Backyard Design Statistics and Trends for 2026

Key Statistics About Hardscaping and Backyard Investment

What Is the Hardscaping Market Size?

The hardscaping industry represents a substantial segment of outdoor improvement spending. In 2024, U.S. demand for hardscaping products reached $4.4 billion (Freedonia Group), with the residential sector accounting for 57% of market gains. The global hardscape service market was valued at $98.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $172.5 billion by 2033, growing at a 5.7% CAGR (Data Horizon Research).

How Much Do Homeowners Spend on Backyard Projects?

Backyard improvement spending shows strong investment across project types and scales:

Average Project Costs:

  • General hardscaping projects: $5,000 to $18,000 range, with $9,000 average (Angi)

  • Patio installation: $4,003 average, with typical range of $2,027 to $6,087 (Angi)

  • Basic patio (200 sq ft): $2,300 to $3,500 DIY, or $3,000 to $6,000 professional (Task Masters)

  • Professional stone patio (400 sq ft): $7,000 to $14,600 installed (Task Masters)

  • Outdoor kitchen with patio (500 sq ft): $22,150 average, up to $100,000 with luxury features (345 Landscaping)

Cost Per Square Foot:

  • Hardscaping: $5 to $25 per square foot general range (Angi)

  • Patio installation: $5 to $50 per square foot depending on materials (Angi)

  • Paver patios: $18 to $45 per square foot installed, or $8 to $16 per square foot DIY materials (Interior Design Guide)

  • Hardscaping average: $15 to $50 per square foot (Inch Calculator)

Specific Features:

  • Fire pits: $300 to $3,000 (Angi)

  • Walkways: $1,200 to $2,850 average (345 Landscaping)

  • Retaining walls: $60 to $120 per linear foot installed, or $20 to $45 materials only (Interior Design Guide)

  • Pergolas: $2,500 to $6,000 (345 Landscaping)

  • Gazebos: $7,000 to $10,000 (345 Landscaping)

The average U.S. homeowner spends $300 per month on landscaping services (Amra And Elma), demonstrating consistent investment in outdoor space maintenance and improvement.

Patios vs. Decks

What Percentage of Homes Have Patios vs. Decks?

One of the most significant trends in backyard design is the clear preference shift from decks to patios in new home construction:

Patio Adoption:

  • 63.7% of new single-family homes included patios in 2023, marking the eighth consecutive year of record growth (NAHB)

  • Up from 63% in 2021 (NAHB)

  • This represents a post-2004 high for patio inclusion

Deck Decline:

  • Only 17.4% of new homes included decks in 2024, a new all-time low (NAHB/Eye On Housing)

  • Down from 17.6% in 2023 and 17.5% in 2021 (NAHB)

  • From 2005 through 2018, over 22% of single-family homes featured decks annually

  • The share dropped dramatically after 2018, reaching historic lows

Correlation Data: The correlation between patio and deck percentages from 2005-2023 is -0.84 (NAHB), demonstrating that patios are directly replacing decks as the preferred outdoor feature. This substitution effect is clear: as patios become more common, decks are being crowded out.

How Big Are Backyard Patios and Decks?

Size specifications reveal regional and design preferences:

Patio Sizes:

  • National average: 290 square feet (NAHB)

  • Average size increased from 250 sq ft in 2019 to 280 sq ft in 2020 (Builder Online)

  • Regional variations: East South Central over 400 sq ft, New England about 380 sq ft, West South Central under 200 sq ft (NAHB)

Deck Sizes:

  • National average: 278 square feet in 2024 (NAHB Builder Practices Survey)

  • Average: 284 square feet for homes built in 2023 (NAHB)

  • Size has remained relatively stable at around 260-284 square feet

The deck and patio construction industry generated $1.3 billion in revenue in 2025, growing at 1.3% CAGR over the past five years (IBISWorld).

Regional Backyard Design Preferences

How Do Regional Preferences Differ for Patios and Decks?

Geographic location drives dramatically different choices in outdoor features:

Patio-Dominant Regions:

  • West South Central: Over 80-82% of new homes include patios, only 3% include decks (NAHB)

  • South Atlantic: Close to 70% of new homes include patios (NAHB)

  • Mountain division: High patio adoption rates

Deck-Dominant Regions:

  • New England: 76% of new homes include decks, only 14-17% include patios (NAHB)

  • Middle Atlantic: 42% of homes include decks (NAHB)

  • West North Central: 46% include decks (NAHB)

The correlation between deck and patio percentages across all nine U.S. census divisions in 2023 was -0.82 (NAHB), confirming that patios and decks function as substitutes geographically.

What Materials Are Most Popular by Region?

Material preferences vary significantly by geographic area and climate:

Patio Materials:

  • East South Central: Poured concrete dominates (over 90% of patios) (EBD Studios)

  • New England: Balanced mix of poured concrete, natural stone, and concrete pavers (EBD Studios)

  • Mid-Atlantic: Brick pavers lead (EBD Studios)

  • National trend: Poured concrete remains most popular overall

Deck Materials (2023 data):

  • Treated wood: Most popular in West North Central, South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central (NAHB)

  • Composite: Leads in New England, Middle Atlantic, East North Central, and Mountain divisions (NAHB)

  • Concrete: Top choice in Pacific division (NAHB)

  • Current split nationally: Treated wood 45%, composite 37%, with growing adoption of composites (Builder Online)

Backyard Design Priorities and Trends

What Are Homeowners' Top Priorities for Backyard Design?

Design decisions reflect practical needs balanced with aesthetic goals:

Primary Priorities:

  • Low maintenance: 40%+ of homeowners prioritize minimal upkeep requirements (Green Builder Media)

  • Durability: 71% prioritize durability in outdoor furniture and features (Houzz)

  • Functionality: Creating usable, multi-purpose spaces

  • Privacy: 79-80% want secluded spaces with zero sight lines (Green Builder Media)

  • Aesthetics: 71% consider visual appeal a top factor after cost (Houzz)

Material Selection Drivers:

  • Cost remains the primary consideration for most projects

  • Durability and longevity valued at 71% (Houzz)

  • Comfort: 69% factor in comfort for outdoor features (Houzz)

  • Sustainability: Growing consideration though not top priority

What Backyard Features Are Most Popular?

Consumer demand concentrates on specific high-value features:

Most Requested Features:

  • Outdoor kitchens: 73% of experts cite as most in-demand (Fixr.com)

  • Fire features: 58% of experts identify as top priority (Fixr.com)

  • Covered patios: 44% of experts report high demand (Fixr.com)

  • Outdoor lighting: Consistently on top wish lists

  • Seating areas and dining spaces

  • Shade structures (pergolas, gazebos, umbrellas)

Trending in 2025:

  • Pizza ovens: 50% of experts report as hottest outdoor appliance (Fixr.com)

  • Dedicated bar areas: 44% trending (Fixr.com)

  • Built-in seating that doubles as storage

  • Modular components for flexibility

  • Smart technology integration

Backyard Design ROI and Property Value

How Much Do Backyard Improvements Increase Home Value?

Investment in backyard features delivers measurable financial returns:

ROI Data:

  • Overall landscape upgrades: 100% cost recovery on average $9,000 spent (NAR)

  • Landscape improvements can add 10-20% to home resale value (Grand View Research)

  • Well-designed landscapes can add $8,250 to $19,050 to a $150,000 home (Ruby Home)

  • Properties with outdoor fireplaces/fire pits sell 2.8 days faster than comparable homes (Zillow)

  • 98% of experts agree updated outdoor spaces significantly impact home value (Fixr.com)

  • 87% of homeowners believe backyard upgrades increase property resale value (Talker Research/Trex)

Specific Feature Returns:

  • Patios and decks: Can add up to 10-20% to resale value with 66-500% ROI depending on quality (Grand View Research)

  • Standard lawn care maintenance: 217% cost recovery (This Old House)

  • Outdoor kitchens: 100% cost recovery (NAR)

The strong ROI makes backyard improvements among the most financially sound home upgrades available.

Market Trends and Growth Projections

How Is the Hardscaping Market Growing?

Industry projections show sustained expansion across all segments:

Overall Growth:

  • U.S. landscaping services: $188.8 billion in 2025, growing at 6.5% CAGR from 2020-2025 (IBISWorld)

  • Global landscaping services: $330.58 billion in 2024, projected to reach $484.79 billion by 2030 at 6.7% CAGR (Grand View Research)

  • Hardscape service market: $98.7 billion in 2024, reaching $172.5 billion by 2033 at 5.7% CAGR (Data Horizon Research)

  • Residential hardscaping: $0.5 billion in 2023, expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2032 at 11.2% CAGR (Business Research Insights)

Market Drivers:

  • Rapid urbanization creating demand for functional outdoor spaces

  • Increased disposable income among homeowners

  • Growing emphasis on outdoor living post-pandemic

  • Property value enhancement motivations

  • Sustainability and eco-friendly design adoption

What Trends Are Shaping Backyard Design in 2025?

Several major trends define current backyard design:

1. Large-Format Pavers and Modern Materials

  • Extra-large pavers (16"x32", 32"x32", 32"x48") growing in popularity (Genest Concrete)

  • Borderless hardscape designs with large-format slabs (Genest Concrete)

  • Factory-sealed pavers for stain resistance and low maintenance (Concrete Masonry Association)

  • Permeable pavers for sustainable stormwater management (Grand View Research)

2. Low-Maintenance Design

  • Products must look beautiful and last long with minimal upkeep (Concrete Masonry Association)

  • Homeowners want to enjoy backyards, not spend weekends maintaining them

  • Hardscaping preferred over high-maintenance softscaping

  • Weather-resistant materials and sealed surfaces

3. Earth Tones Replacing Grays

  • Color trends shifting from gray/neutral tones back to earth tones (browns, tans, greens) (Genest Concrete)

  • Natural, warm color palettes gaining preference

  • Cyclical nature of color trends in hardscaping

4. Integrated Outdoor Living

  • Outdoor kitchens with built-in appliances and storage

  • Multi-use spaces serving multiple functions

  • Indoor-outdoor coherence: 78% of experts identified seamless transitions as biggest trend (Fixr.com)

  • Outdoor spaces designed as extensions of interior living areas

5. Sustainability Focus

  • 24% of experts emphasize eco-conscious materials and pollinator-friendly elements (Fixr.com)

  • Native plants integration with hardscaping (52% chose native plants in 2024) (Houzz)

  • Drought-tolerant landscaping: 62% of experts cite as top trend (Fixr.com)

  • Recycled and sustainable hardscape materials

  • Smart irrigation systems integration

Professional vs. DIY and Labor Considerations

What Percentage of Homeowners Hire Professionals for Backyard Projects?

The complexity of hardscaping drives professional hiring rates:

Professional Hiring:

  • 84% hired professional installers for outdoor kitchen work (NKBA)

  • 65% hired professionals for landscaping renovations in 2024 (Houzz)

  • 21% hired landscape contractors for outdoor projects (Houzz)

  • 17% hired stone, paver, or concrete specialists (Houzz)

  • 15% hired general contractors for landscape work (Houzz)

DIY vs. Professional Split:

  • 33% prefer DIY outdoor projects (Talker Research/Trex)

  • 28% prefer hiring professionals (Talker Research/Trex)

  • Remaining 39% willing to do hybrid approaches

  • Complex projects (retaining walls, drainage, large patios) typically require professionals

  • Simple projects (garden paths, small features) often DIY-friendly

Labor Costs:

  • Professional hardscape contractors: $50 to $100 per hour (Angi)

  • Specialized trades (electricians for outdoor kitchens): $50 to $100 per hour (Angi)

  • Labor can represent 40-60% of total project costs

  • Labor shortages reported: 15% vacancy rate in landscape/hardscape positions (Data Horizon Research)

  • Labor costs increased 12% annually over past three years (Data Horizon Research)

Data Sources:


Tyler Nalbach