True Cost Index
Outdoor Living & Hardscapes cost by city.
Outdoor Living & Hardscapes true cost benchmarks across 39 cities. Cost range, lowest realistic price, margin, and bid fairness inputs by city. Writing about costs? See the citeable concrete patio installation cost data → Part of the 2026 Remodeling Cost Index.
Data verified Aug 2026 · v2026-08-19
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.
Data Sources Used On This Page
- Independent FatBook v3 cost index for Outdoor Living & Hardscapes cost index.
- BLS OEWS wage inputs (https://www.bls.gov/oes/) and FRED PPI material inflation (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/) references.
- Craftsman labor-hour references and contractor overhead benchmarks.
- Verified permit/source data from PermitCalculator.com and permits_compiled where available.
Cost-index version: 2026-08-19
Updated: Aug 2026
Sources: BLS, Craftsman, FRED
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
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
| City | Range | Average | Low | High | Floor | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $5,106 | $4,571 | $5,683 | $4,571 | 18.5% | |
| Austin | $5,184 | $4,595 | $5,819 | $4,595 | 20.1% | |
| Baltimore | $5,416 | $4,928 | $6,090 | $4,928 | 15.9% | |
| Boise | $5,565 | $5,004 | $6,170 | $5,004 | 17.9% | |
| Boston | $6,915 | $6,137 | $7,754 | $6,137 | 19.9% | |
| Charlotte | $5,139 | $4,636 | $5,682 | $4,636 | 17.3% | |
| Chicago | $7,332 | $6,649 | $8,067 | $6,649 | 16.5% | |
| Columbus | $5,616 | $5,075 | $6,200 | $5,075 | 17.1% | |
| Dallas | $5,109 | $4,576 | $5,683 | $4,576 | 18.5% | |
| Denver | $5,913 | $5,279 | $6,595 | $5,279 | 18.9% | |
| Detroit | $5,686 | $5,216 | $6,509 | $5,216 | 15.1% | |
| Houston | $5,135 | $4,596 | $5,717 | $4,596 | 18.6% | |
| Indianapolis | $5,614 | $5,113 | $6,243 | $5,113 | 15.8% | |
| Jacksonville | $5,191 | $4,701 | $5,854 | $4,701 | 16.7% | |
| Kansas City | $5,601 | $5,097 | $6,258 | $5,097 | 15.9% | |
| Las Vegas | $6,276 | $5,611 | $6,990 | $5,611 | 18.7% | |
| Los Angeles | $6,749 | $5,993 | $7,563 | $5,993 | 19.8% | |
| Miami | $4,885 | $4,480 | $5,517 | $4,480 | 15.1% | |
| Minneapolis | $6,256 | $5,643 | $6,959 | $5,643 | 17.3% | |
| Nashville | $5,247 | $4,733 | $5,800 | $4,733 | 17.3% | |
| New York | $8,379 | $7,452 | $9,379 | $7,452 | 19.6% | |
| Orlando | $4,932 | $4,465 | $5,480 | $4,465 | 16.7% | |
| Philadelphia | $6,729 | $6,052 | $7,458 | $6,052 | 17.8% | |
| Phoenix | $5,488 | $4,895 | $6,127 | $4,895 | 19.1% | |
| Pittsburgh | $5,775 | $5,234 | $6,495 | $5,234 | 16.6% | |
| Portland | $6,502 | $5,824 | $7,233 | $5,824 | 18.5% | |
| Raleigh | $5,220 | $4,668 | $5,814 | $4,668 | 18.7% | |
| Richmond | $5,160 | $4,668 | $5,707 | $4,668 | 16.9% | |
| Sacramento | $6,975 | $6,190 | $7,819 | $6,190 | 19.9% | |
| Salt Lake City | $5,677 | $5,101 | $6,298 | $5,101 | 18% | |
| San Antonio | $4,985 | $4,504 | $5,502 | $4,504 | 17.1% | |
| San Diego | $6,637 | $5,888 | $7,444 | $5,888 | 20% | |
| San Francisco | $7,944 | $6,987 | $8,974 | $6,987 | 21.3% | |
| San Jose | $7,687 | $6,724 | $8,724 | $6,724 | 22.2% | |
| Seattle | $6,977 | $6,194 | $7,821 | $6,194 | 19.9% | |
| Springfield, MO | $5,181 | $4,815 | $6,073 | $4,815 | 13.9% | |
| St Louis | $5,746 | $5,268 | $6,612 | $5,268 | 15.1% | |
| Tampa | $5,179 | $4,739 | $5,787 | $4,739 | 15% | |
| Tucson | $5,224 | $4,713 | $5,773 | $4,713 | 17.3% |
DO
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