Paver patio cost in New Orleans, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $2,700 – $4,900
- Per sq ft
- $9 – $15.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #242
- 1 = most expensive
New Orleans homeowners pay roughly $2,700 to $4,900 to install a paver patio at 300 sq ft, or $9 to $15.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, New Orleans is 10% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.98 an hour in the New Orleans area, 16% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in New Orleans, LA, standard level
$3,350 to $4,250
About $11 to $13.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,500 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,500 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $230 |
| Total | $3,350 | $4,250 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in New Orleans, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,400 | $1,700 | 37% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,250 | $2,900 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $320 | 4% |
| Total | $2,700 | $3,800 | $4,900 | 100% |
What is behind the New Orleans 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 $18.98 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for New Orleans is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 59% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the New Orleans 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 (92.6) 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 New Orleans. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in New Orleans
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for New Orleans 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
$2,700 to $3,600
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,350 to $4,250
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,000 to $4,900
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,150 | $2,050 – $2,500 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,300 – $3,100 | $2,900 – $3,650 | $3,450 – $4,250 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $3,600 – $4,750 | $4,450 – $5,600 | $5,300 – $6,450 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $7,200 – $9,350 | $8,800 – $10,900 | $10,400 – $12,500 |
Why two New Orleans 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).
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 New Orleans is 0.88 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.98 an hour, 16% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.45 and $23.29 an hour. About 3,620 work in the metro. That is 81.2 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 New Orleans metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $27.62 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $29.23 an hour.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 20%) the local median is $17.03 an hour, which is 10% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $14.53 and $18.12 an hour. BLS counts 1,440 of them working in the area, 32.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.29 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $240. At the 25th percentile ($17.45) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 6.4% or 2.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 445,550 jobs in the New Orleans-Metairie area. That makes it the 57th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.29% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.45 | $18.98 | $23.29 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $23.05 | $27.62 | $29.23 | $29.87 | 0.92 | state |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $14.53 | $17.03 | $18.12 | $18.82 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Related projects, priced for New Orleans
Because every project leans on different trades, New Orleans's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −8% and concrete driveway −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −10% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,500 – $12,400 | −8% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,700 – $13,500 | −11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,050 | −12% |
When to schedule paver patio in New Orleans
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for New Orleans Lakefront Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in New Orleans (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
New Orleans gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 86 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 | 61 | 47 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 51 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 57 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 63 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 71 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 76 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 78 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 79 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 76 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 67 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 56 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 50 | 4.6 | Workable |
How New Orleans compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. New Orleans is the priciest of the group. Gulfport is the cheapest at $3,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LAthis page | $2,700 – $4,900 | $3,800 | |
| Houma, LA75 miles | $2,650 – $4,750 | $3,700 | −3% |
| Slidell, LA80 miles | $2,700 – $4,850 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Gulfport, MS90 miles | $2,600 – $4,700 | $3,650 | −4% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $2,700 – $4,900 | $3,800 | level |
| Mobile, AL125 miles | $2,600 – $4,750 | $3,700 | −3% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $2,650 – $4,850 | $3,750 | −1% |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, New Orleans comes in at #242 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,650; the cheapest is Dothan, AL at $3,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, New Orleans is 1% above the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,700 – $4,900 | $3,800 | level |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $2,650 – $4,750 | $3,700 | −3% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $2,700 – $4,850 | $3,750 | −1% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $2,800 – $5,050 | $3,950 | +3% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $2,700 – $4,850 | $3,800 | −1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $2,600 – $4,650 | $3,600 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like New Orleans's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is New Orleans against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $3,950 – $7,150 | $5,550 | +46% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $2,750 – $5,000 | $3,900 | +2% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $3,250 – $5,900 | $4,600 | +21% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,900 – $5,300 | $4,100 | +8% |
Extras that change the New Orleans total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to New Orleans by the average of the local wage index (0.88) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.91. 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 | $270 – $1,350 |
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 $3,350 to $4,250 for New Orleans, LA is attached.
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Paver patio in New Orleans: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in New Orleans?
For 300 sq ft, expect $2,700 to $4,900 in the New Orleans area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,350 to $4,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in New Orleans?
About $9 to $15.50 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 New Orleans or Houma?
Houma is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $3,700, which is 3% less than New Orleans ($3,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in New Orleans?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $3,800. Materials are 37% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in New Orleans?
$3,600 to $6,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is New Orleans expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Louisiana?
New Orleans is 1% above the Louisiana statewide estimate ($3,750 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in New Orleans?
The BLS median is $18.98 an hour in the New Orleans area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.45 to $23.29.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in New Orleans?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $2,700 to $3,600 and premium work $4,000 to $4,900. 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 New Orleans?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. October 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 New Orleans?
$270 to $1,350 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near New Orleans
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