Paver patio cost in the District of Columbia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $3,250 – $5,900
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $18.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $4,250
- Metros covered
- 1
Across the District of Columbia, a paver patio costs about $3,250 to $5,900 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 8% above the US figure of $4,250. Construction laborers earn a median $24.05 an hour in the District of Columbia (US: $22.66).
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in District of Columbia (statewide), standard level
$4,050 to $5,100
About $13 to $16 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $1,750 |
| Labor | $2,450 | $3,100 |
| Permits and fees | $120 | $270 |
| Total | $4,050 | $5,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in District of Columbia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,600 | $1,900 | 35% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,800 | $3,600 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $190 | $380 | 4% |
| Total | $3,250 | $4,550 | $5,900 | 100% |
District of Columbia seasons and paver patio
Season matters for paver patio. For each District of Columbia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Washington has 9 comfortable months (March through June and August through December), with about 42 inches of precipitation a year.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 30 | 90 | 42 | 9: March through June and August through December |
If you are planning more than one job in the District of Columbia
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide District of Columbia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+8%) and wood deck lowest (+5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +8% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,600 | +8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,600 – $14,500 | +8% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,900 – $15,900 | +5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,600 | +8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $9,950 | +8% |
Quality levels and sizes in the District of Columbia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide District of Columbia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,250 to $4,300
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$4,050 to $5,100
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,850 to $5,900
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,550 – $2,150 | $2,000 – $2,600 | $2,450 – $3,050 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,750 – $3,700 | $3,450 – $4,400 | $4,150 – $5,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $4,300 – $5,700 | $5,350 – $6,700 | $6,350 – $7,750 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $8,650 – $11,200 | $10,600 – $13,200 | $12,500 – $15,100 |
Extras that change the District of Columbia total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to District of Columbia by the average of the local wage index (1.09) and goods index (1.07), a factor of 1.08. 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 | $320 – $1,600 |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in the District of Columbia
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.09 for the District of Columbia.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.05 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.41 an hour. About 2,090 work in the state. That is 29.8 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 $30.98 an hour, 4% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.75 and $40.27 an hour. About 200 work in the state. That is 2.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.46 an hour, which is 25% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $22.83 and $26.80 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the state, 11.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.41 an hour) would add about $250 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.80) would take off about $180. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 701,920 jobs across the District of Columbia (May 2025), which is 0.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $20.80 | $24.05 | $28.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $30.75 | $30.98 | $40.27 | $29.87 | 1.04 | state |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $22.83 | $23.46 | $26.80 | $18.82 | 1.25 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
District of Columbia versus the states around it
District of Columbia ranks 14 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for paver patio, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,550 and the cheapest Mississippi at $3,650, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. District of Columbia sits at $4,550. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 50 miles away | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −7% |
| Virginia | 110 miles away | $2,850 – $5,200 | $4,050 | −12% |
| Pennsylvania | 110 miles away | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,350 | −4% |
| Delaware | 110 miles away | $2,950 – $5,350 | $4,150 | −9% |
| New Jersey | 160 miles away | $3,550 – $6,500 | $5,000 | +10% |
Paver patio: what moves the price in the District of Columbia
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.
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.
Permit
At-grade patios often need no permit; add a retaining wall, a cover, or a connection to the house and that changes.
Which District of Columbia city is cheapest for paver patio?
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $3,100 – $5,600 | $4,350 | −5% |
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Paver patio in the District of Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in the District of Columbia?
$3,250 to $5,900 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside the District of Columbia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in the District of Columbia is cheapest for paver patio?
Washington at about $4,350 (midpoint, 300 sq ft).
+Is paver patio cheaper in the District of Columbia than the US average?
It is 8% more expensive: $4,550 against $4,250 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in the District of Columbia?
About 61% ($2,800). Materials are 35%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.09x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in the District of Columbia?
The BLS statewide median is $24.05 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.80 to $28.41.
+Where does District of Columbia rank for paver patio costs?
14th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $4,550 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in the District of Columbia?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $3,250 to $4,300 and premium work $4,850 to $5,900. Basic means: basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard. Premium means: natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge.
+Does the season matter for paver patio in the District of Columbia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the District of Columbia metros we cover, Washington has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "excavation and haul-away" add in the District of Columbia?
$320 to $1,600 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio by city in the District of Columbia
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