Patio vs deck vs pavers: which is best for your backyard?

The short comparison

The right choice usually comes down to three things: how flat the yard is, how high the back door sits above the ground, and how much upkeep you will actually do.

	Plain concrete patio	Paver patio	Wood deck	Composite deck
Installed cost per sq ft (HomeGuide)	$4 to $12[1]	$10 to $30[1]	$25 to $50[2]	$40 to $80[2]
Installed cost per sq ft (Fixr)	$6 to $17[4]	$10 to $25 for concrete pavers[4]	$15 to $25 pressure-treated, $19 to $29 cedar[5]	$28 to $40[5]
Lifespan (HomeGuide)	30 to 50 years[1]	25 to 75 years[1]	10 to 25 years[1]	25 to 50 years[1]
Routine upkeep	Clean; seal if decorative	Sweep; top up joint sand[7]	Stain or seal often[2]	Clean; no resealing[2]
Repairs	Cracks show; patches visible[9]	Lift and reset single units[9]	Replace boards, check framing	Replace boards
Works on a slope	Needs grading or steps	Needs grading or walls	Yes	Yes

Fixr's figures are older (2022 and 2023) and HomeGuide's run from 2024 to 2026, so use both as ranges, not quotes. HomeGuide's own pages also differ a little: its paver patio guide gives $10 to $17 per square foot for a typical paver patio^[3], while its concrete patio guide lists $10 to $30 across all paver types^[1]. Local labor rates drive most of the spread.

When a concrete patio makes the most sense

• Lowest cost per square foot. A basic 20 by 20 foot concrete patio runs $1,600 to $4,800, per HomeGuide^[1].
• Flat yard, door near ground level. A slab sits on grade, so it works best when the yard is level or can be graded.
• Low upkeep. HomeGuide calls concrete low maintenance but says to patch cracks promptly^[9].
• Decorative options. Stamping or staining raises the price to about $8 to $30 per square foot^[1]. See stamped concrete patios.

The trade-off is cracking. HomeGuide notes concrete can crack from ground movement and extreme temperatures, and repairs are harder to hide than with pavers^[9].

When pavers make the most sense

• You want easy repairs. HomeGuide notes single pavers can be replaced, which is cheaper and easier than repairing a slab^[9].
• Freeze-thaw climates. HomeGuide says pavers typically do not crack from freeze-thaw cycles^[9]. They still need a well-built base.
• Design freedom. Shapes, colors and borders are easy to change.

Upkeep is light but real. CMHA, the concrete paver industry association, recommends a spring and fall sweeping and topping up joint sand right away if it drops more than 1/2 inch^[7]. Sealing is optional; HomeGuide prices it at $1.50 to $3.25 per square foot^[3].

When a deck makes the most sense

• Sloped yards. A deck can be level on a hillside without retaining walls.
• Raised back doors. If the door sits several steps above grade, a deck meets it without a tall stair.
• Second-story access. HomeGuide puts a second-story pressure-treated deck at $50 to $60 per square foot^[2].

Decks carry more paperwork and upkeep. HomeGuide lists permits at $50 to $150, and complex designs may need an engineer's drawings^[2]. It notes many states do not require a permit for a freestanding deck under 200 square feet, but check your city^[2]. Posts sit on concrete footings, and frost depth sets how deep those go, which raises cost in cold climates^[2].

For wood decks, HomeGuide says builders advise staining and sealing pressure-treated pine every year, at $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot for staining^[2]. Composite decking does not need annual resealing, which is part of why it costs more up front^[2].

How climate changes the answer

Freezing winters (Ohio, Illinois and similar). Concrete exposed to freezing and deicing salt should be air-entrained 4,000 psi concrete, per NRMCA, and deicers should be avoided in its first winter^[8]. Paver bases need to be thicker in colder climates and on wet or weak soils, per CMHA^[10]. Deck footings must go below the local frost line^[2]. NAHB's life expectancy study estimated wood decks last 20 to 30 years in the North^[6].

Heat, humidity and clay (Texas and the Gulf South). NAHB's study put wood deck life at only 10 to 15 years in the South, against about 20 years under ideal conditions^[6]. On expansive clay, any slab can crack or tilt as the soil swells and shrinks. Pavers can move too, but they can be lifted, the base fixed and the same units relaid. See expansive clay soil.

Rainy climates. HomeGuide notes decks have shorter lives in rainy climates when they are not designed to shed water^[2].

Thinking about cost over 20 years

The cheapest to build is not always the cheapest to own. A wood deck that needs stain every year or two adds a recurring cost that concrete and pavers mostly avoid^[2]. Fixr's older data showed the same pattern, saying wood decks should last at least 10 to 15 years and composite about 20^[5]. A decorative concrete patio adds resealing every few years. A paver patio adds occasional joint sand and resetting.

A fair way to compare bids: ask each contractor for the installed price and the expected yearly upkeep for your climate, then total both over the years you expect to stay.

When to call a pro

• If the yard slopes or drains toward the house, have a contractor plan grading before any patio or deck.
• For any raised deck or one attached to the house, since permits, footings and the ledger connection need to be done right.
• If an existing patio has sunk or tilted toward the house, ask about leveling or replacement before you build over it.
• If you see cracks in the house slab or sticking doors along with patio movement, start with a structural engineer.