How much does a paver patio cost per square foot?

A Portland paver installer's 2026 price guide puts it at $15 to $35 per square foot installed. National cost guides land at about $8 to $25. One of them puts labor alone at $4 to $11 per square foot.

Do I need a permit for a paver patio?

Often not for the patio itself. Portland's permit guide says a patio 30 inches or less above grade needs no building permit. Lake Oswego's erosion control rules list a patio as a major site feature that needs a permit. The permit question is settled before work starts.

What base material goes under pavers on Portland-area soil?

Crushed rock, such as 3/4 minus gravel, is the usual base, per a paver guide hosted by OSU Extension. Its sharp, mixed-size stones pack tight. The guide calls for 4 to 6 inches under 1 inch of sand, and more over soft clay. A Portland price guide calls for digging 8 to 12 inches down on clay.

Pavers or concrete: which is better for a Portland patio?

Poured concrete costs less up front. One national guide lists it at $5 to $12 a square foot, against $6 to $17 for concrete pavers. Pavers are easier to fix, because a damaged paver can be lifted out and replaced on its own. On wet ground, either one depends on the base under it.

Is this what Green Tree charges?

No. These are market numbers from published price guides, not our price list. We look at the yard and put the quote in writing. Call or text (971) 772-9892 to set up a time.

How much does a paver patio cost in Oregon?

Q: Will I need extra drainage for a paver patio?

In most cases the right base is enough, one national guide says, but some patios need drain pipes. The OSU-hosted guide calls for a drop of 1 inch every 4 feet, away from the house. Where water would still puddle, a Portland price guide puts catch basins at $800 to $2,000.

Q: How long do pavers last in Portland?

One national guide calls up to 25 years a fair expectation, depending on the stone. The same guide names drainage as the key to keeping a patio from sinking or cracking. The OSU-hosted guide adds regular sweeping, most of all in shaded, damp spots where moss builds up.

A paver patio in the Portland area typically costs $15 to $35 per square foot installed. That range comes from a Portland paver installer’s 2026 price guide. The same guide puts a 200 square foot patio at $3,000 to $7,000. National cost guides land lower, at about $8 to $25 per square foot.

The Portland guide ties the gap to clay soil, which calls for deeper digging and more rock, plus drainage work. These are market numbers, not our price list. The size of your patio and the ground under it set the real number.

What does a paver patio cost by size?

Size is the biggest cost factor, one national guide says. The Portland price guide groups patios into three sizes.

Patio size	Portland-area price (2026 local price guide)
Small: 100 to 200 sq ft	$2,500 to $5,500
Medium: 200 to 400 sq ft	$5,000 to $12,000
Large: 400 to 800 sq ft or more	$10,000 to $25,000 or more

National figures run lower. That national guide lists 200 square feet at $1,600 to $4,800 and 400 square feet at $3,200 to $9,600. Its average patio is 280 square feet, at $3,350.

Green Tree Landscape and Maintenance builds paver patios and walkways in Tualatin and the south and west metro. Size sets the starting point, and the ground under the pavers moves it from there.

What drives paver patio prices around Portland?

Labor and base work drive most of the price. One national guide puts labor at $4 to $11 per square foot. The Portland guide says base preparation is 40 to 50 percent of the total on clay. On well-draining soil, it is closer to 30 percent.

The Portland guide calls for digging 8 to 12 inches below the finished surface on clay. A paver guide hosted by OSU Extension calls for 4 to 6 inches of rock under 1 inch of sand. Over a soft clay subsoil, it calls for a thicker base.

Water is the local problem. Nearly 9 of every 10 inches of Portland’s rain falls from October through May, per NOAA climate normals. NRCS soil descriptions show several Tualatin Valley soils holding water within 1 to 2 feet of the surface in winter.

Whatever sits in the spot now has to come out first. If an old concrete patio has to go, the Portland guide puts removal at $3 to $6 per square foot. Grading an uneven site runs $770 to $3,000 in one national guide, depending on the area.

Oregon law requires a locate request through Oregon 811 at least two business days before digging. Utilities mark only their own lines, so old sprinkler and drain pipes call for careful hand digging.

Access matters too. The Portland guide says tight access can add 10 to 20 percent when materials must be hand-carried. That covers a backyard reached through a narrow side yard, over a fence or down a slope.

A slope adds leveling, and a steep yard may need a block retaining wall to hold a flat patio. Our guide to what a retaining wall costs in Oregon covers that price. The Portland guide says each extra element, such as steps, borders or curves, adds $500 to $3,000 or more.

Water has to leave the patio. The OSU-hosted guide calls for a drop of 1 inch every 4 feet, away from the house. Where water would still puddle, the Portland guide puts catch basins at $800 to $2,000.

Pavers, poured concrete or gravel: which costs less?

Plain poured concrete usually costs less than pavers, and gravel lands close to concrete. One national cost guide lists these installed prices per square foot.

Patio surface	Installed cost per sq ft
Plain poured concrete	$5 to $12
Gravel	$6 to $14
Concrete pavers	$6 to $17
Brick pavers	$12 to $20
Flagstone	$16 to $30
Permeable pavers	$10 to $40

Gravel still needs a prepared base that drains, the same guide notes, and it needs raking to stay level. A damaged paver can be lifted out and replaced on its own. A second national guide calls pavers easier to fix than poured concrete. Green Tree builds paver patios, so the concrete and gravel rows are here for comparison.

Do permeable pavers pay off under Oregon stormwater rules?

Permeable pavers cost more, and the stormwater payoff depends on your lot and your city. One national guide puts them at $10 to $40 per square foot. They sit on crushed, angular gravel 6 to 18 inches deep, so rain can soak through the joints.

Portland’s stormwater manual applies once a project adds or replaces 1,000 square feet of hard surface. Clean Water Services, Washington County’s stormwater and sewer agency, charges a stormwater fee on projects that size. A 20 x 20 foot patio is 400 square feet, well under both lines.

Portland’s Clean River Rewards program can cut up to 35 percent of the stormwater fee. Its list of qualifying practices names rain gardens, lawns, drywells, planters, ecoroofs and trees. Permeable pavers are not on that list.

On slow-draining valley soils, ask how the base will drain before you pay extra for permeable pavers. Your city or stormwater agency can say whether one counts toward a rule.

What does a walkway or lighting add?

A paver walkway added to a patio runs $500 to $1,000 in one national guide. The Portland price guide lists a walkway of 30 to 80 feet at $2,000 to $6,000. Walkways are narrower than patios but take the same base work per square foot, that guide notes.

If you want low-voltage landscape lighting on steps or along the patio edge, plan it with the patio. The wire can then go in before the pavers do. National guides price low-voltage fixtures at about $90 to $150 each, installed.

How long does a paver patio last, and what upkeep does it need?

One national guide calls up to 25 years a fair expectation for a paver patio, depending on the stone. The same guide names drainage as the key to keeping a patio from sinking or cracking. That puts the base first on wet ground.

The OSU-hosted guide recommends regular sweeping, most of all in shaded or damp spots. Those spots are prone to moss and chalky salt deposits. It advises against high-pressure cleaning, which pulls sand out of the joints. Any sand that washes out gets swept back in.

How do you get a real price for your yard?

Published ranges are a starting point, and your yard sets the real price. The size, the paver, the ground under it and the path the water takes all count.

Green Tree serves Tualatin and the south and west side of the Portland metro. When you want a real number, we look at the yard and put a paver patio quote in writing. Call or text (971) 772-9892.