Paver types for patio installation
- Concrete pavers — the most common; many shapes, colors and textures.
- Clay brick pavers — classic color that does not fade.
- Natural stone — bluestone, granite, travertine; often the highest cost.
- Permeable pavers — wider joints and open-graded base that let water infiltrate; may help with stormwater rules.
Paver patio installation layers: excavation, gravel base and bedding sand
- Excavate to firm subgrade, allowing for base, sand and paver thickness.
- Place and compact crushed-stone base in lifts — commonly 4–6 in for patios and walks, more for driveways or weak soils.
- Screed about 1 in of bedding sand.
- Lay pavers, install edge restraints, compact, and sweep in joint sand (often polymeric).
Material quantities
Use our paver calculator for pavers, base and sand together, or the sand and crushed stone calculators individually. Order extra base — loose stone compacts.
Drainage and slope
Slope the patio away from the house — roughly ⅛–¼ in per foot is common — and make sure runoff has somewhere to go. Check slopes with the slope calculator.
Paver Patios & Hardscaping costs in 2026
Installed price varies with material, pattern, access and base depth.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Paver patio, installed | $8–$25 per sq ft by material |
| National average project | ≈ $3,350 |
Typical national ranges. New York City and other high-cost metros often run above them — get several written bids for your project.
Calculators for this project
New York rules and permits
New York. Patios at grade often do not need building permits, but zoning lot-coverage, setback and stormwater rules can apply — especially for large impervious areas. In NYC, contractors doing residential patio work need a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license, which DCWP lists as covering patios. On Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties license home improvement contractors.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paver patio cost?
National cost data show about $8–$25 per sq ft depending on material, with a national average project of about $3,350.
How deep should the base be under pavers?
Commonly 4–6 in of compacted crushed stone for patios and walks, deeper for driveways or poor soils; follow the paver manufacturer.
Pavers or concrete?
Pavers cost more upfront but can be repaired by lifting units; concrete is less expensive initially but cracks need patching or replacement.
What sand goes between pavers?
Polymeric joint sand is popular because it hardens and resists weeds and washout.
