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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Backyard Patio?

Home/Resources/Outdoor Living & Grills/Backyard Patio Cost
Derek Holt
Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor
Updated October 2026
Low-angle view of a person grilling vegetables, in warm evening lamplight

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As of 2026, a backyard patio costs about $8 to $25 per square foot installed — so a common 300-square-foot patio runs roughly $2,400 to $7,500. Poured concrete sits at the low end near $8 to $15, brick and standard pavers around $12 to $22, and natural stone or intricate designs from $25 up. Labor is usually 50 to 60 percent of the bill, and site prep, drainage and your region swing the total. These are national ballpark figures; costs vary widely by market and material availability, so get several local quotes before budgeting.

What does each patio material cost?

Material is the first lever, and it sets both the look and the repair story down the road. The ranges below are installed cost per square foot as of 2026 — materials plus professional labor on a straightforward, accessible yard.

MaterialInstalled cost / sq ft (2026)Notes
Gravel / decomposed granite$5–$10Cheapest; shifts, needs edging
Poured concrete (plain)$8–$15Low maintenance; can crack
Stamped / colored concrete$12–$20Mimics stone at lower cost
Concrete / brick pavers$12–$22Repairable unit by unit
Natural stone (flagstone, bluestone)$25–$50+Premium look, highest labor

A useful way to read this: concrete and gravel win on up-front price, pavers win on lifetime repairability, and natural stone wins on looks at a real premium. For a 300-square-foot patio that spans roughly $1,500 for gravel to $9,000+ for stone.

Over-the-shoulder view of a person grilling vegetables, in warm evening lamplight

What drives the price up?

Two things move a patio budget the most, and neither is the material itself. The first is site preparation: a sloped, poorly draining or hard-to-access yard needs extra excavation, imported fill, a deeper compacted base and drainage measures, any of which can add thousands. The second is design complexity — curves, borders, multiple levels, built-in seating, a fire feature or a full outdoor kitchen raise both material and labor. If that fire feature burns wood, only dry, seasoned wood under 20 percent moisture keeps it from smoking out the new patio, per EPA Burn Wise guidance. The base and drainage are the one place not to economize; a cheap base under expensive stone is the fastest route to a patio that settles, pools and has to be rebuilt.

Three-quarter view of a person grilling vegetables, in warm evening lamplight

How much does region change it?

A lot. Labor rates, material freight and even frost depth vary by market, so the same patio can cost noticeably more in high-cost metros and coastal cities than in lower-cost inland areas. Cold-climate regions may need a deeper base below the frost line, which adds excavation. Because of this spread, treat any national figure — including these — as a starting point and gather two or three local contractor quotes for your actual yard and material. Prices also move year to year with concrete and labor costs, which is why the as-of date matters.

Golden-hour view of a person grilling vegetables

DIY savings and permits

Doing it yourself can roughly halve the cost, since labor is the majority of a pro bill — a DIY gravel or paver patio often lands at $4 to $12 per square foot in materials and tool rental. The catch is that excavation, a properly compacted base and correct drainage slope are demanding and unforgiving; a base done wrong shows up as settling and pooling within a year. On permits, a simple at-grade patio needs none in many jurisdictions but a permit in others — especially over a certain size, near a property line, affecting drainage, or with a roof, footings or outdoor kitchen. Rules differ by city and county, so check your local building department first.

Once the patio is down, the furniture and grill make it usable — see our best patio furniture sets and, if you are adding a fire feature, note that a fire pit may need its own permit. Grill placement on the new patio still follows the same rule of keeping it well clear of the house, deck railings and overhanging branches, per NFPA grilling safety guidance — see the right distance from the house.

We do not buy, test or physically handle any product on this site. Cost figures reflect 2026 US contractor and material pricing ranges and vary by region — see how we rank.

More from this hub: Outdoor Living & Grills · Best patio furniture sets · Keeping a patio umbrella from blowing over · Best patio umbrellas · How we rank

Straight Answers

Frequently Asked

How much does it cost to build a backyard patio?

As of 2026, a backyard patio in the US typically costs about 8 to 25 dollars per square foot installed, so a common 300-square-foot patio runs roughly 2,400 to 7,500 dollars. Poured concrete is the low end near 8 to 15 dollars, brick and standard pavers land around 12 to 22, and natural stone or intricate designs reach 25 dollars and up. Labor, site prep, drainage and your region swing the total, and these are ballpark figures — get local quotes, as prices vary widely.

What is the cheapest patio material?

Poured concrete is the cheapest permanent patio, typically 8 to 15 dollars per square foot installed as of 2026, and a plain gravel patio is cheaper still at roughly 5 to 10 dollars. Concrete gives a solid, low-maintenance surface but can crack over time and is hard to repair invisibly. Pavers cost more up front, around 12 to 22 dollars, but individual units can be lifted and reset, which many owners find worth the premium over a lifetime. Gravel is cheapest but shifts and needs edging and occasional topping up.

Does a patio need a permit?

Often not for a simple ground-level patio, but it depends entirely on your jurisdiction. Many cities do not require a permit for an at-grade patio that carries no structure, while others require one, especially if the patio is over a certain size, affects drainage, sits near a property line, or includes a roof, footings or an outdoor kitchen. Because rules differ by city and county, check with your local building department before you start — an unpermitted patio can cause problems at resale.

Is it cheaper to build a patio yourself?

Yes, DIY can cut the cost roughly in half, because labor is usually 50 to 60 percent of a professional patio bill. A determined homeowner can build a gravel or paver patio for materials plus tool rental, often 4 to 12 dollars per square foot. The trade-offs are real: excavation, a proper compacted base and correct slope for drainage are hard physical work, and a base done wrong leads to settling, pooling and heaving within a year or two. Poured concrete is best left to pros.

What adds the most to patio cost?

Site preparation and design complexity add the most. A sloped, poorly draining or hard-to-access yard needs extra excavation, fill and drainage that can add thousands. Premium materials like natural stone, curves and borders, multiple levels, built-in seating, fire features or an outdoor kitchen all raise both material and labor costs sharply. Base and drainage are where you should not economize — a cheap base under expensive stone is the fastest way to a patio that fails and has to be rebuilt.