How Much Does A 20×20 Paver Patio Cost?

A patio is an easy space for dressing your backyard beautifully. It also increases your outdoor entertainment space further by developing a previously non-used grassy space. There are different types of patios based on design and built materials. Depending on the user’s preference it can be either flat concrete surfaced or in touch of textured pavers. A lot of people tend to have a paver-made patio due to its classic style and colorful appearance. They are also relatively more customizable than concrete-made patios.

Key Takeaways

• With step-by-step rough estimation, a 20×20 paver patio can cost between $3000 to $16000.
• The cost is highly variable due to the type and quality of the build materials.
• Using industrial-grade heavy machinery can save time and effort, but costs a lot of money.
• Natural stones are the most extensive paver material, whereas concrete blocks are the least one.

A Paver Patio

The name ‘Paver Patio’ gives away its basic definition. A paver patio is a type of backyard patio that uses paver such as bricks, concrete blocks, similar shape stones lined to form a patio place. It may seem normal at first glance, but it requires a lot of other material and an immense work process to develop a place into a paver patio. A similar type of setup can also be set as motor parking, driving yards, and walkways.

Materials Needed For Making A 20×20 Paver Patio

To understand how much does a 20×20 paver patio cost, we have to go through the raw materials, installation, and other additional costs first. This unit per cost may not be exact but it will give you the closest rough estimation of the cost. Note that, even a $1 difference in per square feet than this estimation can cost you an additional $400. So double-check before starting the work. As for now, let’s start with the materials you will need for making a 20×20 paver patio.

Gravel As Paver Base

Setting up a paver base will start with paving a layer over the soil tip. These gravel or gravel sands are essential and a second-to-none option to make the patio base stronger. They are Class II Road Bases made of crushed gravel or rocks. A square foot of these gravel sands will cost you approximately $0.6-$0.8. For basing a 20×20 or 400 square foot paver patio, it will sum up between $240- $320 at least price.

Landscape Fabrics

The next thing you will need for setting up a paver patio is landscape fabrics. These are specially made geotextile fabrics, capable of preventing insects or other organisms from penetrating your patio structure from beneath the soil. In the process, it will keep the drainage system intake as it is made of porous fibers. Such beneficial fabrics come with a price of $0.3-$0.5, a square foot. To cover your 20×20 foot paver patio, the total amount will be $120-$200.

Levelling Sand

Also known as ASTM C-33 sand, they are well suited for laying a coarse and compact bond between the base and the paver stones/bricks. They further level the patio base very smoothly. Depending on the patio’s base depth and availability, a square foot of these sands will cost you between $0.3-$0.4. For a 400-square-foot paver patio, the cost will be more or less $120 to $160.

Pavers

This is the most expensive part of setting up any paver patio. The types of pavers used will determine the overall patio setup cost. For a start, you have to select which type of paver you will use. Some of the options for paving your paver patio are:

1. Natural Cut Stone: Cut stones are natural stones that are processed for use as patio pavers. They are mined from underneath and have the natural eye-soothing texture, which patio lovers seek the most. They are processed further to meet the size and polishing texture for patio use. Depending on your geological location and local stone type availability, it will cost you $10-$30, for a square foot of such stones. That means, for covering a 400-square-foot paver patio, the cost will stand between $4000 to $12000.
2. Paver Tile: Paver tiles are ceramic-made patio tiles. They are unique for their tons of texture variation availability. If you want the look of wood but don’t want it to rot, then you can get some very beautiful tile pavers. However since they are made of ceramic, they are likely more prone to damage if used roughly. A single piece of one square foot of such paver tile can cost $7 to $10. That’s between $2800-$4000 for a 400-square-foot paver patio.
3. Brick: Paver bricks are a relatively easy option for setting up a paver patio. They are available everywhere, easy to source, and transport, and most importantly, it gives the desired look to your patio. They come in shapes, sizes and different colors to fulfill the different needs of patio lovers. They are so durable and for your convenience, you can change the damaged brick anytime, easily. Such beneficial patio bricks will cost you between 3-8 dollars a square foot. To cover your 20×20 paver patio, the cost will be around $1200 to $3200.
4. Concrete: Concrete can be an easy-pick solution to pave your patio setup. They are also available everywhere and can also be mixed in your backyard using cement, or stones at any time. Another DIY benefit of concrete is that you can give it any shape you want as your patio design. They come in as one of the most used solid patio materials, yet relatively less expensive price, $3 to $6 per square foot. To cover a 20×20 or 400 square foot patio area, the amount will be $1200 to $1800.
5. Porcelain: Porcelain patio pavers are a luxurious type of paving material that is made from porcelain clay. They are suitable for use in poolside paver patios and walkways due to their durability and anti-frost capability. They are also non-slippery and don’t get affected by traffic walking. That’s why porcelain patios are well suited in tropical and hardy winter areas. Depending on their quality and build material, a square foot of porcelain paver will cost you between $1.5- $20 or more. That’s $420 to $8000 for a 20×20 paver patio.

There are also some other options such as Permeable Pavers, Glass Pavers, etc. type of paver material that will mix pricing but they haven’t seen their use much to elaborate.

Polymeric/Jointing Sand

Polymeric or jointing sands are liquefied forms of sealant to use on a completed paver surface. They work as a sealer to prevent water, dust, and weeds in and out of the patio. They also add a finishing touch to your paver patio.  Such sealant jointers can cost $0.10 – $0.30 per square foot to cover. For a 20×20 paver patio, it will require $40 to $120 such polymeric/ jointing sands.

Plastic or Metal Edging

In case you want to add a protective side edge throughout your paver patio then you will need such plastic or metal edging barriers. It works well to hold the edges in position and keeps the overall shape of the patio in place. These edges are most suitable to use in small brick paved patios as they are more prone to get separated over time. It will take a dollar/foot to buy such edgings. If we sum your paver patio in length (4*20s=80 feet) then that will cost you $80 to place such edgings.

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Small and Heavy Tools You May Need

If you are thinking of DIY setting your paver patio, then make sure you have the following tools/ machines in your possessions. If you don’t have please accumulate their price on your patio setup cost list.

Small Tools

These small tools will ease your work by a greater margin. Most of these are common for every household to have. They have repeated use in everyday household maintenance.

1. Shovel: For removing the upper layer of soil and spreading the sands, stones. The average price of a shovel is around 20-30 dollars.
2. Garden Rake: To spread the gravel and base stones over the patio base area. The average price of such a garden rake is approximately 15-20 dollars.
3. Hand Tamper: To set the sands and stones preliminarily. A basic landscape hand tamper will cost more or less 25-35 dollars.
4. Rubber Mallet: A rubber mallet hammer is for setting the pavers, stones, gravel chunks, etc. Unless you have one, you can buy one for 10-20 dollars on average.
5. Tape Measure: Tape measures will be one of your key accessories to set up a paver patio. A decent configured tape measure will cost you 8-10 bucks.
6. Wheelbarrow: A wheelbarrow will help you to move construction materials easily. They cost no more than a hundred dollars to get.
7. Broom: A broom is essential to remove dust and apply Polymeric Sealant/Jointing Sand properly over every corner of your completed paver patio.
8. Electric Cutter: This is essential to cut the paver brick and tiles into shape to be used in the paver patio.

Heavy Machinery

Using some heavy machinery will reduce the time and physical effort of setting up a paver patio. Only use them if you have enough space to facilitate them and have experience of how to use them.

1. Electric Tamper: Using an electric tamper instead of a hand tamper will help you to set the gravel, sand, and stones to set properly and quickly. They put higher pressure and are more efficient than hand-used ones. You can either buy their smaller version for 300-400 dollars for frequent use or rent them at an hourly rate.
2. Small Bulldozer: Small bulldozer with excavating and removing capacity will help you with removing the top soil layer and spreading the sand-stones very quickly. You may need to hire a driver along with the bulldozer to operate it. They will cost you at least $100 per hour. So don’t hire unless you have to.
3. Concrete Vibrators: If you think of making a concrete paver patio then a concrete vibrator is a must. This will help the concrete to set properly to all corners. Based on capacity and models they can cost you 30-50 dollars per hour.

Additional Installation Costs of 20×20 Paver Patio

Apart from the materials, tools, and machinery, there are some additional installation costs to set up your paver patio. Their price depends on their may or may not use and availability.

1. Labor Cost: Instead of doing all the dirty work, if you think you need additional expert hands to do the work for yourself then add the labor costs into account. Depending on your state, it can cost you $50-$80/ an hour, to hire a skilled professional.
2. Electricity or Oil Cost: Depending on hiring and using electric or biofuel-run machines, you may need to bear a little of electricity, oil, and gas bills.
3. Grass Cost: These are decorating costs after you have installed the paver patio. Artificial grass can cost between 5-10 dollars a square foot, depending on their quality.
4. Transportation Cost: You may need to rent one or two medium transporters to bring in and out all the construction materials. The costs will depend on how much weight and path they have to bear.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Backyard patios are a fun place to enjoy your leisure time throughout the day and night. Among the patio types, a paver kind is unique for its defining design and durability. The cost of setting up such an attractive paver patio depends on the use of different materials. It also depends on whether you do it yourself or hire a team of skilled experts. By taking all of the possible cost criteria into account, the rough estimation of setting up a 20×20 paver patio will be between $3000 to $16000. Now you have a moderate idea of what, when, and how- setting up a paver patio will cost you. So why not start planning to set up your own paver patio to create some lifelong blissful memories?

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