Paver patio cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $2,650 – $4,750
- Per sq ft
- $8.75 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #278
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a paver patio in Fort Smith, plan on $2,650 to $4,750 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.75 to $15 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.77 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 22% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$3,250 to $4,100
About $10.50 to $13 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,500 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,400 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $210 |
| Total | $3,250 | $4,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,400 | $1,700 | 38% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,150 | $2,750 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $150 | $300 | 4% |
| Total | $2,650 | $3,700 | $4,750 | 100% |
Why Fort Smith prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, brickmasons and blockmasons at 30%, landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 20%. Weighted together, Fort Smith wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Smith metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $1,400, compared with $1,500 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) and land at $0 to $300.
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 Fort Smith. The wage table below marks each row.
Fort Smith labor market for paver patio
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Fort Smith is 0.84 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $17.77 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $21.83 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 70.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Smith metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $26.49 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $28.69 an hour.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 20%) the local median is $16.92 an hour, which is 10% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.62 and $17.84 an hour. BLS counts 410 of them working in the area, 42.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $230. At the 25th percentile ($16.31) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 6.2% or 2.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,560 jobs in the Fort Smith area. That makes it the 210th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.31 | $17.77 | $21.83 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $22.14 | $26.49 | $28.69 | $29.87 | 0.89 | state |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $14.62 | $16.92 | $17.84 | $18.82 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Why two Fort Smith quotes can differ
Base prep
The base (road base, fabric, edging, bedding and joint sand) is $1.40-$2.20 per sq ft of the materials number.
Excavation and grading
Digging out is $1-$5 per sq ft; regrading a sloped yard is $0.40-$2.00 per sq ft.
Pattern
Herringbone and curves take longer to lay and waste more stone than a running bond.
What nearby projects cost in Fort Smith
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Smith's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −12% and concrete driveway −22%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,050 – $3,200 | −18% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,750 – $6,550 | −17% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,100 – $11,900 | −12% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,350 – $12,700 | −16% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,050 – $4,400 | −16% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,900 – $7,150 | −22% |
Climate in Fort Smith: timing your paver patio job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Smith Rgnl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and September through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Smith (8 of 12 months). January and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 63 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fort Smith gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.7 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 78 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 30 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 57 | 33 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 51 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 3.5 | Cold |
How Fort Smith compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 300 sq ft range from $3,600 to $4,300 across Fort Smith and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $2,650 – $4,750 | $3,700 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $2,750 – $4,950 | $3,850 | +4% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $2,800 – $5,050 | $3,950 | +6% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,300 | +16% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $2,700 – $4,850 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $2,600 – $4,650 | $3,600 | −2% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,700 | +1% |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Smith comes in at #278 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,650; the cheapest is Dothan, AL at $3,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Fort Smith is 1% below the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $2,700 – $4,850 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $2,750 – $4,950 | $3,850 | +4% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Smith's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $2,650 – $4,750 | $3,700 | level |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $2,700 – $4,850 | $3,800 | +2% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $3,300 – $5,950 | $4,650 | +26% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $3,600 – $6,550 | $5,050 | +37% |
Add-ons priced for Fort Smith
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Fort Smith by the average of the local wage index (0.84) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.89. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Excavation and haul-away | $270 – $1,350 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: paver patio pricing in Fort Smith
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Smith wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$2,650 to $3,500
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,250 to $4,100
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$3,900 to $4,750
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,250 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,450 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,250 – $3,000 | $2,800 – $3,550 | $3,350 – $4,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $3,500 – $4,600 | $4,350 – $5,400 | $5,150 – $6,250 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $7,000 – $9,100 | $8,550 – $10,600 | $10,100 – $12,200 |
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 Fort Smith, AR is attached.
Detailed paver patio report for Fort Smith, AR, $9
Multi-page report for Fort Smith, AR: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Fort Smith?
For 300 sq ft, expect $2,650 to $4,750 in the Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith?
About $8.75 to $15 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $17.
+Is paver patio cheaper in Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $3,850, which is 4% more than Fort Smith ($3,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $2,150 out of $3,700. Materials are 38% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$3,500 to $6,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Fort Smith?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $300 for fees in the Fort Smith area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 1% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($3,700 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $17.77 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.31 to $21.83.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Fort Smith?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $2,650 to $3,500 and premium work $3,900 to $4,750. 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 Fort Smith?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through November. February and November 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 Fort Smith?
$270 to $1,350 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Fort Smith
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