Home improvement
Patio Cost Calculator
Works patio cost, where the base preparation is most of the work.
Result
Cost per square foot varies hugely by material. Poured concrete sits at the low end, natural stone at the high. Base preparation is the same either way and is where corners get cut.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Surface material for the area, plus the base material and excavation beneath it, plus edge restraint and labour. For a paved patio the excavation, base and compaction account for most of the labour, and that is the part that determines whether the patio stays flat.
What moves the number
- Excavation depth and disposal of the spoil.
- Base material depth and compaction.
- Surface material choice.
- Edge restraint and drainage fall.
Where this one goes wrong
A paved patio laid on an inadequate base settles and becomes uneven within a few seasons, which means the invisible preparation is what the money should go on rather than a more expensive surface on a thin base. Spend on the base. Spoil disposal is the other item frequently omitted, since excavating to the correct depth across a patio produces a substantial volume of material that has to go somewhere and the removal is a real cost.
Before you quote
- Spend on base depth and compaction before surface material.
- Budget for excavation spoil removal.
- Set a drainage fall away from the building.
Questions
About this calculator
What makes a patio last?
The base. A paved patio on an inadequate base settles and becomes uneven within a few seasons, which means the money is better spent on excavation depth and compaction than on a more expensive surface over a thin base.
What gets left out of patio quotes?
Spoil removal. Excavating to the correct depth across a patio produces a substantial volume of material that has to go somewhere, and the disposal is a real cost that a quote focused on materials frequently omits.
Does a patio need drainage?
A fall away from the building, yes. A patio draining toward a wall puts water against it permanently, and in freezing climates water in the base is what lifts and breaks the surface. It cannot be corrected after laying.
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How to use this calculator
- Patio area (sq ft) (sq ft). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 320 sq ft.
- Low-end cost per sq ft ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $14.
- High-end cost per sq ft ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $30.
- Excavation, disposal and access ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $800.
- Contingency (%). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 12%.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to likely cost, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Patio area (sq ft) | 320 sq ft |
| Low-end cost per sq ft | $14 |
| High-end cost per sq ft | $30 |
| Excavation, disposal and access | $800 |
| Contingency | 12% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Likely cost main result | $8,781 |
| Low estimate | $5,914 |
| High estimate | $11,648 |
| All-in cost per sq ft | $27.44 |
Expect roughly $8,781: a range of $5,914 to $11,648 including contingency, or about $27.44 per square foot.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only low-end cost per sq ft, this is what happens to likely cost. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Low-end cost per sq ft ($) | Likely cost |
|---|---|
| $7 | $7,526 |
| $11 | $8,243 |
| $14 example above | $8,781 |
| $21 | $10,035 |
| $28 | $11,290 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Patio area (sq ft) (sq ft)
- Measured in sq ft, starting at 320 sq ft.
- Low-end cost per sq ft ($)
- A money amount, starting at $14.
- High-end cost per sq ft ($)
- A money amount, starting at $30.
- Excavation, disposal and access ($)
- A money amount, starting at $800.
- Contingency (%)
- A percentage, between 0 and 50, starting at 12%.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Likely cost | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Low estimate | A money figure. |
| High estimate | A money figure. |
| All-in cost per sq ft | A money figure. |
Keep going
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