Cost Factors to Lay Pavers

Many variables influence the investment to build anything out of pavers, from materials and labor and the size of your project to the prep work, the design, landscaping, utilities, and more. When planning your budget for this project, you must consider all the factors involved. 

Size

The size of the project is the biggest cost influencer. A small paver project can cost as little as $250, while a large project of 864 square feet, can cost as much as $26,000. Take a look at the cost of installing a a patio project by average size.

Size of Patio

Cost Range (Labor Included)

Average Cost (Labor Included)

6 x 7 (42 sq. ft) $250 – $1,260 $750

10 x 10 (100 sq. ft.) $600 – $3,000 $1,800

12 x 12 (144 sq. ft.) $850 – $4,300 $2,600

12 x 16 (192 sq. ft.) $1,200 – $5,800 $3,500

16 x 16 (256 sq. ft.) $1,500 – $7,700 $4,600

16 x 20 (320 sq. ft.) $1,900 – $9,600 $5,700

18 x 24 (432 sq. ft.) $2,600 – $13,000 $7,800

24 x 36 (864 sq. ft.) $5,200 – $26,000 $15,600

Type of Paver

The type of paver you pick is one of the major cost influencers for any paver project. Simple concrete pavers start at $1 per square foot. Natural stone like bluestone and flagstone can cost up to $15 per square foot. 

The type of paver also impacts the labor investment.  The labor for most paver installations will run about $5 to $10 per square foot, materials that are challenging to work with, such as bluestone, slate, or flagstone, and those that take more time, like stamped concrete, can cost up to $25 per square foot. 

Other Materials 

Aside from the pavers, you will want to keep in mind the investment in the foundation for your paver project. This includes sand and gravel at around $1 per square foot. You may also need to account for the use of special equipment for adding drainage, grading, and compacting the project area.

Labor

The investment in labor will vary by material and range from $5 to $25 per square foot. For concrete, brick, tile, and stone pavers, you'll pay $5 to $10 per square foot, on average. and stamped concrete, flagstone, bluestone, and more challenging materials, you will need to pay up to $25 per square foot. 

complicated and custom order designs will increase the investment for labor due to the increased project timeline.  If you need to add drainage, whether a drain slope or a French drain setup all will increase your investment.  Keep in mind its always necessary to create a rainwater runoff that keeps water away from your home to avoid foundation problems and issues with standing water on the paver project itself.

Custom Designs

Custom designs could increase your project’s overall investment; the investment will vary by geographic location, paver quality, installer, and design. Interlocking bricks are very popular with many builders since they create a consistent pattern throughout the paver project.

Interlocking bricks make it possible to design custom patterns and looks to set off any project.  You can also use square and rectangular bricks to design a custom paver project as well. 

Landscaping and Regrading

Often overlooked and not included in the price of a patio, landscaping can elevate the look of your new paver project. In many cases, you’ll hire a landscaper to do your entire outdoor area. Check with them to see if they include any of this in the price.

• Landscaping costs $1,350–$5,650.

• Leveling or regrading a lawn costs $1,000–$3,000. You’ll need to consider grading for drainage purposes. 

Utility Installation

Generally, adding any extras like water, gas, or electrical lines doesn’t come as part of a Paver install.

• Electrician  costs $500–$2,000.

• Plumber fees run $400–$1,900.

• Gas Lines cost $15–$25 per linear foot.

Fire Pit and Outside Space Options

You can invest anywhere from $300 to $2,000 and up on fire pits and other built-in outside space options. Pools, outside kitchens, and spas can run up to $50,000 and more.

• Firepit installation costs $300–$1,400. You’ll spend on the lower end when you install one as part of your paver projects.

• Outside kitchen costs $5,500–$22,000. When adding a gas range the project will include all plumbing, electrical, and gas lines needed.

• Pool paver investment can be between $17,000–$45,000. One of the most popular options is to put a paver patio around the pool and back yard, you will want to plan your backyard paver project during the pool installation conversations.

• Hot tub installation costs can range from $3,500–$15,000. If you do not have the space for a traditional pool you can consider adding a hot tub into your paver project design.

• Patio pavers can take an investment of $5,000–$25,000+. These can even hit $50,000-$100,000+ or more if you have a complete enclosure or a room that essentially becomes part of your house.

Paver Prices by Type

The cost for paver a project varies greatly, with half concrete pavers starting at around $2.50 per square foot, and natural stone pavers costing up to as  much as $16 per square foot. The table below shows you the most common paver types and the costs individually and per square foot, so you can plan your materials budget accurately.

Type of Paver              Average Per Square Foot

Brick (Real Clay)                         $0.25 – $3 $3 – $5

Tumbled Concrete Brick              $0.50 – $5  $3 – $5

Thin Concrete Pavers                         $0.50 – $10 $2.50 – $5

Interlocking Concrete                     $0.50 – $15 $3 – $6

Stone Style Concrete Pavers     $8 – $15 $5 – $7

Natural Stone & Slate Pavers       $3 – $20 $7 – $16

Brick Paver

Brick pavers typically cost $6 per square foot, and may range anywhere from $4 to $8 per square foot. This cost is for the bricks alone and only covers standard red bricks. Unusual shapes, colors, or sizes will be an additional investment. 

Clay Brick Pavers

Thin clay, or half bricks, can have an average of $4 per square foot for just materials, and can range from $3 to $5 per square foot. Half-brick pavers like these are cost less than whole bricks and give a longer-lasting, lower-maintenance than concrete and stone-look concrete. Similar to full bricks, they're also eco-friendly made of natural materials as well as they are recyclable. 

Thin Paving Bricks

Thin paving bricks, or brick veneer, will have an average cost of about $4 per square foot. Being a decorative option instead of a structural one, as the pavers are too thin to withstand heavy foot or vehicle traffic unless they're laid over a stable concrete slab. These are a popular option for upgrading an existing surface that's in decent shape without the expense of a full driveway replacement.

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers will have an average expense of around $5 per square foot, with a  price range of $3 to $7 per square foot. These are usually made to look like real brick and, and are long-lasting, they are not as durable as full brick.  You can also dye or stain concrete, giving you a wide choice of colors and finishes, allowing home and business owners with a truly custom paver project.

Pavestone

Pavestone costs around $4 per square foot. The price ranges from $3 to $5 per square foot. This type of paver is a popular brand of tumbled concrete paver and is available in an array of sizes, colors, and lookalike styles. Among their most popular is the bluestone look, it closely mimics the appearance of real bluestone and is much more affordable.

Natural Stone Pavers

Natural stone pavers will have an average cost of $12 per square foot, or between $7 and $16 per square foot. However, you can pay up to $25 per square foot for sought-after stone, like tumbled granite brick. Flagstone will set you back up to $15 per square foot, and marble costs up to $20 per square foot. 

The more exotic the distance the stones are sourced from, the more you'll pay per square foot, as the materials are exceptionally heavy and expensive to move. 

Slate-Concrete Pavers

Slate pavers typically cost $12 per square foot, and range from $7 to $16 per square foot. Slate pavers are concrete with a slate look and are stronger than real slate. This type of material is the closest you'll get to real slate on a patio, driveway, or walkway, as real slate isn't strong enough for heavy foot traffic or vehicles.

Interlocking Pavers

Interlocking pavers will have your investment around $4.50 per square foot and range from $3 to $6 per square foot. Interlocking pavers feature ridges that let them slot together easily and make them less likely to shift or pop out of place over time.  The interlocking pavers allow for custom designs and shapes.    You'll find many interlocking pavers that let you create a unique patio or driveway design to boost your home's curb appeal.

Permeable Pavers

 Permeable pavers vary in cost, because any paver system can be built to allow permeability. Interlocking pavers, for example, are often designed to allow water to flow through and underneath the surface into a drainage system, such as a French drain. In this case, the rain water runoff is often directed to a ditch, pond or aquifer. 

Grass pavers are naturally permeable, as the rain simply passes through the grass thanks to the open cell structure of the paver the grass is growing in. 

Rubber and composite pavers are also porous. Rubber is a controversial choice because of concerns over toxins leaching into the ground and contaminating the earth as it degrades.  When choosing keep in mind that neither rubber nor composite is as long-lasting as the other options. 

Free Paver Quotes is a platform for homeowners to get Free estimates from paver contractors near you. It is recommended to get at least three estimates before making any hiring decisions for a home improvement project. You can do this easily by calling us now at 1-800-Hire-A-Pro (1-800-447-3277)

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