Start with a scope, then put a number beside it
There’s no confirmed Plano Landscaping flat rate for patios in this guide. A usable budget needs the patio area, surface, site preparation and any removal or drainage work. An installed square-foot figure is helpful only when you know what is included.
For a local reference, MCM Outdoor Living advertises approximately $6,800–$7,200 for a 10 × 20-foot paver patio on its Plano page. That’s about $34–$36 per square foot for that example. The same page also contains lower general pricing tables, so those figures should not be treated as a consistent market average or substituted for a written description of the work. This is another contractor’s published example, not our quote. See the original pricing reference.
For your own project, ask for one clearly defined base proposal and separately priced options. That lets you see whether the extra money buys a larger usable space, a different finish or necessary work underneath it.
A simple budget structure
Installed patio + separately excluded preparation + chosen upgrades + applicable fees and taxes = planned project total.
Don’t add preparation twice if it’s already included. Ask the estimator to mark each item as included, optional, excluded or an allowance.
Compare the complete surface, not just the material tag
| Option | What to specify | What to ask about the budget |
|---|---|---|
| Poured concrete | Finish, dimensions, thickness, reinforcement and joint layout appropriate to the design. | Does the price include forming, access, removal, curing arrangements and cleanup? |
| Concrete pavers | Exact product, pattern, base, bedding, edge restraint and joint treatment. | Are excavation, unsuitable-soil handling, cuts and borders included? |
| Natural stone | Stone type, thickness, finish and the planned installation system. | What preparation and setting method are priced? Are irregular cuts and detailed edges extra? |
A photo doesn’t tell you which construction system sits underneath a patio. Ask for the actual material and installation method in writing. For a broader appearance and material discussion, see concrete, pavers or stone.
CMHA explains that paver base requirements change with soil, drainage and loading conditions. That’s why a generic base depth from an online example isn’t a site-specific specification. Read CMHA’s explanation of paver base design.
Buy the space you will use
Before choosing a size, place your furniture in the proposed area or mark its outline. Pull the chairs out. Walk from the back door to the yard. Include the grill’s manufacturer-required clearances rather than squeezing it into the remaining corner.
A 12 × 16-foot rectangle contains 192 square feet. A 16 × 20-foot rectangle contains 320 square feet—about 67% more surface. That’s a meaningful change in area, but the total quote won’t necessarily rise by exactly 67% because setup, access and site work don’t all scale evenly.
Keep the useful area
Protect room for the table, chairs and the route people actually walk. A smaller patio that blocks the back door isn’t a good saving.
Simplify the extras
Ask what a simpler shape, standard border or different finish would save before cutting preparation or solving drainage later.
Check that the purchased area supports the activities you want: test the patio layout before pricing it.
What can change the final price?
| Site condition | Why it changes the scope | Question for your estimate |
|---|---|---|
| An existing slab or deck | Removal, haul-off and the condition revealed underneath need accounting for. | Is demolition included, and what happens if hidden conditions change the work? |
| A narrow side gate | Moving equipment and materials through the property may require a different approach. | What access will you need, and who restores anything disturbed? |
| A wet or uneven area | The surface levels and water route need planning before installation. | Where will water go, and is separate drainage work included? |
| Sprinklers in the footprint | The new paved area may conflict with heads or pipe routes. | Which heads or lines will move, and how will remaining beds and lawn be watered? |
| Steps, walls or future structures | These introduce additional design and support decisions. | Are these part of this proposal or separate work? |
If water already collects near the house, a new surface is an opportunity to assess the problem, not assume it will disappear. Our drainage comparison guide explains why surface drains, French drains and grading solve different problems.
Make two estimates genuinely comparable
Put the same sketch and project brief in front of each estimator. Then compare these items. A cheaper total with missing work isn’t yet a cheaper version of the same patio.
| Estimate item | What you want in writing |
|---|---|
| Measured area | Dimensions, boundaries and any connecting walkway. |
| Materials and finish | Named surface, pattern, edging and installation method. |
| Preparation | Removal, excavation, base or slab specification and handling of unexpected conditions. |
| Water and irrigation | Finished levels, drainage scope and sprinkler changes. |
| Access and restoration | Entry route, haul-off, cleanup and lawn or bed repairs. |
| Approvals and charges | Who confirms requirements, handles applications and pays applicable fees and taxes. |
| Handover | When the surface can be used, care instructions and written warranty terms. |
| Changes | How options, allowances and scope changes are approved and priced. |
Ask about exclusions directly: “What would I still need to pay someone else to finish?” If the answer includes drainage, demolition or repairing the lawn, add those items to your decision before comparing totals.
Our landscaping estimate guide goes deeper into scope and allowances. Don’t assume warranty terms for another service, such as pool removal, apply to patio work.
Can you build it in phases?
Yes, but tell the estimator the eventual plan at the first visit. It’s easier to discuss a future pergola, lighting or connecting path before covering the ground they may affect.
- Plan the final layout. Explain intended shade structures, furniture and routes.
- Resolve work below the surface. Discuss drainage, irrigation and any provision needed for later work.
- Install a useful first phase. Agree where it ends and how future work connects.
- Add optional features later. Keep later material availability and possible remobilization costs in mind.
A finished patio isn’t automatically a suitable foundation for a future structure. Have support and connection requirements assessed before assuming a pergola can simply be attached. Explore pergolas, landscape lighting and outdoor living planning as part of the same discussion.
If lawn areas will be disturbed, identify the restoration area in the estimate. Our sod cost guide and calculator can help budget that separate portion; it doesn’t estimate patio construction.
Check the full project with Plano
Describe whether you’re proposing an uncovered surface, a cover, a pergola, electrical work or other structural changes. Don’t assume the answer for one applies to all of them.
Plano provides residential permit resources through its Development Services department. Confirm current requirements for your address and full job before scheduling work. Ask who handles required applications and whether fees are included. We have not assigned a universal patio permit fee here.
Also check applicable HOA requirements, property boundaries and easements. HOA approval and city approval are separate checks. A concept image or a neighbor’s patio doesn’t establish what is allowed at your property.
Turn a rough idea into a patio estimate
Send your property address, photos showing the area and access route, rough dimensions and your preferred surface. Include what you want to put on the patio and any standing water, existing slab or sprinkler concerns. If you’re unsure about materials, ask for comparable options.
A rough sketch is enough to start the conversation. You don’t need a finished design before requesting an assessment.
Request a Patio EstimateQuestions homeowners ask before budgeting
Is concrete always cheaper than pavers?
Not for every scope. Compare the actual finish, preparation and access. A material-only price can’t tell you which complete installation will cost less at your property.
Can you give me an exact price from the square footage?
Area is a useful starting point, but we also need to understand removal, levels, access, the surface and related work. A property-specific proposal should identify what is included.
Can the patio go over an old slab?
Have the existing slab, levels, drainage and proposed system assessed first. Don’t assume an overlay is suitable simply because the old surface is still present.
Is drainage included?
Only if the proposal says so. Ask whether the quoted work covers surface grading alone or a separate drainage system, and where the water is intended to go.
When can I put furniture on it?
Get instructions for the installed system and any curing or setting materials. There’s no single waiting time that fits concrete, pavers and every stone installation.
Should I add sod or artificial turf around it?
Either may be worth discussing, depending on use and maintenance. Compare artificial turf and sod, and coordinate drainage and irrigation before choosing the finish.
Sources and pricing notes
- Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association: paver base and depth — technical context for site-dependent preparation.
- City of Plano Development Services — official starting point for current permitting and building resources.
Price references checked October 12, 2026. The named providers’ figures are examples, not Plano Landscaping quotes or a consistent market average. Dimensions, calculations and images are illustrative. Confirm the surface, preparation, drainage, related work and current approvals in your written project scope.
