What drives the price
Hardscaping is priced by the square foot for flat work and by the linear foot for walls, but two patios of the same size can land at very different totals. The material you pick, how hard your yard is to reach, how much digging the site needs, and how deep the base has to go all shape the final number. In North Texas, the base matters more than anywhere else: our clay soil swells when it rains and shrinks when it bakes, so a big share of a professional bid pays for the excavation and compacted base that keep everything flat for years.
The ranges below reflect typical installed prices. Every yard is different, which is why the estimate is free and done on site.
Typical project costs in DFW
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Paver patio (installed) | $8 to $24 per sq ft |
| Average patio (around 280 sq ft) | $2,200 to $6,700 |
| Large patio (500 sq ft) | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| Paver walkway | $1,430 to $3,530 |
| Retaining wall | $40 to $345 per linear ft |
| Pool deck pavers | $10 to $25 per sq ft |
Installed prices include material, base preparation, and labor. Retaining walls have the widest range because height changes everything: a knee-high garden wall is a simple build, while a tall wall holding back a slope may need engineering.
Paver and stone materials, per square foot
| Material | Material cost per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Concrete pavers | $4 to $6 |
| Brick pavers | $4 to $8 |
| Interlocking pavers | $3 to $6 |
| Natural stone | $7 to $16 |
| Flagstone | $13 to $30 |
These are material-only costs, before base and labor. Concrete and interlocking pavers give you the most patio per dollar and come in a wide range of colors and patterns. Natural stone and flagstone cost more, but no two pieces are alike and they age beautifully in the Texas sun.
What moves the price
- Square footage. Bigger projects cost more in total but usually less per square foot, since setup and mobilization spread across more area.
- Material choice. The jump from concrete pavers to natural stone or flagstone can double the material line of your bid.
- Site access and excavation. A backyard behind a narrow gate means more hand work; easy access for equipment keeps labor down.
- Base depth for clay soil. North Texas clay demands a deeper, properly compacted base. It costs more up front and it is exactly what keeps pavers flat.
- Borders and patterns. Soldier-course borders, herringbone layouts, and curves take more cuts and more time than a straight running bond.
- Drainage. If water needs to be moved away from the house or the patio, grading and drains add to the scope, and save you from bigger problems later.
A worked example
Say you want a 300 square foot concrete paver patio with a simple border, decent access through a side gate, and normal grading. At a mid-range installed price of about $14 per square foot, that patio lands around $4,200. Upgrade the same footprint to natural stone with a herringbone field and a cut-in border, and the installed rate can climb toward $20 per square foot, or about $6,000. Same yard, same size, different material and pattern: that is the spread the tables above are describing.