United States Hardscaping Product Market Report 2024

Demand for hardscaping products in the US is forecast to increase 3% per year to $5.1 billion in 2028.

Advances will be supported by:

• the continued popularity of cohesive outdoor living spaces (such as living rooms and kitchens), which are often constructed using large volumes of hardscaping and increasingly reflect indoor styles

• greater construction activity in most markets, which is driving new hardscaping installations - including patios in new builds and additions like paths, garden edging, and decorative walls at existing properties - and the revitalization of older installations, thereby enhancing the appeal and functionality of both residential and commercial spaces

Further growth opportunities will result from product improvements that allow quicker and easier installation of hardscaping products, requiring less on-site cutting and manipulation. This is particularly important given the labor shortages reported in many construction sectors and the growing DIFM movement among consumers.

Ability to Enhance & Increase the Function of Outdoor Spaces Boosts Hardscaping Demand

Hardscaping will maintain its leading position in the landscaping products market because outdoor living remains popular. Hardscaping can play an essential role in defining outdoor living spaces, improve the functionality thereof, and be used in conjunction with other features to create inviting and usable areas. The rising popularity of mixed materials and shapes in hardscaping products will offer opportunities for both traditional materials and value-added options (such as porcelain and ceramic pavers) that provide different aesthetics or function.

Residential Applications Continue to Drive US Hardscaping Industry

Through 2028, the residential market will account for 57% of absolute value gains in US hardscaping. The leading position is due to the continued growth of outdoor living, which will promote installation of all hardscaping products in all residential market sectors where they give outdoor spaces structure in the form of borders; walls; and flat surfaces for seating, cooking, or walking. Additionally, a trend toward wanting to spend less time mowing their lawns has encouraged homeowners to install hardscaping in their outdoor areas to reduce the amount of land occupied by grass.

However, near term, gains will be tempered by inflation-related trends in core household essentials like food and housing, which has left consumers with less discretionary income for extensive outdoor improvement projects. Opportunities in the near term will stem partly from value-priced options that allow consumers to invest in their current homes, even if housing stock challenges do not allow them to upgrade by moving.

Historical Market Trends

Landscaping product sales on a year-to-year basis are affected by several factors, including:

• consumer demographics
• trends in economic growth and consumer spending
• housing completions and other construction activities
• renovation and repair construction spending
• existing home sales
• price changes for materials, products, services, and labor
• labor shortages in the landscaping industry
• popular design trends, such as traditional English-style country gardens, sustainable landscaping, low-maintenance landscaping, xeriscaping, vertical gardening, and wildlife-friendly landscaping, among others.
• product trends and new product development
• changing weather patterns and regional climate differences
• ongoing interest in landscaping activities and outdoor living

DIY versus Professional Trends

Demand by User/Installer

Both consumers and professionals use hardscape products, with the types of products selected depending on the user and application.

Professionals are the more common installers of hardscaping products due to:

• the complexity of hardscaping projects, which often involve tasks such as grading, excavation and precise installation of materials which professionals are better equipped to handle
• recreation and infrastructure projects must adhere to a variety of regulations, including safety standards and accessibility requirements, and professionals ensure appropriate compliance in hardscaping installations
• the specific skills and specialized equipment required for many large hardscape products
• the labor-intensive nature of many installations
• the growing DIFM movement among consumers
• the substantial commercial market for hardscaping products

Despite the continuing DIFM trend, DIY installations saw faster growth from 2018 through 2023 because of ongoing labor shortages that began in 2020 and 2021. The availability of online resources (including tutorials and forums) has also empowered more individuals to take on hardscape projects themselves. However, professional installations will dominate because commercial and recreation and infrastructure clients will continue seeking out professionals for their hardscaping projects.

Pricing & Inflation

Many variables can influence a hardscaping product's price, including:

• raw material, labor, energy, and transportation costs
• product size
• level of demand
• customization and design expenses
• trade and tariff issues

As a result, there is a wide variation in the prices of hardscaping products, ranging from less than a dollar for a clay brick to hundreds of dollars for a patio kit.

The cost of plastic materials in hardscaping products like plastic edging is influenced by crude oil and natural gas prices. Energy costs also affect concrete and clay brick prices, both of which undergo energy-intensive production processes.

Increasing demand for larger, more specialized, or aesthetically pleasing products is causing a shift in the market toward higher value products, which in turn boosts average prices. For example, trends toward the installation of more elaborate outdoor living spaces are supporting the use of more aesthetically pleasing hardscaping that better mimics indoor design trends.

The use of higher value hardscaping products in outdoor living spaces will contribute to average pricing growth.

General Landscaping Outlook & Competitive Products

Real demand gains will be supported by a variety of factors, including:

• greater availability of DIY kits and pre-built items available at lower price points than on-site construction
• increasing interest in sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping products, which not only help the environment but also offer long-term cost savings for homeowners
• the popularity of apps/websites like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, all of which inspire homeowners to take on new projects and improve their homes

However, several factors will limit market growth in certain sectors. These include:

• economic conditions such as inflation, which can reduce consumer spending power and lead to tighter household budgets
• the availability of skilled labor, as a scarcity can lead to increased wages and project estimates as competition between professional companies intensifies
• unpredictable weather conditions attributable to climate change, which affects the availability of plants and materials
• Effective and targeted marketing will continue to be important in developing further sales opportunities for landscaping products. This includes:
• marketing to aging and retired consumers, who often have more time and higher levels of income to invest in their outdoor spaces
• building on the popularity of the do-it-for-me (DIFM) trend by developing landscaping design tools and specialty products that target the professional end user
• marketing products to new homeowners and to younger generations purchasing their first homes

Urbanization

Growth in the urban population impacts the hardscaping products market by affecting the types and quantities of products purchased, as outdoor spaces in urban residences tends to be limited (e.g., small yards, private balconies, fire escapes) and/or communal (e.g., rooftop gardens and green spaces, courtyards, pool and spa areas).

Younger consumers are the most likely age group to live in urban areas due to:

• affordability issues in the housing market that have promoted renting over owning among this cohort
• the availability of jobs and proximity to nightlife, entertainment venues, retail amenities, and public transportation

Therefore, many of the demographic trends affecting millennials - such as the rise of community gardens and community support agriculture - also apply to urbanites.

Study Scope & Product Description

This study covers the US market for hardscaping products, which are generally defined as the permanent elements in a landscape other than the plants and vegetation. This report uses a narrower definition and includes only durable products used to make such landscape architecture as patios, walkways, retaining walls, edging, site-built outdoor fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens, including:

• concrete pavers, slabs, and planks
• lumber (boards and planks made from wood, plastic, and composite)
• blocks (concrete, stone, and glass)
• ready-mix concrete
• stone tile, slab, and veneer
• clay brick
• aggregates (sand, gravel, and crushed stone)
• other hardscaping products, such as porcelain and ceramic tile, plastic products such as edging and faux rocks, glass tile, and stone boulders

Hardscaping products used to produce site-built outdoor kitchens are included, but similar materials that are incorporated into prefabricated units are not. Similarly, hardscape products that are used to build heating products are included, but heating products that are made from kits or come pre-built are excluded.

Also excluded from the scope of this report are:

• bricks and blocks that are part of home structures
• green goods (trees, shrubs, and plants)
• hardscape products used in non-landscape areas like driveways or roadways
• products used in retaining walls, if the structure is necessary to the integrity of yard or building
• lumber decking, which differs from patios in that it uses a substructure that elevates it above the ground

Historical data (2013, 2018, and 2023) and forecasts for 2028 and 2033 are presented for hardscaping product demand in current US dollars (including inflation) and real US dollars. Annual data is presented for 2020 through 2027.

This report is part of a series of studies available on the US landscaping market and is targeted at customers with a specific interest in hardscaping products.