$3,978
Average
$3,592
Low
$4,315
High
$2,495
Verified Floor
37.3%
Markup
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Cost index by David Olson · reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson · 2026.Q1
Independent FatBook v3 cost indexVerified permit/source data where availableReviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Denver
Analyzing…
Denver sits right at the national average for outdoor living & hardscapes, $3,978, but that headline number hides a 37.3% contractor markup. The floor price is only $2,495. The gap between what most people pay and what the most competitive contractors charge is unusually large here, which means prepared buyers can save substantially.
High-margin market. Denver contractors are averaging 37.3% above their verified floor price. The gap is $1,483. Your strongest move: request an itemized line-item breakdown, then compare labor hours and material costs against our benchmark data. The P15 floor of $2,495 represents what 15% of contractors already charge.
Peak-season pricing is in effect. May is high-demand season for Denver outdoor living & hardscapes contractors. Crews are booked out and negotiating power shifts to the contractor. Expect quotes at the upper end of the $3,592–$4,315 range. If your timeline allows it, waiting 2–3 months could save you $445–$890 vs. peak pricing. If you must move now, get quotes fast, availability matters more than negotiation in peak season.
The gap between what Denver homeowners typically pay and what the market can support is $1,483, one of the largest in our index. To put that in context: the floor price of $2,495 isn't a discount or a coupon. It's the P15, the price point that 15% of verified contractors already charge. The other 85% are charging more, often significantly more, for the same scope of work.
Denver ranks among the most affordable metros in our outdoor living & hardscapes index, cheaper than 4 of 5 tracked markets. Lower regional labor costs are the primary driver. However, "affordable" doesn't mean "no room to negotiate." The 37.3% markup still represents $1,483 between the average quote and the verified floor.
Show the math: how Denver Concrete Patio Installation numbers are derived Click to expand
Derivation for Denver, Concrete Patio Installation · cost_index 2026.Q2
Step 1: Craftsman labor hours
BOM hours from Craftsman National Estimator: 20.5 hrs (typical project: 400 sq ft)
Step 2: BLS wage × burden
Denver wage from BLS OES: $28.34/hr
Burden rate (FICA + workers' comp + insurance + unemployment): 39.9%
loaded_wage = $28.34 × 1.3987 = $39.64/hr
Step 3: Labor cost
labor = 20.5 hrs × $39.64/hr = $813
Step 4: Materials (PPI-adjusted)
Craftsman material cost × FRED PPI multiplier (1.0035): $1,462
Materials pass through at cost. PPI multiplier inflation-adjusts the BOM book price to current market.
Step 5: Permit fee
Denver permit office: $49
Verified from permits_compiled.json. City and state fee schedules.
Step 6: Direct cost
direct = labor + materials + permit = $813 + $1,462 + $49 = $2,323
Step 7: Overhead
NAHB benchmark: 20% of (labor + permit). Materials are pass-through and don't carry overhead.
overhead = ($813 + $49) × 0.20 = $172
Step 8: Cost to deliver
cost_to_deliver = direct + overhead = $2,323 + $172 = $2,495
What it actually costs a contractor to do this job in Denver, before profit.
Step 9: Verified floor
Lowest verified bid in Denver for this scope: $2,495
Floor sits above cost-to-deliver, which is the expected pattern for a fair market.
Step 10: Typical contractor quote
Market average from verified contractor pricing in Denver: $3,978
Step 11: Contractor gross margin
margin = ($3,978 - $2,495) / $3,978 × 100 = 37.3%
The portion of the typical quote that is not cost-to-deliver. Higher = more room to negotiate.
Step 12: Savings potential
savings = $3,978 - $2,495 = $1,483
The gap between the typical quote and the verified floor in Denver.
Same v3 BOM applied to every service in every metro. Sources: BLS OES wages, FRED PPI series, Craftsman National Estimator, city permit offices. Updated 2026.Q2. Full methodology →
2026.Q2 Quick Answer
In 2026.Q2, outdoor living & hardscapes in Denver averages $3,978, with a typical local range of $3,592 to $4,315. The verified floor is $2,495, so inflated bids may leave about $1,483 in negotiable savings.
Updated May 2026. Sources: BLS OEWS, FRED PPI, Craftsman labor-hour references, city permit data where available, and FatBook v3 cost-index 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.Q2. Updated May 2026.
Data Sources Used On This Page
- Independent FatBook v3 cost index for Outdoor Living & Hardscapes in Denver.
- BLS OEWS wage inputs and FRED PPI material inflation 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.Q2
Updated: May 2026
Sources: BLS, Craftsman, FRED
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Estimate Scope
What the outdoor living & hardscapes in denver 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, verified-floor, markup, 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
Denver Service Pricing
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Patio Installation | $3,592 | $3,978 | $4,315 |
| Concrete Driveway Installation | $10,314 | $11,422 | $12,391 |
| Concrete Sidewalk Installation | $2,397 | $2,655 | $2,880 |
| Stamped Concrete Patio | $3,916 | $4,337 | $4,705 |
| Concrete Footing Installation | $5,566 | $6,164 | $6,687 |
| Foundation Stem Wall | $10,719 | $11,870 | $12,877 |
| Concrete Slab (Garage/Addition) | $8,138 | $9,012 | $9,776 |
| Deck Construction Pressure Treated | $11,731 | $12,991 | $14,093 |
| Deck Construction Cedar | $16,252 | $17,998 | $19,525 |
| Deck Construction Composite | $13,246 | $14,668 | $15,913 |
| Deck Railing Installation | $2,055 | $2,276 | $2,469 |
| Deck Stair Construction | $431 | $477 | $518 |
| Porch Column Installation | $653 | $723 | $784 |
| Porch Screening | $697 | $771 | $837 |
| Patio Cover Installation | $4,821 | $5,339 | $5,792 |
| Deck Repair | $706 | $782 | $848 |
| Deck Stair Construction 2 Step | $206 | $229 | $248 |
| Porch Roof Construction | $308 | $341 | $370 |
| Porch Column Repair | $597 | $661 | $717 |
| Deck Add-Ons | $665 | $737 | $799 |
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Permit Information
Denver permits.
Structure
Denver uses same valuation-based fee formula for ALL trade permits (building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC). Plan review is 50% of permit fee for projects over $2,000. Quick permits (water heaters, roof coverings, light fixtures) have no plan review fee.
Department
Community Planning and Development (CPD)
Phone
311 (local) or (720) 913-1311 (outside Denver)
Official Source
Verified
2026-03-23
Fee Anchors
$8k building fee: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
Source-backed permit facts from PermitCalculator.com and the underlying permits_compiled dataset. Always confirm final requirements with the local building department before filing.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Founder of TheFatBook · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co. · 2026.Q1