Paver patio cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $3,150 – $5,750
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $18
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #96
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a paver patio in Des Moines, plan on $3,150 to $5,750 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10.50 to $18 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.03 an hour in the Des Moines area, 6% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$3,950 to $4,950
About $13 to $16 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,500 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,200 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $220 |
| Total | $3,950 | $4,950 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,400 | $1,700 | 32% |
| Labor | $2,050 | $2,850 | $3,700 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $320 | 4% |
| Total | $3,150 | $4,450 | $5,750 | 100% |
Why Des Moines prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.03 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Des Moines is 1.13 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 65% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Des Moines metro is 93.7 (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 (91.7) and land at $0 to $320.
Des Moines against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Des Moines. Iowa City is the lowest at about $4,250 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 110 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $3,150 – $5,750 | $4,450 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −4% |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −5% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $3,000 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −4% |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −4% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −5% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −5% |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, Des Moines comes in at #96 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,650; the cheapest is Dothan, AL at $3,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Des Moines is 5% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,400 | −1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $3,000 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −4% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −5% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −4% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −5% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Des Moines's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $3,250 – $5,900 | $4,550 | +3% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $2,750 – $4,950 | $3,850 | −14% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $2,650 – $4,800 | $3,750 | −16% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $2,750 – $5,050 | $3,900 | −12% |
Climate in Des Moines: timing your paver patio job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Des Moines Intl Ap (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 Des Moines (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 128 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Des Moines gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 22 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 | 31 | 14 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 18 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 62 | 41 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 52 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.6 | Cold |
Why two Des Moines quotes can differ
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.
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).
What nearby projects cost in Des Moines
Because every project leans on different trades, Des Moines's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +3% and wood deck −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −1% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,900 | −1% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,450 – $13,600 | +3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,800 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,100 | −2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,350 | +1% |
Des Moines 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 Des Moines is 1.13 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.03 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.67 and $28.91 an hour. About 3,510 work in the metro. That is 86.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 30% of the weighting: a median of $36.45 an hour, 22% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $27.92 and $36.45 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 2.0 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 $21.72 an hour, which is 15% above the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.33 and $22.93 an hour. BLS counts 2,230 of them working in the area, 55.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $270. At the 25th percentile ($22.67) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 6.2% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,130 jobs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. That makes it the 64th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.67 | $24.03 | $28.91 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $27.92 | $36.45 | $36.45 | $29.87 | 1.22 | metro |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $17.33 | $21.72 | $22.93 | $18.82 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Des Moines
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Des Moines by the average of the local wage index (1.13) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.03. 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 | $310 – $1,550 |
Des Moines: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Des Moines 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
$3,150 to $4,200
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,950 to $4,950
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,700 to $5,750
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,050 | $1,950 – $2,500 | $2,350 – $2,900 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,700 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,250 | $4,050 – $4,950 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $4,200 – $5,550 | $5,200 – $6,550 | $6,200 – $7,550 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $8,400 – $10,900 | $10,300 – $12,800 | $12,200 – $14,700 |
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 $3,950 to $4,950 for Des Moines, IA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Des Moines, IA: 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 Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Des Moines?
For 300 sq ft, expect $3,150 to $5,750 in the Des Moines area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,950 to $4,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in Des Moines?
About $10.50 to $18 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $320 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $17.
+Is paver patio cheaper in Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $4,250, which is 4% less than Des Moines ($4,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $2,850 out of $4,450. Materials are 32% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Des Moines?
$4,200 to $7,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Des Moines?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $320 for fees in the Des Moines area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 5% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($4,250 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Des Moines?
The BLS median is $24.03 an hour in the Des Moines area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.67 to $28.91.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Des Moines?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $3,150 to $4,200 and premium work $4,700 to $5,750. 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 Des Moines?
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 Des Moines?
$310 to $1,550 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Des Moines
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