Cheapest Patio Materials Ranked
Upfront installed cost is the most commonly cited deciding factor in patio surface selection, but it is not the only financial variable worth considering. A material with a low installation cost but high recurring maintenance costs can cost more over a 20-year period than a more expensive surface that requires almost no upkeep. This guide covers both dimensions, upfront cost and lifetime cost, so you can make a financially informed decision rather than simply choosing the cheapest material to install.
All cost figures represent DIY-installed costs for a 200 square foot residential patio unless otherwise noted. Professional installation adds 40 to 80% to material costs depending on the surface type.
Patio Materials Ranked by Upfront DIY Installed Cost
1. Pea Gravel – $1 to $3 per sq ft
Pea gravel is the most affordable patio surface by a significant margin. The material itself costs $30 to $55 per ton in bulk (covering approximately 72 square feet at 3-inch depth), and the full DIY installation, including landscape fabric, steel edging, and gravel, typically totals $200 to $350 for a 200 square foot patio.
The cost advantage is real and substantial. A pea gravel patio can be installed for less than 25% of the cost of the next most affordable solid surface. The tradeoffs are the absence of a firm, stable surface underfoot, the need for containment edging, and challenging snow removal in cold climates.
For full details: Pea Gravel Patio Cost
2. Poured Concrete – $3.50 to $5.25 per sq ft (DIY material only)
Plain poured concrete is the most affordable solid surface option. DIY material cost for a 4-inch reinforced slab (concrete, sub-base, reinforcement, formwork, and sealer) runs approximately $780 to $1,130 for 200 square feet, or $3.90 to $5.65 per square foot. Professional installation adds significantly: contractor pricing for a plain broom-finished slab typically runs $8 to $12 per square foot all-in.
Concrete’s low material cost comes with the trade-off of higher DIY difficulty compared with pea gravel and pavers, and a susceptibility to cracking in freeze-thaw climates.
For full details: Concrete Patio Cost Per Square Foot
3. Concrete Pavers – $3.45 to $7.75 per sq ft (DIY, standard concrete pavers)
Standard concrete pavers at the affordable end of the range deliver DIY installed costs comparable with plain concrete on a material-only basis. The full DIY project cost for a 200 square foot standard concrete paver patio (pavers, sub-base, bedding sand, edge restraints, and polymeric jointing sand) runs $690 to $1,550, or $3.45 to $7.75 per square foot depending on the paver product selected.
Pavers cost more than concrete to have professionally installed, contractor rates typically run $12 to $22 per square foot, but the repairability advantage and longer effective service life of a well-installed paver surface make them competitive on lifetime cost.
For full details: Paver Patio Cost Per Square Foot
4. Sandstone Flagging – $4.95 to $9.35 per sq ft (DIY, irregular)
Lower-grade irregular sandstone is the most affordable natural flagstone option and competes in price with mid-range concrete pavers on a material basis. DIY dry-laid sandstone patio cost for 200 square feet runs approximately $1,065 to $2,020.
The caveat is that sandstone quality varies significantly, and high-absorption sandstone should not be used in cold climates without freeze-thaw test data from the supplier.
For full details: Flagstone Patio Cost
5. Brick Pavers – $5.65 to $11.05 per sq ft (DIY)
Clay brick pavers occupy the mid-range of the cost spectrum. DIY installed cost for a 200 square foot brick paver patio runs $1,130 to $2,210 depending on brick grade and pattern.
6. Pressure-Treated Wood Deck – $12 to $22 per sq ft (DIY to contractor)
A ground-level pressure-treated wood deck patio is more expensive than all the hardscape options above because of the structural subframe requirement, which adds material and complexity regardless of the surface board cost. DIY material cost for a 200 square foot ground-level deck runs approximately $2,400 to $4,400.
For full details: Composite Decking Patio Cost (includes wood comparison figures)
7. Bluestone Flagging – $13 to $24 per sq ft (DIY, dry-laid)
Quality bluestone is one of the most durable and visually distinctive flagstone options but also one of the most expensive. DIY dry-laid installed cost for 200 square feet runs $2,800 to $5,000.
8. Composite Decking – $21 to $26 per sq ft (DIY material)
Composite decking is consistently the most expensive patio surface on an installed cost per square foot basis. DIY material cost for a 200 square foot ground-level composite deck runs $4,565 to $5,630. Professional installation reaches $6,000 to $9,000.
For full details: Composite Decking Patio Cost
20-Year Lifetime Cost Comparison
Upfront cost tells only part of the story. Surfaces with low installation costs but high maintenance requirements can cost more in total over 20 years than surfaces with higher upfront costs but minimal ongoing maintenance.
The following estimates combine upfront installed cost with 20-year maintenance cost for a 200 square foot patio, using mid-range figures for both. Maintenance estimates assume DIY for routine tasks and contractor pricing for staining cycles on wood.
| Surface | Upfront Cost (200 sq ft, DIY) | 20-Year Maintenance Cost | 20-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | $275 | $150 (top-ups) | $425 |
| Plain concrete | $955 | $400 (sealing, crack repair) | $1,355 |
| Concrete pavers | $1,120 | $250 (joint sand, occasional relevel) | $1,370 |
| Sandstone flagging | $1,540 | $200 (joint maintenance) | $1,740 |
| Bluestone flagging | $3,900 | $150 (minimal upkeep) | $4,050 |
| Pressure-treated wood | $3,400 | $2,200 (staining every 3 years) | $5,600 |
| Composite decking | $5,100 | $400 (cleaning only) | $5,500 |
The most striking finding in the lifetime cost comparison is how close composite decking and pressure-treated wood come to each other over 20 years, despite a $1,700 upfront cost difference. The regular staining cycle on wood almost eliminates composite’s premium by year 20. For ownership horizons beyond 20 years, composite’s total cost advantage grows further because wood may require partial board replacement.
Pea gravel and concrete pavers are the best-value options on a 20-year lifetime cost basis in their respective performance categories.
Best Value by Budget Tier
Under $500 for 200 sq ft: Pea gravel. No other surface approaches this total cost for a patio of this size.
$500 to $1,500: Plain poured concrete or standard concrete pavers. Both deliver a durable solid surface within this range DIY. Concrete pavers are the better value for homeowners who might need to make repairs over the service life.
$1,500 to $3,000: Mid-range pavers (brick, higher-spec concrete) or entry-level flagstone (sandstone). Both deliver a premium-looking surface at a total cost that most residential budgets can accommodate.
$3,000 to $6,000: Quality flagstone (bluestone, slate) or composite decking. Both are long-service, low-maintenance surfaces at the top of the residential market.