How Much Will It Cost to Build a Patio? Prices by Size

Building a patio typically costs between $5 and $35 per square foot installed, which works out to roughly $2,000 to $14,000 for a 20x20 patio depending on the material and how much site prep your yard needs. If you’re wondering how much does an outdoor patio cost, your best starting point is the installed price per square foot plus the amount of site prep required. Basic poured concrete sits at the low end ($4–$12 per square foot), while natural flagstone or high-end pavers can push past $30 per square foot. If you go DIY, you can cut 30–50% off the total by eliminating labor, but you'll still pay for base materials, tool rentals, and your own time.

What a patio costs by size

Before diving into materials, it helps to anchor your budget to real square footage. If you want a more specific figure for your situation, review patio costs by size to compare how the total changes with square footage, which is closely aligned with how much does a back patio cost. The table below uses a mid-range estimate across common materials to give you a ballpark for popular patio sizes. These are installed costs, meaning contractor labor is included.

The low end assumes basic concrete or simple dry-laid pavers on a reasonably flat, accessible lot. The high end reflects natural stone, stamped or colored concrete, or anything involving significant grading, drainage work, or removal of an existing surface. Your number will land somewhere in between based on the factors covered below.

Price ranges by material type

Material choice is probably the single biggest lever on your final cost. Here is how the main options stack up in 2026, based on current installed pricing data.

Poured concrete

A standard 3.5 to 4-inch thick concrete patio runs about $10 per square foot installed, according to Angi, with basic designs starting around $4–$6 and stamped or colored options reaching $12–$20 or more. Forbes Home puts the installed slab range at $6–$11 per square foot including labor. For a 400-square-foot (20x20) concrete patio, you're looking at $2,400 to $4,400 for a plain slab, or $4,800 to $8,000 for stamped. Concrete is the budget-friendly workhorse, but if it cracks it can be harder to patch invisibly than unit pavers.

Concrete and brick pavers

Paver patios typically cost $10–$17 per square foot installed for concrete pavers, with HomeGuide citing labor alone at $6.25–$10.90 per square foot. Angi puts professional paver installer labor at $50–$80 per hour, or about $4–$11 per square foot depending on the complexity of the layout. Brick pavers follow a similar range but can climb toward $25 per square foot for intricate herringbone or basket-weave patterns. For a 400-square-foot paver patio, Houzz cites a real-world average of around $5,600 total. The upside of pavers is repairability: if one settles or cracks, you pull it, re-level, and reset it without patching the whole surface.

Flagstone and natural stone

Flagstone is where costs jump fast. Dry-laid flagstone typically runs $15–$32 per square foot, while concrete-set (wet-laid into a mortar bed over a concrete base) can hit $35–$45 per square foot. Forbes Home puts the average installed range at $15–$27 per square foot. The labor intensity of cutting, fitting, and leveling irregular stone is what drives the premium. If you want natural stone on a tight budget, dry-laid over compacted gravel is the more accessible path, though it requires occasional re-leveling over the years.

What you're actually paying for: the cost breakdown

A patio isn't just the surface material. The total price includes several layers of work, and this is where a lot of homeowners get surprised by quotes that seem higher than expected.

Base preparation

Every patio starts with excavation and a compacted gravel base. For pavers, the standard install calls for about 4 inches of compacted gravel base plus about 1 inch of bedding sand before the pavers go down. HomeGuide prices base materials (gravel, geotextile fabric, edging, bedding sand, joint sand) at $1.40–$2.20 per square foot, but the installed gravel foundation itself can cost $2–$5 per square foot when labor is included. Skipping or shortcutting the base is the most common reason patios settle, shift, or heave within a few years.

Excavation and grading

If your yard is level and has easy equipment access, excavation costs are modest. If the ground slopes significantly, you'll pay for either grading or building up on one side, plus potential retaining work. Angi notes that slopes and demolition of existing surfaces are among the biggest quote drivers. Haul-off of excavated material also adds cost, typically $150–$500 depending on volume and your area.

Surface materials and finishing

The surface material is what most people price first, but finishing steps add up too. For concrete, that includes reinforcement (rebar or wire mesh), forming, pour, and finish. For pavers, it includes the units themselves plus polymeric joint sand and compaction with a plate compactor for locking everything in place. Sealing, which extends patio life and color, typically adds $0.50–$2.00 per square foot and isn't always included in base quotes, so ask specifically.

Labor

Labor commonly makes up 40–60% of your total project cost. For pavers, professional installers charge $50–$80 per hour or $4–$11 per square foot in labor. For concrete, forming and pouring labor typically accounts for $3–$6 per square foot on a standard slab. On a 400-square-foot project, labor alone can range from $1,200 to $4,400 depending on complexity and your region.

Permits

Many homeowners skip this until a contractor brings it up. An open patio permit typically costs $100–$400. Not all municipalities require a permit for a ground-level slab, but many do once you hit roughly 200–400 square feet or if the patio affects drainage patterns. Covered patios and patio roofs almost always require a permit, so if you're planning an add-on structure, budget for it. Covered patios also have extra costs for the structure and roofing, so planning for permits and framing is important when you estimate your total. Ask your contractor who pulls the permit and get it in writing.

DIY vs. hiring a contractor

Going DIY can save you $1,500 to $5,000 on a mid-size patio, but the savings aren't as clean as they look at first glance. Here's what actually changes and what stays the same.

The biggest DIY gotcha is base prep. Renting a vibratory plate compactor runs $60 for a 4-hour rental up to $100 for a full day. You'll also need to haul or arrange delivery of gravel, edge restraints, and sand, which adds coordination time. Concrete is actually harder to DIY than pavers because forming, pouring, and finishing concrete correctly is a skill that takes experience. If you want a DIY-friendly entry point, dry-laid pavers over a properly prepared base are far more forgiving and repairable than a self-poured slab.

One thing that doesn't change going DIY: material costs still follow market rates. You're not going to buy pavers or gravel at contractor pricing unless you have a trade account. Budget the same material costs as a pro would use, then subtract labor.

What will push your price up (or down)

A few variables can shift your quote by thousands of dollars, and most of them have nothing to do with the patio material you pick.

• Site slope and grading: Significant slope means excavation, fill, or retaining work. Even 12 inches of slope across a 20-foot run can add $500–$2,000 to a project.
• Soil type: Rocky soil or clay that holds water adds excavation time and may require deeper base preparation or drainage solutions.
• Drainage: If your patio will direct water toward your foundation or sit in a low spot, you'll need drainage channels or a French drain, which adds $800–$2,500 depending on scope.
• Demolition of existing surfaces: Removing an old concrete slab typically costs $1–$2 per square foot for the demo plus haul-off fees.
• Access: A backyard only reachable through a narrow gate limits equipment access and raises labor costs. Hand-moving materials adds time fast.
• Pattern and cuts: Intricate paver layouts or irregular stone fitting requires more cuts and more labor hours. A running bond is cheaper than a herringbone; pre-cut rectangular pavers are cheaper than hand-fitted flagstone.
• Sealing and finishing: Patio sealers add cost upfront but protect the surface and can cut long-term maintenance. Usually priced separately from the base install.
• Region: Labor rates vary significantly. Expect costs in the Northeast, California, and major metros to run 20–40% above national averages, while rural Midwest or South markets can be 15–25% lower.
• Add-ons: A covered patio or patio roof structure adds substantially to the budget, often bringing the total scope to $10,000–$22,000 or more for a mid-size project. That's a separate budgeting exercise from the slab or paver surface itself.

How to estimate your project and get accurate quotes

A vague quote leads to surprises mid-project. The best thing you can do before calling a contractor is to define your project clearly so every bid is based on the same scope, which makes them actually comparable.

Before you call anyone, nail down these details

1. Measure the exact dimensions you want, not a rough guess. Know your square footage.
2. Decide on your preferred material (even if it's tentative). Asking for a paver quote and a concrete quote from the same contractor gives you an apples-to-apples comparison.
3. Note any obvious site issues: slope, existing concrete to remove, low drainage areas, narrow access points.
4. Check with your local building department whether a permit is required for your size and type of patio. Some jurisdictions post this online in minutes.
5. Decide if you want sealing, lighting conduit, or built-in edging included, and include those in your scope when asking for quotes.

Questions to ask every contractor you quote

• Is your quote itemized? Ask to see line items for excavation, base material, surface material, labor, and finishing separately.
• What base depth and materials are you using? A contractor who can't answer this is cutting corners.
• Does this price include permit pulling, and who is responsible for obtaining it?
• What is the warranty on your work, and what does it cover specifically?
• How do you handle change orders if unexpected site conditions (rock, drainage issues) come up?
• Are you licensed and insured for this type of work in this state?
• What is your payment schedule? Avoid paying more than 10–20% upfront before work begins.
• Who will actually be doing the work, you or a subcontractor?

Get at least three written, itemized quotes. Not ballpark numbers over the phone, but actual written estimates you can compare line by line. The cheapest bid is not always the best value, especially if it omits base prep steps or uses thinner gravel than standard. Review scope, timeline, warranty, and payment terms before signing anything. A contractor who skips a written contract on a $5,000 job is a red flag.

A quick self-estimate formula

If you want a fast sanity-check number before getting quotes, use this: multiply your square footage by $8 for a basic concrete floor, $13 for standard pavers, or $22 for natural stone. That gets you close to a mid-range installed estimate for a flat lot with no demo. Then add $500–$1,500 if you have any slope or drainage concerns, and another $200–$400 if a permit is required. The resulting number should be reasonably close to what your first contractor quotes. If a bid comes in 40% below that estimate, ask specifically what's not included.

One last thing worth saying directly: patio costs are notably lower than deck costs for comparable square footage in most markets, which is one reason patios are popular budget additions. But if you're also thinking about adding a roof over the patio, that changes the equation significantly, and covered patio builds carry their own pricing logic separate from the slab or paver surface underneath.