Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total patio cost
$5,685
Paver material (with waste)
$2,145
Installation labor
$2,250
All-in cost per sq ft
$18.95
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter patio area (sq ft).
- 2Enter paver material rate ($/sq ft).
- 3Enter gravel + sand base rate ($/sq ft).
- 4Enter installation labor rate ($/sq ft).
- 5Enter perimeter needing edging (linear ft).
- 6Enter cut waste allowance (%).
- 7Read your total patio cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
A paver patio's price is driven far more by the base preparation than the pavers themselves — excavation, compacted gravel base, and bedding sand typically cost as much as the pavers on a standard install. This calculator breaks the job into paver material cost per square foot, a compacted base layer (gravel plus sand, priced separately since base depth varies by soil and freeze depth), edging restraint, and labor, then applies a waste factor for cuts around curves and borders. 2026 US national averages run roughly $12-$22 per square foot installed for a standard concrete paver patio including base work, with natural stone pavers running $25-$40 per square foot. Labor typically represents 45-55% of the total on a professional install. Enter your own contractor quotes for material and labor rates once you have them — patio pricing varies heavily by region, paver style (concrete vs. natural stone vs. permeable), and how much excavation and drainage work the site needs.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Patio area: 300 sq ft
- Paver material rate: 6.5 $/sq ft
- Gravel + sand base rate: 3.25 $/sq ft
- Installation labor rate: 7.5 $/sq ft
- Perimeter needing edging: 70 linear ft
- Cut waste allowance: 10 %
Results
- Total patio cost: $5,685
- Paver material (with waste): $2,145
- Installation labor: $2,250
- All-in cost per sq ft: $18.95
What each field means
Inputs
- Patio area (sq ft)
- The patio area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 300 sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 20–3000 sq ft.
- Paver material rate ($/sq ft)
- The paver material rate used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 6.5 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 2–25 $/sq ft.
- Gravel + sand base rate ($/sq ft)
- The gravel + sand base rate used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 3.25 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–8 $/sq ft.
- Installation labor rate ($/sq ft)
- The installation labor rate used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 7.5 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 2–20 $/sq ft.
- Perimeter needing edging (linear ft)
- The perimeter needing edging used in the calculation, measured in linear ft. Starts at 70 linear ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–400 linear ft.
- Cut waste allowance (%)
- The cut waste allowance used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 10 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–25 %.
Results
- Total patio cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Paver material (with waste)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Installation labor
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- All-in cost per sq ft
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why does base prep cost almost as much as the pavers?
A proper base is 4-8 inches of compacted crushed gravel plus a bedding sand layer, all of which needs excavation, hauling, compaction equipment, and time — often 40-50% of total labor hours on the job, regardless of which paver you choose on top.
Do permeable pavers cost more?
Yes, typically 15-25% more than standard concrete pavers because they require a deeper open-graded stone base for drainage and often qualify for stormwater fee credits that can partially offset the higher upfront cost.
How much does polymeric sand jointing add?
Budget roughly $0.50-$1.00 per square foot for polymeric jointing sand and labor to sweep and set it, which locks pavers in place and resists weed growth — it's a small add relative to base and paver cost but shouldn't be skipped.
Is DIY patio installation realistic to save money?
DIY can cut the labor portion (45-55% of total cost) significantly, but base compaction quality is the single biggest driver of long-term patio performance — a poorly compacted base leads to settling and heaving within a few years, so rent a plate compactor and follow depth specs carefully.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Paver Patio Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/paver-patio-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/paver-patio-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paver Patio Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Paver Patio Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/paver-patio-cost) (2026).