Outdoor Project Budget Planner
The whole project, not one material. Add every cost, apply a contingency, and see what hiring the work out actually adds.
The project
The name and size are only used to label your summary.
Buffers and tax
Outdoor projects run over more often than they run under.
Filling in the materials line? Use the paver, concrete, gravel, mulch or garden bed calculators to get a real number, then carry the subtotal in here.
Common questions
How much contingency should I budget for an outdoor project?
Ten to twenty percent, and lean toward twenty if you are digging. Outdoor work hides its surprises underground: buried rubble, a stump you did not know about, water sitting where it should drain, or a base that needs more depth than planned. Fifteen percent is a sensible default on a project you have scoped carefully.
What is a realistic labor cost percentage for a patio or deck project?
Labor commonly lands between a third and a half of the total on hardscape and deck work, and it can exceed materials on anything involving heavy excavation or complex cuts. Turn on the comparison above and you will see the split for your own numbers rather than a rule of thumb.
Should I include permit fees in my project budget?
Yes, and check whether you need one before you price anything else. Permit fees are usually modest next to the build, but doing permitted work without a permit can mean tearing it out, and it can surface later when you sell the house. Inspection visits and any required drawings belong in the budget too.
Then get it on paper
The free Backyard Project Planner turns a budget into an order of work, with lead times and a weekend by weekend schedule.