick Pavers

Thin clay, or half bricks, cost an average of $4 per square foot for the materials alone, and can range from $3 to $5 per square foot. Half-brick pavers like these are more affordable than whole bricks and give a longer-lasting, lower-maintenance finish than concrete and stone-look concrete. Like full bricks, they're eco-friendly because they're made of natural materials and are recyclable. 

Thin Paving Bricks

Thin paving bricks, or brick veneer, cost around $3 to $10 per square foot. This is a decorative option rather than a structural one, as the pavers are too thin to withstand heavy foot or vehicle traffic unless installed over a stable concrete slab. These are a popular option for upgrading an existing surface that's in reasonably good repair without the cost of a full driveway replacement or the price of a new patio.

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers cost around $5 per square foot, with a  range of $3 to $7 per square foot. These look like real brick but, while long-lasting, are not as durable as full brick. However, pros can dye concrete, so it’s available in a broad range of colors and finishes, allowing homeowners to have a truly custom paver project.

Pavestone

Pavestone costs around $4 per square foot. The price ranges from $3 to $5 per square foot. This type of paver is a popular brand of tumbled concrete paver and is available in an array of sizes, colors, and lookalike styles. Among their most popular is the bluestone lookalike, as it closely mimics the appearance of real bluestone but is much more affordable.

Natural Stone Pavers

Natural stone pavers cost an average of $12 per square foot, or between $7 and $16 per square foot. However, you can pay up to $25 per square foot for sought-after stone, like tumbled granite brick. Flagstone will set you back up to $15 per square foot, and marble costs up to $20 per square foot. 

The more exotic and the further away the stones are sourced, the more you'll pay per square foot, as the materials are exceptionally heavy and costly to move. 

Slate-Concrete Pavers

Slate pavers typically cost $12 per square foot, and range from $7 to $16 per square foot. They're actually concrete with a slate look and are considerably more durable than real slate. This material is the closest you'll get to real slate on a patio, driveway, or walkway, as the real deal simply isn't strong enough to withstand heavy foot traffic or vehicles.

Interlocking Pavers

Interlocking pavers cost around $4.50 per square foot and range from $3 to $6 per square foot. Interlocking pavers feature ridges that let them slot together easily and make them less likely to shift or pop out of place over time. Some also have interesting shapes that allow for the interlocking process, such as teddy bear pavers with double-curved edges, or tri-spoke pavers with three curved "arms." You'll find many other shapes and designs in interlocking pavers that let you create a bespoke patio or driveway to boost your home's curb appeal.

Permeable Pavers

Paver Installation Costs by Project

Pavers’ versatility makes them an excellent choice for a variety of projects. Many homeowners use pavers for walkways, driveways, pool areas, and other spaces. However, each project’s cost (including labor) varies from the rest.

Paver Walkway Cost

You’ll pay somewhere between $8 to $25 per square foot to create a paver walkway. It costs no more or less than a patio because it's essentially the same thing. One's just a little narrower than the other. The exact same materials, processes, and labor costs are involved.

• Residential pathways. Sometimes called private or personal sidewalks, these run on private property and don’t have to conform to any special rules or regulations beyond building codes.

• Sidewalks. The raised side of a road designated for pedestrian use belongs to your city and falls under special rules and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, which designates dimensions and materials. Check with your local code or building department to see if you can install one as a paver to match your other pathways. The municipality you live in often has specific rules and regulations governing the construction and maintenance of all sidewalks.

• Walkways. Typically refer to public commercial walking areas, like paths through a park or outdoor shopping area.

Patio

Just like with other projects that involve laying pavers, you can expect to pay between $8 and $25 per square foot when you hire a pro to create a patio for you. If your design is particularly complex, or if you live in a higher cost of living area, you’ll likely pay closer to $25 per square foot than $8. If your design is simple, and your cost of living is low, you’ll likely pay closer to $8 per square foot.

Driveway

A paver driveway costs $6,100 to $30,400, or an average of $17,000 for a driveway of 16-by-38 feet. However big your driveway, expect to pay between $10 and $50 per square foot. Depending on the complexity of the job and the paver material, you could pay up to $80 per square foot. 

Driveway pavers must be designed to withstand repetitive car traffic as well as heavy foot traffic. Driveway pavers should be made from concrete, natural stone, bluestone, brick, cobblestone, marble, or paving stones.

Pavers can add serious curb appeal to your home since you can match them to your overall aesthetic. They are also simple to repair over time, as only individual pieces will need fixing rather than the whole driveway. Pavers have a lifespan of 50 years or more.

Around Pool

Adding pavers around a backyard pool costs $8 to $25 per square foot. This can increase curb appeal and ensure you have plenty of space for outdoor entertaining. Because many pools are curved or intricately designed, you may have to pay for design work, as well as the actual cost of installing pavers, which can increase the project total by 20%.

Full Backyard Pavement

Fully paving your backyard runs $8 to $25 per square foot. But you might also incur additional costs for complex excavations. It’s popular in urban areas with small outdoor spaces to simply turn the whole thing into a hardscaped outdoor space. It’s less maintenance, looks good, and doesn’t cost a ton for the small spaces behind row houses and apartments.

DIY Paver Patio Cost vs. Hiring a Pro

With some basic DIY skills and plenty of time, you can install a basic patio yourself. You do, however, need to make sure that you won't cut through any utility lines, so call the dig line before you start. 

You'll need plenty of time to lay a patio correctly. On average, it takes a homeowner around 50 hours to successfully lay a patio. And, if you try to save time by cutting corners, you'll end up with a patio that shifts and pavers that pop up pretty quickly, so it's worth taking your time. 

Remember that you'll need to grade the area to be level and slope away from your home, and you'll need to lay and compact a sand and gravel base before you can start laying pavers. If you don't have the time or resources to do this job properly, hire a local patio installer instead who can give your patio a better, long-lasting finish than you can probably achieve yourself.

DIY Material Costs

To complete the patio on your own, you'll need access to a number of supplies, including crushed gravel and landscaping fabric. You’ll need to rent a sod cutter for $65 per day to properly remove the sod and prepare the ground for the patio as well as a wet masonry saw for cutting pavers cleanly, which typically rents for $60 per day.

Additionally, you’ll likely need to invest in a lot of on-the-ground learning and should plan to spend many more hours than a pro would on the project.

Here are the costs of some of the materials you will need:

• 12-inch spikes: $10

• Gravel: $200

• Sand: $5

• Edging: $50

• Rake: $10

• Rubber mallet: $5

• Broom: $10

Common Paver Mistakes

Installing a brick paver patio is typically a smooth process if you know what to expect. Plan ahead, and don’t make these common paver mistakes.

• Poor leveling: Make sure the surface is perfectly level before installing or you’re in for a long redo.

• Hand-cutting: Unless you’re experienced at hand-cutting pavers and bricks, use a wet tile or concrete saw.

• Inadequate edging: Without proper edging, the patio will end up spreading.

• Improper bed material or drainage: Always make sure you use enough gravel or road base to allow proper drainage or you’ll end up with standing water on your patio.

• Not tamping properly: If you don’t tamp the gravel and base properly, you’ll end up with an uneven surface over time

How to Install Pavers

Installing a basic brick paver patio can be a relatively easy DIY weekend project. Gather the supplies and equipment you need for the project and do your research. Always remember to fully understand the process before starting and understand exactly how to deal with common problems that might arise.

While this isn’t a comprehensive guide on how to do it, you’ll generally follow these steps:

• Remove the grass.

• Level the dirt.

• Lay out the edging.

• Pour the gravel or road base.

• Measure and dry fit the pavers.

• Install the pavers.

• Fill the joints with cement dust and then sand.

• Seal the patio with the proper sealer for the material you’re using.