A paver patio cost in Greenville and Eastern North Carolina generally runs $18 to $40+ per square foot installed in 2026, which means a common 20x20 patio (400 square feet) lands somewhere around $9,000 to $18,000 depending on material, base work, and detail. This guide breaks down where a given patio falls and what to look for so you can compare estimates fairly.
Concrete pavers ($18 to $28 per square foot installed). Manufactured concrete pavers — Belgard, Techo-Bloc, and similar — are the value choice and cover the majority of the patios we build. They come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and textures, install efficiently, and carry manufacturer warranties. A clean concrete-paver patio on a proper base is a twenty-year surface.
Clay brick ($24 to $34 per square foot installed). True clay brick holds its color permanently (it is fired, not dyed) and reads as traditional architecture, which suits the Williamsburg-era and historic homes common across Pitt County and New Bern. It costs a little more than concrete paver and rewards a careful mason on the pattern work.
Natural stone, travertine, and bluestone ($30 to $45+ per square foot installed). Quarried stone is the premium tier — it is what we specify for pool surrounds and front facades where the patio is a design feature. Travertine stays cool underfoot and suits poolsides; bluestone reads formal and ages beautifully. Every piece is irregular and set by hand, which is why it sits at the top of the range.
The cost you cannot see: the base. A paver patio is only as good as what is under it. Proper installation means excavating six to ten inches, laying and compacting a graded aggregate base, a bedding layer, edge restraint, and polymeric sand — and that base work is typically 40 to 50 percent of the total cost. It is also exactly what a cut-rate estimate leaves out. A patio laid on too little base is the one that settles, heaves, and grows weeds through the joints within a couple of seasons. When two estimates are far apart, the base spec is usually why.
Size and shape. Cost per square foot drops a little on larger patios (fixed mobilization spread over more area) and rises with complexity — curves, multiple levels, borders, banding, and intricate patterns all add cutting and labor. A simple rectangle is the most economical shape; a free-form patio with a soldier-course border and an inlay costs more per foot.
Add-ons that change the number. Most patios we build are part of a larger outdoor room, and the surrounding elements often cost as much as the paving: a seat wall or retaining wall ($30 to $90 per square foot of face), a fire pit or fireplace, steps, a pergola overhead, and low-voltage lighting. Budgeting for the patio alone and then adding these later usually costs more than designing them together.
Where to spend and where to save. Spend on the base and the edge restraint — they determine whether the patio is flat and tight in ten years. Save by choosing a quality concrete paver over natural stone if budget is tight (the base and install matter more than the surface for longevity), and by keeping the shape simple. A well-built simple patio outperforms a poorly built fancy one every time.
Yardie designs and installs paver and natural-stone patios across Eastern North Carolina, and our estimates spell out the base preparation, edge restraint, and drainage so you can see exactly what you are paying for. We offer no-cost property visits with material samples — we walk the site, take measurements, and follow up with an itemized written estimate.
Written by the Yardie studio · July 8, 2026
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