A paver patio costs $8 to $25 per square foot installed in 2026
A paver patio costs $8 to $25 per square foot installed in 2026. Size, paver type, base work and your region set the final price. HomeGuide lists $10 to $17 per square foot installed. Lawn Love lists a national average of $3,350 for a 280 square foot patio. Inch Calculator lists $3,200 to $10,000 for a 20 by 20 foot patio. Hard to reach yards and fancy patterns cost more.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide | HomeGuide lists $10 to $17 per square foot installed, $1,400 to $2,500 for a 12 by 12 foot patio, and $3,800 to $6,800 for a 20 by 20 foot patio. |
| Lawn Love | Lawn Love lists a national average of $3,350 for a 280 square foot patio, a typical range of $2,275 to $6,950, and $8 to $24 per square foot. |
| Inch Calculator | Inch Calculator lists $8 to $25 per square foot, and $512 to $1,600 for 8 by 8 feet up to $3,200 to $10,000 for 20 by 20 feet. |
Paver patio price by size (installed)
| Patio size | Installed price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 8 by 8 feet (64 sq ft) | $512 to $1,600 | Inch Calculator |
| 12 by 12 feet (144 sq ft) | $1,152 to $3,600 | Inch Calculator |
| 12 by 12 feet | $1,400 to $2,500 | HomeGuide |
| 16 by 16 feet (256 sq ft) | $2,048 to $6,400 | Inch Calculator |
| 20 by 20 feet (400 sq ft) | $3,200 to $10,000 | Inch Calculator |
| 20 by 20 feet | $3,800 to $6,800 | HomeGuide |
| 280 sq ft, national average | $3,350 ($2,275 to $6,950 typical) | Lawn Love |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Size | Bigger patios cost more in total. Inch Calculator lists $1,152 to $3,600 for a 12 by 12 foot patio and $3,200 to $10,000 for a 20 by 20 foot patio. |
| Paver material | HomeGuide lists $8 to $14 per square foot installed for stone, $10 to $17 for brick, and $8 to $15 for concrete pavers. |
| Labor | HomeGuide lists labor at $6 to $11 per square foot. Lawn Love lists $5 to $15 per square foot, or $50 to $80 an hour. |
| Base work | A good base keeps pavers from sinking. HomeGuide lists base materials at $1.40 to $2.20 per square foot, plus site prep and grading. |
| Pattern and site | Fancy patterns and tricky yards take more labor, says Inch Calculator. Slopes, tree roots and tight access raise the price. |
What the price includes
The price usually covers pavers, base gravel and sand, labor, site prep, grading and finishing. HomeGuide lists paver materials at $4 to $6 per square foot and base at $1.40 to $2.20. Digging out old concrete, drainage, edging, sealing, steps and walls often cost extra. Ask for a written quote that lists each item. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
DIY or hire a pro
HomeGuide says DIY costs about $5 to $10 per square foot, against $10 to $17 installed by a pro. You save on labor, which HomeGuide lists at $6 to $11 per square foot. But you must rent tools such as a plate compactor, dig, level the base and cut pavers. A weak base makes pavers sink and shift. Many owners do the dig out and haul away, then hire a pro for the base and laying. Pick the DIY route for a small, flat patio.
How to tell you need it
You may want a paver patio if your yard has bare dirt, mud or a cracked slab. Pavers give a flat spot for chairs and a grill. They also drain better than a solid slab, and a broken paver can be replaced alone. Think about the size you need for tables and walking room before you ask for quotes, since size drives the total.
How to judge your quote
- Ask if the quote lists price per square foot and the total area.
- Ask what base depth and gravel the quote uses.
- Ask if digging out old concrete, edging and sealing are in the price.
- Ask for the paver type, brand and warranty in writing.
- Compare the total with the range above: $8 to $25 per square foot for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Keep the patio simple. A plain pattern takes less labor than curves or fancy designs, says Inch Calculator.
- Get three written quotes. Lawn Love lists labor from $5 to $15 per square foot, so quotes can differ a lot.
- Pick concrete pavers over stone. HomeGuide lists $8 to $15 per square foot installed for concrete and $10 to $17 for brick.
- Do the dig out yourself, then hire a pro to lay the pavers. HomeGuide says full DIY runs about $5 to $10 per square foot.
- Book in the off season, when many crews have open time, and ask if a lower price is possible.
Why this costs more in 2026
Trade labor now runs about $75 to $150 an hour in most of the US. Lumber, steel, copper, PVC and concrete all cost more than in 2024, and freight went up after the oil shock that began with the Iran war in February 2026. Gravel, sand and paver prices and crew wages are higher in 2026, which keeps installed prices near the top of past ranges.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from HomeGuide, Lawn Love and Inch Calculator. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a paver patio cost per square foot?
Installed prices run $8 to $25 per square foot. HomeGuide lists $10 to $17, Lawn Love lists $8 to $24, and Inch Calculator lists $8 to $25.
How much is a 12 by 12 paver patio?
HomeGuide lists $1,400 to $2,500. Inch Calculator lists $1,152 to $3,600 for the same size, 144 square feet.
What is the labor cost?
HomeGuide lists labor at $6 to $11 per square foot. Lawn Love lists $5 to $15 per square foot, or $50 to $80 an hour.
Which paver type costs most?
HomeGuide lists brick pavers at $10 to $17 per square foot installed. Stone is $8 to $14 and concrete is $8 to $15.
Is DIY cheaper?
Yes. HomeGuide says DIY can run about $5 to $10 per square foot, but you must rent tools and buy the base materials.