Paver patio cost in Tuscaloosa, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $2,600 – $4,700
- Per sq ft
- $8.70 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #283
- 1 = most expensive
A paver patio in Tuscaloosa, AL usually costs $2,600 to $4,700 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $8.70 to $14.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $560 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.53 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, 23% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL, standard level
$3,250 to $4,100
About $10.50 to $13 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,350 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $3,250 | $4,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,450 | $1,750 | 39% |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,050 | $2,650 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $310 | 4% |
| Total | $2,600 | $3,650 | $4,700 | 100% |
Where the Tuscaloosa price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $17.53 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Tuscaloosa is 0.81 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 56% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tuscaloosa is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,500 nationally becomes $1,450 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.7: $0 to $310.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Tuscaloosa. The wage table below marks each row.
Tuscaloosa weather and the paver patio calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Northport 2 S (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Tuscaloosa are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tuscaloosa gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and April (5.6 inches in February). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 89 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 38 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 52 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.3 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 53 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 5.2 | Workable |
Is Tuscaloosa cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Birmingham is the priciest of the group at $3,750. Auburn is the cheapest at $3,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, ALthis page | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | |
| Birmingham, AL60 miles | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Montgomery, AL95 miles | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | level |
| Decatur, AL105 miles | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,700 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL130 miles | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,700 | +2% |
| Auburn, AL140 miles | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | level |
| Alabama (statewide) | $2,600 – $4,750 | $3,700 | level |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tuscaloosa ranks #283 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,700 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $2,600 – $4,750 | $3,700 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,700 | +2% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tuscaloosa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $2,550 – $4,600 | $3,600 | −2% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $3,350 – $6,050 | $4,700 | +28% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $2,850 – $5,150 | $4,000 | +9% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $3,200 – $5,750 | $4,500 | +22% |
Planning more than one job in Tuscaloosa?
Jobs that often go together with paver patio are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tuscaloosa wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, wood deck comes out highest (−11%) and concrete driveway lowest (−16%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,900 | −13% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,050 – $12,000 | −12% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,750 – $13,500 | −11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,600 | −12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,650 | −16% |
Extras that change the Tuscaloosa total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.89 for Tuscaloosa, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.81) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Excavation and haul-away | $270 – $1,350 |
What local crews earn in Tuscaloosa
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Tuscaloosa the blend is 0.81.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $17.53 an hour, which is 23% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.59 and $20.69 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the area, 102.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Tuscaloosa metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $23.90 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $27.55 an hour.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.09 an hour, 9% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.36 and $18.41 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 54.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $180 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $170. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 4.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tuscaloosa has 108,460 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 192nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $14.59 | $17.53 | $20.69 | $22.66 | 0.77 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $18.98 | $23.90 | $27.55 | $29.87 | 0.80 | state |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $14.36 | $17.09 | $18.41 | $18.82 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Paver patio: what moves the price in Tuscaloosa
Permit
At-grade patios often need no permit; add a retaining wall, a cover, or a connection to the house and that changes.
Paver material
Pavers alone average $2-$4 per sq ft but the full range is $1-$15 depending on concrete, brick, or natural stone (HomeGuide).
Base prep
The base (road base, fabric, edging, bedding and joint sand) is $1.40-$2.20 per sq ft of the materials number.
Tuscaloosa: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tuscaloosa. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 12x12 (144 sq ft) to pool deck (800 sq ft).
Basic
$2,600 to $3,450
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,250 to $4,100
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$3,850 to $4,700
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,600 – $2,050 | $1,950 – $2,400 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,250 – $2,950 | $2,800 – $3,500 | $3,350 – $4,050 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $3,500 – $4,550 | $4,300 – $5,350 | $5,100 – $6,200 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $6,950 – $9,000 | $8,500 – $10,500 | $10,000 – $12,000 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $3,250 to $4,100 for Tuscaloosa, AL is attached.
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The report lays out the paver patio numbers for Tuscaloosa, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Paver patio in Tuscaloosa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Tuscaloosa?
For 300 sq ft, expect $2,600 to $4,700 in the Tuscaloosa area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,250 to $4,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in Tuscaloosa?
About $8.70 to $14.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $310 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $17.
+Is paver patio cheaper in Tuscaloosa or Birmingham?
Birmingham is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $3,750, which is 2% more than Tuscaloosa ($3,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tuscaloosa?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $3,650. Materials are 39% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Tuscaloosa?
$3,500 to $6,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Tuscaloosa?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $310 for fees in the Tuscaloosa area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tuscaloosa expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Alabama?
Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($3,700 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Tuscaloosa?
The BLS median is $17.53 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.59 to $20.69.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Tuscaloosa?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $2,600 to $3,450 and premium work $3,850 to $4,700. Basic means: basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard. Premium means: natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge.
+When is the best time to install a paver patio in Tuscaloosa?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "excavation and haul-away" add in Tuscaloosa?
$270 to $1,350 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Tuscaloosa
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Paver Patio Cost | Paver Installation Costs (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Stamped Concrete Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020