How Much Does It Cost To Install A Natural Stone Patio?

Cost of installing a stone patio

Natural stone pavers are not a one-size-fits-all patio building material. Many types of stone pavers, from cobblestone to marble, offer you a high degree of customization for your patio without even giving thought to the design. Outside of the materials involved in the stone patio installation cost, you have the cost of the actual installation. Labor is a variable cost, meaning the exact number varies depending on several factors.   

There are a few things to consider when thinking about stone patio cost:

• Size and design: Stone pavers with rare colors or odd sizes and shapes tend to cost more.
• Location: If you can source your paving stones locally, they will cost less. Paving stones that must be imported will cost more to cover the expense. Your location may also be a factor since businesses operating in more populated areas will have a bigger overhead to consider in their costs.
• Grading and leveling: Ensuring the area is properly graded and leveled is an essential part of installing a stone patio. You’ll need to consider how much foot traffic the patio will have, the slope of your yard, and the drainage requirements for the patio. All these things will determine how much grading and leveling needs to be done.
• Permits: Permits are only necessary if your patio requires substantial excavation to prepare the soil. When you hire a contractor to build your natural stone patio, ask them what permits you’ll need since these will differ from place to place.
• Labor: Labor costs represent a substantial part of the overall cost to install stone patios. You can expect to pay an average of $50 to $80 an hour - $4 to $11 per square foot - depending on your location, how experienced the contractors are, and how complicated the project is. While a DIY patio may take 40 to 50 hours to complete, a professionally built patio can be done in under 40 hours, meaning that you would pay a maximum of $3,200.
• Stone type: Natural stone pavers cost between $3 and $35 each, depending on your chosen type. Expect to pay up to $25,000 in total just for the pavers. Sourcing paving stones from a local quarry will help you keep costs down because they don’t have to be shipped. Some popular natural stone pavers include flagstone/sandstone, cobblestone, marble, travertine, and granite.

Patio stones pricing

Along with labor, materials make up a large portion of the total stone patio cost. How much does stone patio cost? The cost of natural stone pavers may be represented in one of three ways: individually, per square foot, or by the pallet. When buying individual natural stone pavers, expect to pay between $3 and $35, depending on the type. If you’re paying per square foot, you can expect a cost of between $5 and $15. If you buy a pallet of stone pavers, expect a cost of between $250 and $2,000.

Below is the per-square-foot cost of some of the more popular stone paving choices:

Labor Costs to install a stone patio

If you decide to hire a professional contractor to build your stone patio, you’ll need to factor their labor costs into your overall budget. While the cost of a particular type of stone paver may be fixed, the cost of labor can be considered a variable cost, averaging between $50 to $80 an hour or $4 to $11 per square foot. It’s not a single set price, but one that depends on several considerations.

These considerations include:

• The complexity: A stone patio with a single-level rectangular shape with no stairs or accent features will be less expensive than a patio with curves or intricate patterns, due to the amount of planning and workmanship involved in creating it.
• The location: The placement of the patio and the quality of the soil it will be situated on will be reflected in the cost of labor. The ground may require leveling and grading before the patio is actually built.
• The expertise: You can expect to pay more for a contractor with many years of experience versus one that has only a couple of years under their belt. In this instance, you’re paying to benefit from their expertise.

Other costs to install a stone patio

Home and garden renovation projects often come with a list of included costs beyond those associated with materials and labor. The total stone patio installation cost is certainly no different.

Here’s a quick look at the additional costs that can come with building a stone patio:

• Design: A contractor can take care of a standard patio, but for a more complex design, you may want to consider hiring a designer. Hiring a designer will cost between $2000 and $6700.
• Permits: Depending on local regulations, larger patios may require a permit to build. Obtaining a permit can cost between $300 and $1900.
• Utilities: If you want your patio to have lighting or an outdoor kitchen, you may need to consider the cost of running electrical wiring, a gas line, or plumbing. The cost of installing electrical wiring averages between $500 and $2000. The cost of installing plumbing is between $400 and $1900, while the cost of including a gas line is between $15 and $25 per linear foot.
• Firepit: Adding a firepit to your patio during the building process averages between $300 and $1400, depending on the design and the materials.
• Outdoor kitchen: In addition to the utilities required to build an outdoor kitchen, the average cost is between $4500 and $21000, depending on the design and materials.

DIY or hire a pro

By choosing a natural stone patio, you’re making the choice to build your patio out of the best possible material for outdoor home space. With a higher-end material, like cobblestone or marble, it’s always a good choice to hire a professional for the installation. That said, constructing a patio can be a great DIY project for handypeople.

Here are some of the pros and cons of building your own patio versus hiring a professional:

DIY pros

• No labor costs
• Building takes place on your own schedule
• You know what has gone into creating your patio

DIY cons

• Project takes longer
• Errors and accidents are out-of-pocket expenses
• You need to find out what permits are needed

Hiring a professional pros

• Building is done faster
• You benefit from their experience and knowledge
• They’re insured against material damage or error
• They can tell you what permits are needed

Hiring a professional cons

• More expensive
• Presence of contractors on your property