There's nothing like a great plan to make a landscape project reality. A good plan not only includes a thoughtful landscape design but a budget plan too. We've researched costs associated with driveways, sidewalks, and patios to provide you with some basic numbers that you use to develop a rough project cost. Keep in mind that landscape costs vary greatly from region to region. Use the numbers below as a starting place and then talk to contractors in your area for estimates.

continue reading below

Driveways

The size of your driveway and material choice are the greatest influencers on project cost. A new driveway can range between 50 cents per square foot to $50 per square foot. When choosing a paving material, pay special attention to long-term maintenance costs. Gravel, for example, is relatively inexpensive to install but it requires regular maintenance and additional material (at a notable cost) each year to maintain its good looks. Here's a rundown of popular paving materials.

Gravel. With an average price of 50 cents to $2 per square foot, gravel is the least expensive paving option. With traffic the gravel will sink into the soil below the driveway, necessitating additional gravel to maintain an even surface. This disappearing gravel is especially problematic in areas with high rainfall and on high traffic driveways.

Asphalt. Create a strong, durable driveway with asphalt. Expect to pay $1 to $5 per square foot for black asphalt. Decorative stamped and colored asphalt is available but the cost increases significantly.

Concrete. Durable and nearly maintenance-free, concrete ranges from $3 to $10 per square foot. If installed improperly a concrete may crack and shift. It is important to higher a reputable contractor.

Pavers. Eye-catching and unique, paver driveways are labor intensive to install, resulting in a high cost per square foot. Plan to pay $10 to $50 per square foot for a paver driveway. Properly installed, a paver driveway is a sound investment that will last a lifetime.

Sidewalks

While material influences the cost of a sidewalk, labor is also a tremendous factor. A sidewalk that requires extensive excavation or an intricate design will increase labor costs significantly. Be sure to get at least three estimates for your project.

Concrete sidewalks are typically $5 to $16 per square foot and often the least expensive material choice. The cost rises to the $16 range when stamping and coloring is added to give the material a unique look.

Brick sidewalks are usually $8 to $12 per square foot and have an old world charm.

A paver sidewalk is often $10 to $25 per square foot. Count on a quality paver sidewalk to last for 20 years or more.

Patios

A patio is often one of the largest investments in a landscape. The investment usually pays great dividends as the patio is the central gathering place for everything from an alfresco lunch to smores by twilight. Concrete is typically the lowest cost patio option while stone is the most expensive.

There are a few things you can do to limit costs. First, chose a material with a regular shape, such as bricks. Standard units are quicker and easier to install than irregularly shaped flagstone. Also, limit shipping costs by sourcing product from your local area. Do some research around your area and you're likely to be surprised at the variety of local product. Finally, create a patio with a simple design. Numerous and intricate curves or patterns add significant labor costs as masons cut and manipulate stone to fit the design.

The average size patio is about 12 feet by 12 feet. We used this size to share project costs for the range of popular patio materials.

Concrete. Priced at $6 to $17 per square foot, a concrete patio will typically cost $850 to $2,500.

Brick. Offering color and old-world charm, brick patios are $8 to $12 per square foot and usually about $1,200 to $1,700 per patio.

Pavers. A man-made product, pavers range from $10 to $25 per square foot. An average paver patio will cost $1,400 to $3,600.

Flagstone. Natural stone available in a host of colors and textures, flagstone is $15 to $30 per square foot. A typical flagstone patio will cost $2,100 to $4,300.