How much should you budget for a new patio? Start with the size and surface you want, then account for the work your yard needs. Published references put plain concrete at $5–$8 per square foot and a professionally installed 400-square-foot paver patio at about $12,000–$16,000. Those are broad planning benchmarks, not local quotes.
For your Colorado Springs-area home, the useful number is the total for a finished patio: preparation, installation, drainage, and the transitions back into your yard. Here is how to use online prices without mistaking them for a complete estimate.
Patio Budget Examples by Size and Surface
Concrete Network’s cost guide lists plain concrete at $5–$8 per square foot and custom decorative concrete at $11–$18. The concrete totals below multiply those published ranges by the area shown. Unilock’s paver cost guide gives the 400-square-foot paver example directly.
| Surface | Dimensions | Area | Budget example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete | 20 × 20 feet | 400 sq. ft. | $2,000–$3,200 |
| Custom decorative concrete | 20 × 20 feet | 400 sq. ft. | $4,400–$7,200 |
| Professionally installed pavers | 20 × 20 feet | 400 sq. ft. | $12,000–$16,000 |
| Plain concrete | 15 × 30 feet | 450 sq. ft. | $2,250–$3,600 |
These references describe different surface specifications and installation assumptions. They are not a matched set of bids, a Colorado Springs price survey, or CN Landscaping’s rates. Actual totals may fall outside these ranges. Confirm site work, delivery, taxes, and exclusions in your written estimate.
Separate the Patio From the Rest of the Backyard
A patio and a complete outdoor room are different budgets. Before choosing a surface, divide your wish list into three parts:
- The patio itself. Measure the footprint and identify the surface, border, steps, and connections to doors or walks. For the options CN Landscaping offers, explore patio installation.
- Necessary site work. Identify old-surface removal, excavation, base preparation, drainage, access, and restoration around the edges. Ask which items are included in the patio price so you do not count them twice.
- Optional additions. Price seating walls, lighting, shade structures, fire features, and utilities separately. A broader outdoor living plan can coordinate them, even if you build in phases.
Keep allowances visible. An undecided material or an unresolved site condition is not the same as a fixed-price item. Ask what assumption the allowance covers and how a change would affect the total.
Why Your Colorado Springs Yard Can Change the Total
The Colorado Geological Survey explains that expansive clay can swell when wet and shrink as it dries, and identifies heaved patios as one possible sign of movement. That does not diagnose your yard, but it is a reason to discuss soil and water before buying a surface.
Walk the proposed patio area with your installer. Where does runoff go? Does the new height work with your door and adjoining walk? Can equipment reach the backyard? A narrow gate, existing slab removal, or a slope needing steps or a retaining wall changes the work beyond the paved area. Read our earlier patio cost factors guide for a closer look at materials and preparation.
Spend Less by Changing Size or Features
Mark out the proposed patio and place your table, chairs, or a rough furniture outline inside it. Leave room to pull chairs out and walk past them. A footprint that fits your daily use may be smaller than your first sketch.
Ask for prices on two measured layouts with the same material and preparation. A smaller rectangle, simpler border, or fewer curves can reduce the scope. Postponing an optional feature can also help, provided its future access and any underground connections are planned before the patio is finished. Keep necessary base and drainage work in the first phase.
Have each proposal distinguish the installed patio, additional site corrections, and optional features. That makes it easier to choose what to build now and what to save for later.
Patio Cost Questions
How much would a 20×20 paver patio cost?
A 20×20 patio is 400 square feet. Unilock publishes a general installed benchmark of $12,000–$16,000 for that size. This is a manufacturer planning reference, not a Colorado Springs average or a CN Landscaping quote. Your material selection and site work can change the total.
How much does a 15×30 concrete patio cost?
A 15×30 patio is 450 square feet. Multiplying Concrete Network’s plain-concrete benchmark of $5–$8 per square foot gives $2,250–$3,600. This is an arithmetic planning example, not a local quote; demolition, access, grading, drainage, and decorative finishes can change the price.
Is it cheaper to pour concrete or use pavers?
Plain poured concrete generally has a lower initial installation cost than professionally installed pavers in the published references used here. Compare the same dimensions and site work, and distinguish plain concrete from stamped or custom finishes before choosing.
How can I reduce a patio budget without skipping preparation?
Reduce the footprint, simplify borders and curves, or postpone optional features. Keep the necessary excavation, base, drainage, and finished-height work in the first phase. Ask for a smaller complete installation and a separate price for future additions.
Get a Patio Estimate for Your Yard
CN Landscaping LLC provides patio installation in Colorado Springs and surrounding communities including Monument, Fountain, Falcon, Larkspur, Perry Park, and Black Forest. Tell us the approximate size, your preferred surface, and whether you are replacing an existing patio.
Request a free patio estimate or call (719) 460-5685 to discuss your plans.