Paver patio cost in Fort Collins, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $3,050 – $5,550
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $17.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #119
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Collins homeowners pay roughly $3,050 to $5,550 to install a paver patio at 300 sq ft, or $10 to $17.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Collins is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.86 an hour in the Fort Collins area, 1% above the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your paver patio cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Fort Collins, CO, standard level
$3,800 to $4,800
About $12.50 to $15 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,350 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $250 |
| Total | $3,800 | $4,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Fort Collins, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,450 | $1,750 | 33% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,700 | $3,500 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $180 | $350 | 4% |
| Total | $3,050 | $4,300 | $5,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Fort Collins number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.86 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Collins is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 62% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Collins metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $1,450, compared with $1,500 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.1) and land at $0 to $350.
Fort Collins: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Collins 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
$3,050 to $4,050
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,800 to $4,800
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,550 to $5,550
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,000 | $1,900 – $2,450 | $2,300 – $2,850 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,600 – $3,500 | $3,250 – $4,150 | $3,900 – $4,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $4,050 – $5,350 | $5,050 – $6,350 | $6,000 – $7,300 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $8,150 – $10,600 | $9,950 – $12,400 | $11,800 – $14,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Fort Collins
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Collins's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +1% and wood deck −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | level |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,950 | level |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,500 | +1% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,300 – $14,600 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,150 | −1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,250 | level |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Collins is 1.06 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.86 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.83 and $27.15 an hour. About 930 work in the metro. That is 54.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 30% of the weighting: a median of $32.27 an hour, 8% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.96 and $35.85 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 4.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.33 an hour, which is 13% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $18.59 and $22.63 an hour. BLS counts 1,610 of them working in the area, 95.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.15 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $240. At the 25th percentile ($20.83) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 5.6% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 169,430 jobs in the Fort Collins-Loveland area. That makes it the 138th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $20.83 | $22.86 | $27.15 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $30.96 | $32.27 | $35.85 | $29.87 | 1.08 | metro |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $18.59 | $21.33 | $22.63 | $18.82 | 1.13 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Is Fort Collins cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Denver is the priciest of the group at $4,550. Cheyenne is the cheapest at $4,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, COthis page | $3,050 – $5,550 | $4,300 | |
| Boulder, CO40 miles | $3,050 – $5,600 | $4,350 | +1% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,200 | −2% |
| Cheyenne, WY60 miles | $2,900 – $5,250 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Denver, CO90 miles | $3,200 – $5,850 | $4,550 | +6% |
| Colorado Springs, CO135 miles | $3,000 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −2% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,350 | +1% |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Collins comes in at #119 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 Collins is 1% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $3,200 – $5,850 | $4,550 | +6% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $3,000 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −2% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $3,050 – $5,600 | $4,350 | +1% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,200 | −2% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $2,950 – $5,350 | $4,150 | −4% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $2,950 – $5,350 | $4,150 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Collins's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Collins against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $2,750 – $5,050 | $3,900 | −9% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $3,250 – $5,950 | $4,600 | +7% |
| Visalia, CA | 171,140 jobs | $3,200 – $5,750 | $4,450 | +4% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $2,600 – $4,650 | $3,650 | −16% |
Extras that change the Fort Collins total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Fort Collins by the average of the local wage index (1.06) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 1.01. 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 | $300 – $1,500 |
When to schedule paver patio in Fort Collins
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Collins (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Collins (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November 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 150 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fort Collins gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 1.4 and 1.3 inches. The station averages about 29 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 | 45 | 18 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 21 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 29 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 2.1 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 44 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 53 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 57 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 36 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 44 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Collins bid
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.
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 $3,800 to $4,800 for Fort Collins, CO is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Fort Collins, CO: 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 Collins: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Fort Collins?
For 300 sq ft, expect $3,050 to $5,550 in the Fort Collins area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,800 to $4,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in Fort Collins?
About $10 to $17.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $350 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $17.
+Is paver patio cheaper in Fort Collins or Boulder?
Boulder is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $4,350, which is 1% more than Fort Collins ($4,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Collins?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $4,300. Materials are 33% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Fort Collins?
$4,050 to $7,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Fort Collins?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $350 for fees in the Fort Collins area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Collins expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Colorado?
Fort Collins is 1% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($4,350 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fort Collins?
The BLS median is $22.86 an hour in the Fort Collins area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.83 to $27.15.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Fort Collins?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $3,050 to $4,050 and premium work $4,550 to $5,550. 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 Collins?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. 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 Fort Collins?
$300 to $1,500 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Fort Collins
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