Paver patio cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $3,100 – $5,650
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $17.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $4,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #109
- 1 = most expensive
Traverse City homeowners pay roughly $3,100 to $5,650 to install a paver patio at 300 sq ft, or $10.50 to $17.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Traverse City is 3% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.27 an hour in the Traverse City area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Traverse City, MI, standard level
$3,850 to $4,850
About $12.50 to $15.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,500 |
| Labor | $2,450 | $3,100 |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $230 |
| Total | $3,850 | $4,850 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,400 | $1,700 | 32% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,800 | $3,600 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $160 | $330 | 4% |
| Total | $3,100 | $4,350 | $5,650 | 100% |
What is behind the Traverse 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, Traverse City wages are 1.10 times the national level. Labor makes up about 64% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Traverse 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 (93.4) and land at $0 to $330.
Pick a size, pick a tier: paver patio pricing in Traverse City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Traverse 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
$3,100 to $4,100
Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard
Standard
$3,850 to $4,850
Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading
Premium
$4,600 to $5,650
Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,450 | $2,300 – $2,850 |
| 16x16 (256 sq ft) | $2,650 – $3,550 | $3,300 – $4,200 | $3,950 – $4,850 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $4,150 – $5,450 | $5,100 – $6,400 | $6,100 – $7,400 |
| pool deck (800 sq ft) | $8,250 – $10,700 | $10,100 – $12,600 | $12,000 – $14,500 |
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 Traverse City is 1.10 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.27 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.03 and $28.66 an hour. About 740 work in the metro. That is 108.1 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 $38.65 an hour, 29% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $29.18 and $38.65 an hour.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.25 an hour, which is 3% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $17.17 and $21.88 an hour. BLS counts 820 of them working in the area, 119.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.66 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $300. At the 25th percentile ($21.03) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 7.0% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,440 jobs in the Traverse City area. That makes it the 264th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.03 | $23.27 | $28.66 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 30% | $29.18 | $38.65 | $38.65 | $29.87 | 1.29 | metro |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 20% | $17.17 | $18.25 | $21.88 | $18.82 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Traverse City
Because every project leans on different trades, Traverse City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +4% and wood deck −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,950 | −2% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,800 | −2% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,550 – $13,800 | +4% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,250 – $14,500 | −4% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,200 | level |
When to schedule paver patio in Traverse City
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Traverse City Cherry Cptl Ap (in the city). 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 Traverse 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 149 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Traverse City gets about 29 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in October). Inside the workable window, June and July are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 29 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 16 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 54 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 59 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
Optional extras in Traverse City
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Traverse City by the average of the local wage index (1.10) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.02. 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 |
How Traverse City compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Appleton is the priciest of the group at $4,750. Muskegon is the cheapest at $4,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,350 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $3,150 – $5,700 | $4,400 | +1% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $2,900 – $5,300 | $4,100 | −6% |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $3,300 – $5,950 | $4,600 | +6% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $3,350 – $6,100 | $4,750 | +8% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $2,950 – $5,400 | $4,150 | −4% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −3% |
| United States | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Traverse City comes in at #109 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,650; the cheapest is Dothan, AL at $3,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Traverse City is 3% above the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $3,200 – $5,800 | $4,500 | +3% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $2,950 – $5,400 | $4,150 | −4% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $3,200 – $5,800 | $4,500 | +3% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $3,250 – $5,900 | $4,550 | +4% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $3,100 – $5,650 | $4,350 | level |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $3,000 – $5,450 | $4,250 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Traverse City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $3,200 – $5,750 | $4,500 | +3% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $2,950 – $5,350 | $4,150 | −5% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $2,850 – $5,100 | $4,000 | −9% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $2,750 – $4,950 | $3,850 | −12% |
Why two Traverse City quotes can differ
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.
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 $3,850 to $4,850 for Traverse City, MI is attached.
Detailed paver patio report for Traverse City, MI, $9
Multi-page report for Traverse City, MI: 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 Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in Traverse City?
For 300 sq ft, expect $3,100 to $5,650 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,850 to $4,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in Traverse City?
About $10.50 to $17.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $330 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $17.
+Is paver patio cheaper in Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $4,400, which is 1% more than Traverse City ($4,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $2,800 out of $4,350. Materials are 32% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Traverse City?
$4,150 to $7,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does paver patio need a permit in Traverse City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $330 for fees in the Traverse City area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 3% above the Michigan statewide estimate ($4,250 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Traverse City?
The BLS median is $23.27 an hour in the Traverse City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.03 to $28.66.
+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in Traverse City?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $3,100 to $4,100 and premium work $4,600 to $5,650. 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 Traverse City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. June and July 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 Traverse City?
$300 to $1,500 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Paver patio near Traverse 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