Paver patio cost in Dover, DE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $2,950 – $5,350
- Per sq ft
- $9.80 – $16.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #153
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a paver patio in the Dover area: $2,950 to $5,350 for 300 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Dover, DE, standard level
$3,650 to $4,650
About $12 to $14.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,350 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $2,250 | $2,850 |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $240 |
| Total | $3,650 | $4,650 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Dover, DE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,450 | $1,750 | 35% |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,550 | $3,300 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $170 | $340 | 4% |
| Total | $2,950 | $4,150 | $5,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Dover number
Labor is 61% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), brickmasons and blockmasons (30%), landscaping and groundskeeping workers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Dover the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dover 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 97.5: $0 to $340.
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 Dover. The wage table below marks each row.
Dover against nearby metros and the rest of Delaware
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 $4,150 to $5,350 across Dover and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DEthis page | $2,950 – $5,350 | $4,150 | |
| Vineland, NJ25 miles | $3,800 – $6,900 | $5,350 | +29% |
| Atlantic City, NJ45 miles | $3,250 – $5,950 | $4,600 | +11% |
| Philadelphia, PA55 miles | $3,250 – $5,950 | $4,600 | +11% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,200 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA75 miles | $3,050 – $5,550 | $4,300 | +3% |
| Delaware (statewide) | $2,950 – $5,350 | $4,150 | level |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dover ranks #153 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dover is 0% below the Delaware figure.
Dover is the only Delaware metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dover against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,350 | +5% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $2,750 – $4,950 | $3,850 | −7% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $3,200 – $5,750 | $4,500 | +8% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $2,750 – $5,050 | $3,900 | −6% |
Who does the work: Dover trade wages
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 Dover the blend is 0.99.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.02 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.63 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 58.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dover metro, so we used the Delaware statewide median: $32.00 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.93 and $40.12 an hour.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.54 an hour, 7% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.41 and $18.37 an hour. About 550 work in the metro. That is 80.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $200. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 3.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dover has 68,080 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 265th 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% | $18.50 | $22.02 | $24.63 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $26.93 | $32.00 | $40.12 | $29.87 | 1.07 | state |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $16.41 | $17.54 | $18.37 | $18.82 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Why two Dover 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.
Optional extras in Dover
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.98 for Dover, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.99) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Excavation and haul-away | $290 – $1,450 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: paver patio pricing in Dover
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dover. 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
$2,950 to $3,900
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,650 to $4,650
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,400 to $5,350
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,400 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,350 | $2,200 – $2,750 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,500 – $3,350 | $3,150 – $4,000 | $3,800 – $4,600 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $3,950 – $5,150 | $4,850 – $6,100 | $5,800 – $7,050 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $7,850 – $10,200 | $9,600 – $12,000 | $11,400 – $13,700 |
The best months for paver patio in Dover
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Dover (in the city). 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 Dover are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 79 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Dover gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 13 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 35 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 69 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 39 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 32 | 4.0 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Dover
Jobs that often go together with paver patio are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dover wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−2%) and wood deck lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,500 | −5% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,900 – $13,100 | −2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,950 | −5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,600 | −7% |
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Paver patio in Dover: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Dover?
For 300 sq ft, expect $2,950 to $5,350 in the Dover area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,650 to $4,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in Dover?
About $9.80 to $16.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $340 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $17.
+Is paver patio cheaper in Dover or Vineland?
Vineland is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $5,350, which is 29% more than Dover ($4,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dover?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $2,550 out of $4,150. Materials are 35% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Dover?
$3,950 to $7,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Dover?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $340 for fees in the Dover area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dover expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Delaware?
Dover is 0% below the Delaware statewide estimate ($4,150 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Dover?
The BLS median is $22.02 an hour in the Dover area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.50 to $24.63.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Dover?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $2,950 to $3,900 and premium work $4,400 to $5,350. 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 Dover?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. April 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 Dover?
$290 to $1,450 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Dover
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