Outdoor Living & Hardscapes · United States
How much does outdoor living & hardscapes cost nationally?
$5,721typical · fair range $5,138 to $6,348
That is the modeled cost to deliver plus a fair contractor margin for outdoor living & hardscapes in the United States, not a sales quote. Built from BLS wage data, Craftsman bills of materials, and verified permit fees. 2026-08-19
Show the math
How $5,721 is built
Labor$1,722
Materials$1,809
Direct cost$3,531
Overhead (20% of revenue)$1,158
Cost to deliver (break even)$4,689
Contractor margin (18%)$1,032
Typical fair price$5,721
The margin is the gap between break even and a typical quote, not a markup we invent. Margins float by trade and city, with most fair jobs at a 15 to 22 percent margin on the bid, about 18 to 28 percent over the cost to deliver. Nobody works for free. Full methodology.
How this number is calculated
TheFatBook models outdoor living & hardscapes from Craftsman labor hours, BLS regional wages, burden, PPI-adjusted materials, permit data where available, and contractor overhead benchmarks. Cost index version: 2026-08-19. Updated Aug 2026.
See costs near you
Enter your ZIP code for the closest tracked metro.
We route your ZIP to the nearest tracked city and show city-level bid fairness, true cost, margin, and lowest realistic price data.
Atlanta $5,106Austin $5,184Baltimore $5,416Boise $5,565Boston $6,915Charlotte $5,139Chicago $7,332Columbus $5,616Atlanta $5,106Austin $5,184Baltimore $5,416Boise $5,565Boston $6,915Charlotte $5,139Chicago $7,332Columbus $5,616
Updated Monthly
Federal labor and material data, refreshed on a monthly release cycle
Expert Reviewed
Reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired)
Proprietary benchmarks · BLS · FRED · Census · Craftsman
Estimate Scope
What the outdoor living & hardscapes benchmark includes.
Included in the benchmark
- Concrete Patio Installation as the headline cost-index scope
- labor-hour assumptions, regional wage inputs, materials, overhead, and permit data where available
- low, average, high, lowest realistic price, margin, and savings benchmarks from the FatBook cost index
Not included automatically
- hidden damage, change orders, emergency service premiums, or unusual site access conditions
- contractor financing approval, warranties, provider recommendations, or guaranteed final quotes
- permit rulings for a specific address unless the city permit panel lists verified local data
True Cost Data
National benchmarks.
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| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Patio Installation · 400 sqft | $5,138 | $5,721 | $6,348 |
| Concrete Driveway Installation · 400 sqft | $4,584 | $5,104 | $5,665 |
| Concrete Sidewalk Installation · 400 sqft | $4,737 | $5,274 | $5,853 |
| Stamped Concrete Patio · 400 sqft | $6,599 | $7,348 | $8,155 |
| Concrete Footing Installation · 100 linear ft | $2,499 | $2,767 | $3,055 |
| Foundation Stem Wall · 120 linear ft | $9,728 | $10,813 | $11,982 |
| Concrete Slab (Garage/Addition) · 400 sqft | $4,751 | $5,274 | $5,837 |
| Concrete Driveway Replacement · 400 sqft | $5,750 | $6,403 | $7,105 |
Specialty tool
Concrete cost calculator
Installed slab, driveway, and patio pricing for your metro, plus bag and ready-mix math for a DIY pour.
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Specialty tool
Deck cost calculator
Price a pressure-treated, cedar, or composite deck by your real dimensions, with stairs and railing itemized.
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Fence cost calculator
Five materials priced at your exact run length, side by side, with removal and permit fees included.
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Driveway cost calculator
Gravel, asphalt, concrete, and pavers priced side by side at your exact dimensions.
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Top Markets
Cost by city.
Additional Markets
Guides
Latest research.
Cost Guide
Concrete Patio Cost (2026): Per Square Foot Installed
Concrete patio cost per square foot by mix design and metro. See what a properly poured slab involves, then run your bid
Cost Guide
Stamped Concrete Patio Cost (2026): Per Sq Ft
Stamped concrete adds a pattern layer over a plain slab. See the per-square-foot premium over plain concrete, then compa
Cost Guide
Cost to Build a Deck (2026): By Size + Material
Pressure-treated, composite, and hardwood deck costs by size. See where framing and decking split the bill, then check y
Common Questions
Questions homeowners ask about outdoor living & hardscapes.
Note: dollar figures below are national averages from our v3 cost index (Craftsman labor hours x BLS regional wages + PPI-adjusted materials + verified permit fees + NAHB overhead). Where an answer references general industry estimates instead (timing, lifespan, resale recoup percentages, scope items outside our index), it says so explicitly. For metro-specific numbers, see the cost-index pages.
What projects are included in outdoor living and hardscapes?
Patios, driveways, slabs, sidewalks, stamped concrete, decks, railings, stairs, patio covers, and deck repair, each with verified pricing in the cost index. Pool decks and the hardscape around a pool belong here too.
How much does a concrete patio cost?
Our cost index puts Concrete Patio Installation at $5,721 national average (range $5,138 to $6,348), and Stamped Concrete Patio at $7,348 ($6,599 to $8,155). Patios are priced the same way as driveways: published labor hours priced at your metro's real wages, plus materials, permit, and overhead.
How much does a deck cost?
Our cost index national averages: Pressure-treated $7,388 (range $6,653 to $8,179), Cedar $11,287 ($10,156 to $12,506), Composite $11,869 ($10,679 to $13,152). Material choice is the biggest single cost lever.
What affects patio and hardscape cost most?
Square footage and structure drive the bulk of it. After that: concrete thickness, finish, reinforcement, grading, drainage, railings, stairs, material grade, and what outdoor-living crews charge in your metro.
Stamped concrete vs pavers, which is better?
Stamped concrete usually costs less than premium pavers and creates a clean patio surface, but pavers are easier to repair one section at a time. The right answer depends on drainage, freeze-thaw exposure, and how much pattern variation you want.
Do patios, decks, and hardscapes need permits?
Decks usually need permits, especially above grade. Concrete patios often avoid permits unless drainage, lot coverage, or structural work is involved. Pool-related hardscapes frequently trigger additional zoning, barrier, and electrical review.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Creator of the Cost Index & Permit Dataset · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026-08-19