Cost to Install a Paver Driveway – 2023 Prices

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On this page:

• How Much Does a Paver Driveway Cost?
• Calculating Costs
• Labor Costs
• Material Costs
• Concrete Pavers
• Brick Pavers
• Cobblestone Pavers
• Preparation
• Other Driveway Types
• Gravel
• Asphalt
• Concrete
• Stamped Concrete
• Get Estimates for Your Paver Driveway
• References

[ see all ]

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How Much Does a Paver Driveway Cost?

Quite likely, the most significant portion of the paver driveway expense, beyond labor, is the preparation, which will include a substantial amount of labor as well. This is, of course, dependent on the soil condition where you will place the driveway.

Tearing out an old driveway, removing trees, boulders, and landscaping will increase your labor costs accordingly.

On average a paver driveway installation costs around $16,500, and most spend in the $14,000 – $19,000 range on the project.

Calculating Costs

To discover how much paver base you need for your driveway, check our paver base calculator For a standard two vehicle paver driveway we will use sixteen feet width by 40-foot length, or 640 square feet. If you only want room for one car, change the width to eight or ten feet. The same is true for a shorter driveway.

Use the formula width × length to come up with the square footage needed. It’s almost the same as the base calculator, except the depth of the paver bricks are standard. However, you will need to calculate the pattern layout to avoid waste.

Depending on your pattern, you might want to consider ordering 10-15 percent more pavers than the 640, say 700 sq. ft. However, be careful ordering too much overage, especially with cobblestone if the dealer will not accept returns. At $35 – $70/ sq. ft., that overage could cost $2,100 – $4,200.

Labor Costs

Labor generally costs about $9 – $10 per square foot for standard areas and $16 – $20 per square foot for detailed areas.^[1] However, the cost of labor varies by region, and different contractors may charge different rates for the same project.

Contractors often charge a flat fee for labor and in many cases they combine material and labor costs into a single price.

Material Costs

Concrete, brick, and cobblestone are some popular varieties of pavers that have distinctive looks and vary a bit in price.

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers are the most cost-effective option as far as materials go. Concrete pavers cost about $15 – $20/sq. ft. installed, which would mean the typical cost of a 640 sq. ft. driveway would be about $12,800.

Brick Pavers

Brick pavers are about 15-20% more expensive than concrete and they also require more labor to install since they’re more difficult to cut.^[2] Brick pavers cost about $20 – $30/sq. ft. installed, which would mean the typical cost of a 640 sq. ft. driveway would be about $19,200.

Cobblestone Pavers

Cobblestone is the most expensive material option for a paver driveway.^[3] Cobblestone pavers cost about $40 – $75/sq. ft. installed, which would mean the typical cost of a 640 sq. ft. driveway would be about $40,000.

Preparation

After all the trees, boulders, and landscaping are out of the way, and the area is leveled, allowing for a gentle pitch for rain run-off, if desired. It is not usually necessary since water will drain down through the spaces and gravel.

Once you or your contractor have gathered the materials and equipment, you will need to lay the gravel base, place your plastic or metal edge, level or even out the gravel base, add an inch or two of sand evenly, lay the pavers, fill the spaces, and seal the surface if desired. The steps are about the same as for a patio, so check our paver cost planner.

Other Driveway Types

There are several different types of driveways you might want to consider as an alternative to a paver driveway. Although they require less maintenance over time, paver driveways require more labor to install compared to other types of driveways.^[4]

Gravel, asphalt, and concrete are great budget-friendly alternatives.

Gravel

A gravel driveway can work just as well for you as a brick paver at thousands less. For our 16’ x 40’ x 8” gravel driveway, you can figure about 163 yards of gravel or 22 tons. The low figure for pea gravel is $35 per metric ton, so about $775 – $800. Then, you will need to add equipment rental, labor, and preparation. Use our gravel driveway calculator to estimate costs.

Asphalt

An asphalt driveway is a great-looking alternative and will last for years when sealed and maintained. You can use our convenient asphalt calculator to estimate how much materials will cost. The average is about $3 – $6/sq. ft. without the base or sealer added. Therefore, our 16’ x 40’ driveway is about $5,000.

Concrete

Concrete driveways look better and stay cooler than asphalt in areas with scorching temperatures. The drawback is that concrete will show every oil or grease stain, although proper sealing will lessen the effect and make it easier to clean with a pressure washer. You can use our concrete driveway calculator to approximate the cost.

Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete typically costs twice as much as plain concrete. However, if you had your heart set on a paver driveway and couldn’t afford it, stamped concrete can be made to mimic paver brick for possibly half the price. Although stamped concrete is not as durable as pavers, the price difference could make it worthwhile, especially when you add a thicker base of gravel.

The stamped concrete is rated at 9K psi, while the brick pavers are rated at 12K. Therefore, either is capable of supporting even a large SUV, which generally weighs around 4,800 pounds. Stamped concrete will cost about $10 – $16/sq. ft., so our 640 sq. ft. driveway is about $6,400-10,500.

Get Estimates for Your Paver Driveway

After you have developed your driveway plans, it’s time to get some estimates. You should get three estimates from reputable driveway pavers in your area and ask them to include two or three options. That way, if you change your mind about a method you already have the price for the others. Good luck and enjoy your driveway.

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.