Paver Patio and Hardscape Estimating App (2026)
A paver patio's cost is mostly what's underneath it — excavation, base depth, and disposal — none of which the customer can see in a finished photo. ShowTheReceipts ($15/mo) saves per-square-foot rates by base depth and paver type, itemizes excavation, edging, and polymeric sand, takes a materials deposit, and bills a progress draw once the base is compacted.
How we picked
Entry-plan prices as published in 2026, taken from each vendor's own pricing page or a recent third-party summary. Judged on the solo installer's real workflow — per-square-foot quoting with base and excavation variables, materials deposits, progress draws, and change orders — not on 3D landscape design rendering, plant databases, or crew payroll.
| Software | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ShowTheReceipts That's us | $15/mo | Solo installers: per-square-foot rates by base depth, excavation lines, deposits, progress draws |
| Joist | Free / $8/mo | Cheapest estimate-and-invoice pair |
| Invoice2go | $9.99/mo+ | Basic mobile invoicing |
| Kickserv Flex | $19/mo | Budget scheduling with invoicing |
| Jobber | $29/mo (Core) | Hardscape companies running multiple crews |
The customer pays for what they can’t see
Half a paver patio’s cost is buried under it. Excavation, geotextile, compacted aggregate base, and bedding sand — none of which appear in the finished photo, and all of which decide whether the patio is flat in five years.
Quoting the base explicitly is both good pricing and your best sales argument.
1. ShowTheReceipts — $15/mo
Per-square-foot rates banded by base depth and paver type, excavation and disposal lines, materials deposit, and a progress draw at base compaction.
2. Joist — Free / $8/mo
Cheap estimate-and-invoice pair.
3. Invoice2go — $9.99/mo+
Basic mobile invoicing with no progress billing.
4. Kickserv Flex — $19/mo
Budget scheduling with invoicing attached.
5. Jobber — $29/mo (Core)
Scheduling for a company running several crews.
The lines a hardscape estimate needs
- Excavation — depth stated, per square foot
- Disposal — by load, with dump fees
- Geotextile fabric
- Base aggregate — depth stated, compacted in lifts
- Bedding sand
- Pavers — per square foot, by type and pattern
- Edge restraint and spikes
- Polymeric sand and sealing
- Cutting — curves and borders take real time
- Access surcharge — narrow gates, no machine access
Access is the hidden multiplier
A backyard a machine can reach and one that has to be dug and hauled by wheelbarrow through a 36-inch gate are the same square footage and twice the labor. Walk the access before quoting, every single time.
Your base spec beats a lower bid
When a customer shows you a cheaper quote, ask what base depth it specifies. Most don’t say. That single question does more to win hardscape work than any discount, and it’s entirely honest.
Frequently asked questions
How should a paver patio be quoted?
Per square foot, banded by base depth and paver type, with excavation and disposal, edge restraint, and polymeric sand as separate lines. The base is where the cost and the longevity both live, and a single blended rate hides it completely.
Why does base depth matter so much to the price?
Because it's the difference between a patio that stays flat and one that heaves in three years — and between four inches of excavated material and ten. Quoting your base spec is also the cleanest way to explain why a cheaper bid is cheaper.
Should excavation and disposal be separate?
Yes. Hauling away several tons of soil is trucking, dump fees, and hours of machine time, and it varies wildly with access. A patio behind a narrow gate can double the excavation cost at identical square footage.
How do progress payments work on hardscape?
A materials deposit at signing, a draw when the base is compacted and inspected, and the balance at completion. The base stage is where most of your material money has already gone and where none of the visible work exists yet.