How much does a paver patio cost?
A paver patio costs $10 to $17 per square foot installed, or $1,400 to $2,500 for a 12x12 patio, per HomeGuide.
HomeGuide's patio guide reads the same band for brick or concrete pavers — $10 to $17 per square foot, or $4,000 to $6,800 for a 20x20 — and places it between poured concrete at $5 to $15 and natural stone at $16 to $35. Inside that rate, HomeGuide's breakdown is $3.40 to $6.20 per square foot for materials and the base, and $6.25 to $10.90 for labor. The labor is the bigger half, which is the first thing to know about a paver quote.
This page is general information, not professional advice. Prices move with your yard's grade and access, the paver you choose, the pattern and your region, and the only number that counts is a written quote from a contractor who has measured the site.
Paver patio cost installed, by size
| Patio size | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft) | $950 – $1,700 |
| 12 x 12 ft (144 sq ft) | $1,400 – $2,500 |
| 10 x 20 ft (200 sq ft) | $1,900 – $3,400 |
| 15 x 15 ft (225 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,900 |
| 20 x 20 ft (400 sq ft) | $3,800 – $6,800 |
| 24 x 24 ft (576 sq ft) | $5,500 – $9,800 |
| 30 x 30 ft (900 sq ft) | $8,600 – $15,000 |
Source: HomeGuide
So a 12x12 paver patio is $1,400 to $2,500 and a 20x20 is $3,800 to $6,800, on HomeGuide's table, with materials at $4 to $6 per square foot and labor at $6 to $11. The table is the rate times the area, which is why the calculator on this site can price a size between the rows.
Source: HomeGuide
Labor cost to install pavers per square foot
| Operation | Per square foot |
|---|---|
| Labor | $4.50 – $7.00 |
| Excavation | $0.80 – $1.50 |
| Dumping | $0.30 – $0.50 |
| Fuel, delivery, pallet fees, clean-up | $0.50 – $1.90 |
| Total labor | $6.25 – $10.90 |
Source: HomeGuide
HomeGuide lists what pushes the labor up: an intricate pattern or layout, which also creates more cuts and more waste; excavation at $1 to $5 per square foot where old concrete or soil has to come out; regrading at $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot on a slope; and difficult access for equipment. Landscaping companies charge $50 to $100 per hour for paver work on its figures, and add 10% to 20% for overhead and profit.
Source: HomeGuide
What the pavers and the base cost
The pavers themselves average $2 to $4 per square foot on HomeGuide's table, from about $1 for plain concrete to $15 or more for premium clay brick, porcelain or slate. The base under them — geotextile fabric, crushed road base, bedding sand, edging and polymeric joint sand — runs $1.40 to $2.20 per square foot installed. That base is what keeps a patio flat for decades, and it is the line a cheap quote shaves first.
Source: HomeGuide
Ask what is under the pavers. The base is invisible on day one and is the whole reason the patio is flat on day three thousand.
To price your own patio size from these published tables: the paver patio cost calculator.
Questions people ask next
- How much does a 12x12 paver patio cost?
- HomeGuide publishes $1,400 to $2,500 installed for a 12x12 paver patio, 144 square feet at its $10 to $17 rate. HomeGuide's DIY figure for the same patio is about half, at $5 to $10 per square foot in materials and rentals.
- Do I need a permit for a paver patio?
- HomeGuide says a permit and design approval are not required for a brick paver patio installation. Cities differ, and a patio that changes drainage toward a neighbor can draw a code question — ask your building department if the yard slopes.
- How long do pavers last?
- HomeGuide lists stone and brick paver patios as lasting up to 25 years, with concrete pavers needing a sealant. The Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association says a properly installed interlocking pavement provides an attractive surface for decades.
- Is it cheaper to install pavers myself?
- HomeGuide prices a DIY paver patio at $5 to $10 per square foot, about 50% less than hiring out, once the pavers, base, sand, edging and a day's rental of a plate compactor and a wet saw are counted. The saving is the labor; the risk is the base.
Written for homeowners by Most Recommended Pavers, which measures which paver contractors AI assistants actually recommend. Nobody can pay to be on those lists. How we measure.