Paver patio cost in Iowa City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $3,000 – $5,450
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $17
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #138
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a paver patio in Iowa City, plan on $3,000 to $5,450 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10 to $17 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.05 an hour in the Iowa City area, 2% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Iowa City, IA, standard level
$3,750 to $4,700
About $12 to $15 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,500 |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $220 |
| Total | $3,750 | $4,700 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,400 | $1,700 | 33% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,650 | $3,450 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $320 | 4% |
| Total | $3,000 | $4,250 | $5,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Iowa City number
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, Iowa City wages are 1.05 times the national level. Labor makes up about 63% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Iowa City 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 (91.5) and land at $0 to $320.
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 Iowa City. The wage table below marks each row.
Iowa City 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 Iowa City is 1.05 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.05 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $28.74 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 85.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Iowa City metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $33.38 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $25.77 and $36.59 an hour.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 20%) the local median is $19.03 an hour, which is in line with the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.84 and $22.35 an hour. BLS counts 590 of them working in the area, 62.9 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 ($28.74 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $320. At the 25th percentile ($21.87) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 7.6% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,760 jobs in the Iowa City area. That makes it the 214th 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% | $21.87 | $23.05 | $28.74 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $25.77 | $33.38 | $36.59 | $29.87 | 1.12 | state |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $17.84 | $19.03 | $22.35 | $18.82 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Paver patio: what moves the price in Iowa City
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.
Related projects, priced for Iowa City
Because every project leans on different trades, Iowa City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs level and wood deck −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −3% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −2% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,300 | level |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,800 – $13,700 | −10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,000 | −4% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $9,000 | −2% |
Extras that change the Iowa City total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Iowa City by the average of the local wage index (1.05) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.99. 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 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: paver patio pricing in Iowa City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Iowa City 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
$3,000 to $4,000
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,750 to $4,700
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,500 to $5,450
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,450 – $2,000 | $1,850 – $2,400 | $2,250 – $2,800 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,550 – $3,400 | $3,200 – $4,050 | $3,850 – $4,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $4,000 – $5,300 | $4,950 – $6,200 | $5,900 – $7,150 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $8,000 – $10,400 | $9,800 – $12,200 | $11,600 – $14,000 |
Is Iowa City cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $4,250 to $4,450 across Iowa City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $3,000 – $5,500 | $4,250 | level |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,400 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | +1% |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $3,150 – $5,750 | $4,450 | +5% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | level |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Iowa City comes in at #138 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,650; the cheapest is Dothan, AL at $3,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Iowa City is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $3,150 – $5,750 | $4,450 | +5% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,400 | +4% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $3,000 – $5,500 | $4,250 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | +1% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $3,050 – $5,500 | $4,250 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Iowa City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $3,000 – $5,400 | $4,200 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $3,150 – $5,750 | $4,450 | +5% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $3,600 – $6,550 | $5,050 | +20% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $3,450 – $6,300 | $4,900 | +16% |
Climate in Iowa City: timing your paver patio job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Iowa City Muni 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 Iowa City (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 135 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Iowa City gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. 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 3.0 inches. The station averages about 19 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 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 19 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 50 | 30 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 52 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 42 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.4 | Cold |
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 $3,750 to $4,700 for Iowa City, IA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Iowa City, 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 Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Iowa City?
For 300 sq ft, expect $3,000 to $5,450 in the Iowa City area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,750 to $4,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in Iowa City?
About $10 to $17 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 Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $4,250, which is 0% more than Iowa City ($4,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $2,650 out of $4,250. Materials are 33% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Iowa City?
$4,000 to $7,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City is 0% 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 Iowa City?
The BLS median is $23.05 an hour in the Iowa City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.87 to $28.74.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Iowa City?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,000 and premium work $4,500 to $5,450. 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 Iowa City?
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 Iowa City?
$300 to $1,500 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Iowa City
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