How much does a Patio cost?

Patios are incredible outdoor shelters and can be enjoyed almost all year round in most regions. However, hardscaping projects such as patios involve significant investment. 

To find out details of the specific cost and price for a patio, you should read this article.

Patio cost by Size

The size of area to be covered by a patio is one of the major influencing factors in deciding its total cost. This, along with the material required, is the biggest factor that affects the cost of building a patio. 

Everyone wants a patio which is large enough to enjoy with friends and family. However, large square footage can usually add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the final cost of a patio. Let’s take a quick look at the cost of building a patio (assuming USD 8 to USD 20 per sq. ft. as average range) and calculate the cost of building a small, medium and large sized patio. 

• Small 80 sq. ft. patio = USD 640 to USD 1,600
• Medium 144 sq. ft. patio = USD 1,152 to USD 2,880 
• Large 400 sq. ft. patio = USD 3,200 to USD 8,000

Other Cost Factors for Patio

As mentioned, the square footage and material used are usually the two most influential factors in determining the overall cost of constructing a patio. Let’s check out the average range of some popular patio materials:

• Gravel = USD 0.81 – USD 2.85 per sq. ft. 
• Concrete pavers = USD 2.67 – USD 6.00 per sq. ft.
• Poured concrete = USD 3.38 – USD 8.12 per sq. ft. 
• Brick pavers = USD 6.75 – USD 10.00 per sq. ft.
• Flagstone = USD 8.65 – USD 20.65 per sq. ft.
• Stamped concrete = USD 9.15 – USD 16.30 

Patio Materials

The exact cost of patio materials varies from region to region. To find out the specific cost of individual patio materials it is advisable to visit your local home improvement stores, stone yards and reclaimed brick sites to get the most affordable estimate. 

The reason is that local stone and reclaimed material suppliers may offer affordable rates, depending on the area you live in.

Maintaining the Patio

Patios need to be maintained just like any other hardscape feature. Though you may not need to take care of it regularly, you will need to evaluate it at least once or twice a year with a close check to ensure it is in good working order.

You should check the patio every six months or so to ensure the level of the sand between the pavers. Make sure to keep the sand filled at least a quarter-inch below the paver’s surface. A 40 lbs. bag of regular sand costs around USD 4 while a 48 lbs. bag of polymeric sand costs around USD 22. These bags are sufficient to cover around 30 sq. ft. to 45 sq. ft. of patio. 

Besides this, landscaping experts, such as Eden always advise homeowners to seal the pavers. This is beneficial as it helps to protect the pavers and the joint sand, this reducing the risk of permanent staining, and helps to maintain the original color of the pavers.

Accessories for Patio

Apart from building the patio, you also have to spend money to buy seats for everyone to sit. A basic two-chair table set can cost as much as USD 100 while more elaborate and bigger sets can cost thousands of dollars. If you are planning to hang a hammock in the patio, then you can buy one for around USD 100.

Additional Service Charges

An inviting and comfortable patio will need more than just pavers and seats. Let’s check out the cost of some patio accessories.

Fire Pit

You can have a fire pit installed in the patio for around USD 367 to USD 2,233. You should expect to pay at least USD 250, as the average rate is around USD 750, and high-end fire pit installation can cost as much as USD 7,500 or more.

Lighting 

Lights help to extend the duration you can enjoy your patio. It’s ideal to install lighting in the patio if you plan to enjoy it after sunset. 

Professional hardscape experts charge around USD 118 to USD 325 per light, with the average per-light cost being at around USD 260. An average lighting project for an entire patio can cost between USD 1,833 to USD 5,333 or more.

Landscaping

The cost of landscaping, such as planting perennials, seasonal colors, shrubs or flower beds in the patio is around USD 4 to USD 14 per sq. ft. 

DIY Patio Cost

If you are handy with tools and want to accomplish building a patio as a DIY project, then let’s take a quick look at the common costs for a DIY patio.

The cost of equipment and labor for professional installation is significant. On average, the cost of labor for building a patio is around USD 9.69 per sq. ft. At times, labor costs can consist of around 50% of the overall cost of building a patio. With this in mind, you can avoid effectively reduce these expenses significantly by choosing to build a patio on your own.

To get a better understanding, let’s assume you want to build a simple 240 sq. ft. (12’ x 20’) concrete paver patio with the average cost of pavers as USD 4.34 per sq. ft. 

So, at this rate, gravel can cost as much as USD 17.69 per ton, landscape fabric costs around USD 22, 48’ edging and steel spikes cost around USD 69 and concrete pavers can cost between USD 73.41 and USD 88.45. Besides this, the cost of a ton of sand is around USD 29 while you may have to pay as much as USD 100 for its delivery. In total, you can expect to pay anywhere between USD 1,235 to USD 1,250 for a DIY patio project.

This total does not include additional costs, such as cost of equipment for a DIY patio project as the total cost for this can be hundreds to thousands of dollars. 

Conclusion

The national average cost of hiring professional to build a patio is around 3,994, while the typical range is between USD 2,363 and USD 5,909. You should expect to pay at least USD 1,212 and as high as USD 8,431 for professional patio installation in the United States. It is highly recommended to consult and hire professional hardscape specialists, such as Eden for best results.