Paver Driveway Cost Worksheet
Create a paver driveway budget from the measured area and a defined paving system, including excavation, base, drainage, edge restraint, units, cutting and joint material. The dollar tables are replaceable scenarios that show the calculation method, not current market-price evidence.
Key takeaways
- Measure the driveway footprint and separately identify curves, borders and waste-producing cuts.
- Compare paver systems only when base, drainage, edge restraint, joint material and traffic duty are stated.
- Removal, grading, access and disposal can sit outside a headline per-square-foot rate.
- The paver calculator returns unit and base-material quantities from entered dimensions; it does not specify the pavement design.
- The $10 to $30 examples are illustrative inputs to replace with current local quotes.
Paver driveway cost per square foot
State what a quoted rate includes, such as grading, removal, drainage, base, edge restraint, pavers, cutting and cleanup. Treat any omitted item as a separate local quote rather than assuming it is included.
Budget scenario = Length(ft) x Width(ft) x Quoted price per sq ftEnter your dimensions in the paver calculator for quantities, then apply a current scope-matched rate.
Cost by driveway size: 20x20, 20x40 and 2,000 sq ft
The table demonstrates area multiplication with assumed inputs of $10 and $30 per square foot. This is an assumed input range, not observed data.
| Driveway size | Area (sq ft) | Illustrative result at $10 to $30/sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 16 x 40 ft (1 car) | 640 | $6,400 to $19,200 |
| 20 x 20 ft | 400 | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| 20 x 40 ft (2 car) | 800 | $8,000 to $24,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 2,000 | $20,000 to $60,000 |
Cost by paver material: concrete, brick, permeable and stone
Price each candidate system from the specified unit, pattern, base, edge restraint, drainage and installation scope. The assumed inputs below only show how an 800 square foot area changes the arithmetic.
| Material | Assumed input per sq ft installed | Illustrative 800 sq ft result |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers | $10 to $20 | $8,000 to $16,000 |
| Brick pavers | $15 to $25 | $12,000 to $20,000 |
| Permeable pavers | $10 to $30 | $8,000 to $24,000 |
| Natural stone | $25 to $50 | $20,000 to $40,000 |
| Cobblestone | $40 to $75 | $32,000 to $60,000 |
Permeable pavers use open joints and a drainage aggregate system. Confirm the complete manufacturer detail and site design before comparing it with conventional paving.
Paver driveway vs concrete and asphalt: which costs less
State the paver type, area, base, drainage, edge restraint, access and disposal in each quote. Include base design, drainage, edges, joints, finish, access, maintenance and repair assumptions for each system.
If you want to compare a poured slab directly against a paver quote, the concrete calculator gives the concrete quantity for the same footprint. Apply current quotes to both complete systems.
Compare service and maintenance assumptions
Ask each bidder to state the product warranty, base detail, joint material, maintenance plan and repair scope. Service life depends on the selected system, traffic, drainage, freeze-thaw exposure, installation and maintenance, so this page does not assign universal lifespans or home-value returns.
Compare current, scope-matched local quotes over the same study period and include planned maintenance before drawing an economic conclusion.
Disadvantages of a paver driveway
Paver systems require a suitable compacted base, edge restraint and maintained joints. Poor preparation can allow units to shift, sink or rock, especially near turning areas and edges.
Ask bidders to state maintenance and repair obligations, then compare current quotes for the same performance and scope.
What adds to the cost, and how to keep it down
To keep the total down, stick with standard concrete pavers in a simple pattern rather than natural stone or a herringbone border, get at least three local quotes since labor rates vary widely by region, and confirm the base depth in writing before work starts. Run your own dimensions through the paver calculator first so you can spot a quote that looks off before signing a contract.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to pave a 2000 sq. ft driveway?
How should I compare paver and concrete driveway quotes?
How much does a 20x20 paver driveway cost?
What are the disadvantages of a paver driveway?
How much does labor cost for a paver driveway?
How long does a paver driveway last?
Sources and references
These references and structured source records support the method and material data used on this page.
- Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute
- Paver (Wikipedia)
- NCMA: Segmental Concrete Pavement
- NRMCA: Ready Mixed Concrete