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Paver patio cost in La Crosse, WI

Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Typical range (300 sq ft)
$3,300 – $6,000
Per sq ft
$11 – $19
before permit
Versus US midpoint
+10%
US $4,250
Rank of 300 metros
#60
1 = most expensive

A paver patio in La Crosse, WI usually costs $3,300 to $6,000 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $11 to $19 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $420 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.32 an hour in the La Crosse area, 25% above the US median of $22.66.

Estimate your paver patio cost

Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.

Quality level

Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading

Add-ons

Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in La Crosse, WI, standard level

$4,100 to $5,200

About $13.50 to $16.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 66% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$1,300$1,500
Labor$2,700$3,450
Permits and fees$95$220
Total$4,100$5,200
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Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in La Crosse, WI

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$1,150$1,400$1,70030%
Labor$2,150$3,050$4,00066%
Permits and fees$0$160$3203%
Total$3,300$4,650$6,000100%

Where the La Crosse price comes from

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, La Crosse wages are 1.20 times the national level. Labor makes up about 66% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).

Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. La Crosse is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,500 nationally becomes $1,400 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.8: $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 La Crosse. The wage table below marks each row.

La Crosse weather and the paver patio calendar

Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, La Crosse Wfo (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.

For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in La Crosse are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, 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 148 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.

La Crosse gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 54 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 4.0 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 3 days a year at 90°F or above.

We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.

Monthly normals, La Crosse Wfo (NOAA, 1991-2020)
MonthAvg high °FAvg low °FPrecip (in)For this job
Jan2481.1Cold
Feb29131.1Cold
Mar41241.9Cold
Apr55364.0Workable
May67484.9Workable
Jun76585.3Workable
Jul80624.3Workable
Aug78604.5Workable
Sep71524.0Workable
Oct58402.9Workable
Nov42281.9Cold
Dec29151.5Cold

Pick a size, pick a tier: paver patio pricing in La Crosse

The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to La Crosse. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 12x12 (144 sq ft) to pool deck (800 sq ft).

Basic

$3,300 to $4,350

Basic concrete pavers, simple pattern, level yard

Standard

$4,100 to $5,200

Mid-grade pavers, a border or curve, some regrading

Premium

$4,900 to $6,000

Natural stone or clay brick, complex pattern, slope or retaining edge

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
12x12 (144 sq ft)$1,600 – $2,150$2,000 – $2,600$2,450 – $3,050
16x16 (256 sq ft)$2,800 – $3,750$3,500 – $4,450$4,200 – $5,150
20x20 (400 sq ft)$4,400 – $5,800$5,450 – $6,850$6,500 – $7,850
pool deck (800 sq ft)$8,800 – $11,400$10,800 – $13,400$12,800 – $15,400

Paver patio: what moves the price in La Crosse

  • 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).

  • Base prep

    The base (road base, fabric, edging, bedding and joint sand) is $1.40-$2.20 per sq ft of the materials number.

Add-ons priced for La Crosse

Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.07 for La Crosse, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.20) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.

Add-on prices
Add-onLocal range
Excavation and haul-away$320 – $1,600

What local crews earn in La Crosse

The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For La Crosse the blend is 1.20.

For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $28.32 an hour, which is 25% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.49 and $35.41 an hour. BLS counts 610 of them working in the area, 72.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.

Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the La Crosse metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $38.52 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.59 and $46.62 an hour.

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.18 an hour, 3% below the US median of $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.67 and $21.66 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 60.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 61.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.

A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $400 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 7.1% to 8.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.

La Crosse-Onalaska has 84,380 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 228th by size among the 300 metros on this site.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Construction laborers (47-2061)50%$22.49$28.32$35.41$22.661.25metro
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021)30%$29.59$38.52$46.62$29.871.29state
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011)20%$16.67$18.18$21.66$18.820.97metro
Blended100%1.20

Is La Crosse cheap or dear? The local comparison

Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rochester is the priciest of the group at $4,950. Waterloo is the cheapest at $4,250.

Comparison with nearby areas
AreaRangeMidpointvs. here
La Crosse, WIthis page$3,300 – $6,000$4,650
Rochester, MN65 miles$3,500 – $6,350$4,950+6%
Dubuque, IA85 miles$3,050 – $5,500$4,250−8%
Eau Claire, WI85 miles$3,300 – $6,000$4,650level
Madison, WI85 miles$3,350 – $6,100$4,700+2%
Waterloo, IA105 miles$3,050 – $5,500$4,250−8%
Wisconsin (statewide)$3,300 – $5,950$4,600level
United States$3,000 – $5,450$4,250−9%

Out of the 300 metros we cover, La Crosse ranks #60 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, La Crosse is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.

Elsewhere in Wisconsin

Wisconsin metros compared with La Crosse
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Milwaukee, WI820,780 jobs$3,450 – $6,300$4,900+5%
Madison, WI408,070 jobs$3,350 – $6,100$4,700+2%
Green Bay, WI174,550 jobs$3,150 – $5,700$4,400−5%
Appleton, WI124,230 jobs$3,350 – $6,100$4,750+2%
Oshkosh, WI93,750 jobs$3,150 – $5,750$4,450−4%
Eau Claire, WI86,060 jobs$3,300 – $6,000$4,650level

Metros of a similar size

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is La Crosse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Metros closest to this one by total employment
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Jackson, TN84,530 jobs$2,900 – $5,200$4,050−13%
Waterloo, IA84,260 jobs$3,050 – $5,500$4,250−8%
Eau Claire, WI86,060 jobs$3,300 – $6,000$4,650level
Houma, LA83,440 jobs$2,650 – $4,750$3,700−20%

What nearby projects cost in La Crosse

Jobs that often go together with paver patio are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same La Crosse wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+8%) and wood deck lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Concrete patio300 sq ft$1,250 – $4,150+3%
Stamped concrete400 sq ft$3,300 – $8,250+3%
Retaining wall200 sq ft of wall face$7,950 – $14,300+8%
Wood deck300 sq ft$7,400 – $14,800−2%
Concrete slab400 sq ft$2,500 – $5,250+2%
Concrete driveway600 sq ft$3,850 – $9,850+7%

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 $4,100 to $5,200 for La Crosse, WI is attached.

A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9

Multi-page report for La Crosse, WI: 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 La Crosse: your questions

+How much does it cost to install a paver patio in La Crosse?

For 300 sq ft, expect $3,300 to $6,000 in the La Crosse area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,100 to $5,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.

+What is the price per sq ft for paver patio in La Crosse?

About $11 to $19 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 La Crosse or Rochester?

Rochester is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $4,950, which is 6% more than La Crosse ($4,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.

+How much of the bill is labor in La Crosse?

About 66% at the midpoint, or $3,050 out of $4,650. Materials are 30% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.

+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in La Crosse?

$4,400 to $7,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.

+Does paver patio need a permit in La Crosse?

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 La Crosse area (our national range of $0 to $350 scaled by the local price level).

+Is La Crosse expensive for paver patio compared with the rest of Wisconsin?

La Crosse is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($4,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.

+What do construction laborers earn in La Crosse?

The BLS median is $28.32 an hour in the La Crosse area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.49 to $35.41.

+What do basic and premium paver patio work cost in La Crosse?

For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $3,300 to $4,350 and premium work $4,900 to $6,000. 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 La Crosse?

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 La Crosse?

$320 to $1,600 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.

Paver patio near La Crosse

Paver patio: all pricesPaver patio in WisconsinAll projects in La CrosseWisconsin cost hub

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.