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The average block paving cost can vary depending on the size, material, and where you live.
Fancy patterns and premium stone will push the price, while simple designs keep it more affordable.
We’ve installed hundreds of driveways and patios, so here’s what you can expect to pay.
These guides are excellent, and we enjoy creating them, but for an accurate and reasonable cost, we strongly advise you to get at least three written quotes from local block paving companies.
Quality materials, professional block paving installation and base work all affect the price you pay for a block paved driveway or patio.
Below is an easy bar chart of how the final price breaks down.
Other things can influence the price, but these are the big four.
Patio and driveway block paving will vary in material quality and type.
For example, you’ll generally find that blocks split into 50ml and 60ml varieties, which are a little more expensive.
You will pay less for concrete block paving than natural stone blocks.
Concrete is also popular because it’s more versatile.
However, natural stone block paving looks effortlessly stunning and adds value to your property.
Remember that choosing one colour and one block design for your new block-paved driveway will cost less than ‘going bespoke.’
Choosing different colours and styles for borders and edging, for example, is common and looks impressive, but your tradesman will expect more for the complexity of the job and the time taken.
Your aggregate, or hardcore, is the sub-base that adds foundation between the soil and sand beneath a block or concrete driveway.
It’s often crushed stone and dust, compacted together for stability.
Excavating and installing your base will be a significant part of the block paving cost.
If you have a lawn or old flagged drive, expect cheaper; if it is solid, thick concrete, then the job will be labour intensive and expect a higher price.
The condition of your existing driveway can dictate the price you pay.
For example, if you already have an old block paving driveway, it’ll be nice and easy to remove and replace.
However, if your tradesman needs to remove trees or do serious excavation to lay the base, he will expect more money for the labour.
It’s easy to cut corners and costs by thinking the base work doesn’t matter so much.
However, with a cheap job, your block paving will sink, crack, and cause havoc.
You get what you pay for when considering the price of landscaping your garden.
It is challenging to price up an average labour cost per m2, as many variables exist.
You can typically expect to pay £250 – £300 per day for however long installing block paving takes.
This is based on a two-person team where one is a paviour, and another is a labourer.
We touched on this above, but what you currently have dictates the time and costs to install what you want to have in the future.
Some average driveways are ripped up and disposed of by lunchtime, while others, notably old concrete drives, are back-breaking work, even with modern-day breakers and all the right tools hired.
Your chosen block paving firm will have included removing all waste from your property, including the old driveway.
If you’re doing it yourself, skip hire has increased significantly in the last five years.
Skip hire costs are influenced by its size and the location where it will be used. Prices vary, with a 4-yard skip starting at £180 and an 8-yard skip beginning at £234.
Mick George Waste Management (source)
If you have a local grab-and-deliver service, ask them.
In the North East, we have a few, and they can take 18 tonnes in one go and are cheaper than skips.
We pay £320 + VAT for a grab and deliver wagon.
The tables below display the average cost of block paving per m2.
Area Size | Costs | Time To Install | Manpower |
|---|---|---|---|
10 square metres | £800 – £1200 | 1 Day | 2 Pavers |
20 square metres | £1600 – £2400 | 2-3 Days | 2 Pavers |
50 square metres | £4000 – £6000 | 4-5 Days | 2 Pavers |
100+ square metres | £8000 – £1200 | 8-9 Days | 2 Pavers |
💡 Costs vary based on materials, design, and installer rates. Some homeowners paid less than expected by comparing multiple quotes.
Overall, you are always likely to expect a block-paving driveway price to be higher than that of a patio.
This is because driveways generally require more excavation and labour.
They need the base and foundation to support cars driving over them.
Less digging and compacted stone in the garden for your patio will be cheaper.
That’s because you’re only ever likely to see foot traffic.
Additional Costs | Description | What’s Involved | Time to Install | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Block Paved Step | A matching blocked paved step created with boot kerbs and blocks | Specialist corner kerbs installed and step created | 3 hours | £150 |
Double Step | See Above | See Above | 5 hours | £250 |
Aco Drains | Drainage installation to catch water flowing towards house | A channel is created in front of brickwork or garage to protect from water | 1 hour per linear metres | £80 per L/M |
Pin Kerbs | Pin kerbs are installed in any area that needs retainment. | A specialist pin kerb is set in concrete. | 1 hour per 3 linear metres | £25 per linear metre |
Boot Kerbs | Boot kerbs allow for high raised borders | Boot kerbs designed to match the blocks are set in concrete | 30 Minutes per linear metre | £40 Per linear metre |
Manhole Covers | Manhole covers are swapped for inset trays and blended with the paving | Removal of manhole and specialist tray inserted and paved. | 3 hours | £250 Each |
Choosing suitable materials for block paving is crucial as it directly influences the project’s total cost.
Here’s a breakdown of the most popular materials:
Block paving is available in a variety of colours including granite, light grey, grey, charcoal, brindle, red, and burnt ochre
Credit (Thomas Armstrong).
Regular maintenance routines can significantly influence the paving’s condition and appearance.
A cheap water-based sealer is yearly, and a high-end resin product will last five years.
It’s crucial to evaluate these factors thoroughly, block paving might not be for you.
We have a guide to help you find the right person further down!
First, I would never recommend you attempt to lay block paving; this is skilled work involving compaction, water tables, drainage, and dangerous tools like steel saws and breakers.
But if you insist, below is a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of the process.
Initial Layout: Start with a basic sketch of your intended paved area. This helps assess the space, calculate material quantities, and envision the end result.
Measurements: Accurately measure the area to determine the amount of materials needed, such as the quantity of paving blocks, sub-base material, and sand.
Essential Tools: Assemble tools like a broom, rake, shovel, spirit level, mallet, and wheelbarrow. Access to a cement mixer, compactor, block cutter or stone saw is crucial.
Required Materials: Order the necessary supplies, including sub-base aggregate (MOT Type 1), bedding sand, and paving blocks.
Marking Out: Use string lines and pegs to delineate the paving area. Clear and excavate the site to a depth of around 150mm below the intended finished level, considering the slope for adequate drainage.
Foundation: Ensure a solid foundation by excavating to the correct depth, accommodating both the sub-base and the thickness of the paving blocks.
Stability Framework: Install edge restraints around the perimeter to confine the pavers, securing them in concrete to prevent movement and maintain the structure.
Foundation Layer: Compact a 100mm MOT Type 1 hardcore layer as a sub-base to provide a stable and level foundation, essential for long-lasting, durable paving.
Level Bedding: Spread a layer of sharp sand, compact it, and screed it to a precise level, ensuring a flat surface for laying the blocks.
Installation: Begin placing the paving stones, keeping consistent joint widths. Arrange them slightly higher than the desired final level to account for subsequent compacting.
Final Touches: After you lay block paving, compact the paved area to embed the stones firmly in the sand bed.
Finally, fill the joints with kiln-dried sand and compact again, ensuring all spaces are completely filled and the surface is level.
We recommend Bark.com for reliable and local block paving companies.
Bark.com can find the best local and trusted pavers to quote on all styles of block paving driveways and patios.
It’s 100% free to use.
You can get free estimates and check out the paving contractor’s reviews and ratings, which users like you have written.
Bark: Fast, reliable online platform connecting thousands of UK homeowners with trusted local installers daily.
Use the following comprehensive checklist to help you choose a qualified block paving specialist who will do a first-class install:
Experience and Specialisation: Verify the tradesman’s expertise in block paving and ensure a solid track record.
References and Portfolio: Ask for a portfolio of their previous work and ensure it aligns with your quality expectations and the style you’re aiming for.
Detailed Quotation: To ensure transparency, insist on a detailed quote that breaks down the costs for materials, labour, and any additional charges.
Insurance: Check that the tradesman has valid public liability insurance to cover any accidental damage to your property or unforeseen injuries.
Warranties: Discuss warranties or guarantees for the materials and workmanship to secure your investment.
Project Timeline: Agree on a clear timeline, including start and completion dates, and understand the process for handling delays or unforeseen issues.
Preparation Requirements: Clarify if you need to undertake any preparatory tasks or if they’re included in the service, such as clearing the area or arranging access.
Design Preferences: Ensure the tradesperson is willing to collaborate on your block paving ideas and can translate your vision into reality while offering professional advice.
Compliance with Regulations: Confirm that they adhere to local planning permissions and building regulations to prevent legal issues.
Want to consider a different look entirely, here are some alternatives to block paving.
Resin-bonded surfaces make for great driveways thanks to their low maintenance.
They’re only ever permeable if it’s bound, not bonded.
It’s here for Resin prices per square metre
Pattern imprinted concrete is popular nowadays thanks to its endurance, up to 20 years in many cases.
It’s also pretty low maintenance and won’t struggle with weeds.
Prices are about the same as blocks.
It’s here for Imprinted concrete prices per square metre.
Tarmac, is an excellent option if you’re serious about weather resistance and want to avoid paying out for clay blocks.
It’s also highly slip-resistant, giving you a fair amount of traction as you drive in and out.
However, it doesn’t look as lovely as blocks – it’s more an option for pure practicality above all else. It’s here for average tarmac drive prices.
A gravel driveway can look stylish and often roll in cheaper than blocks; however, it has an annoying habit of getting everywhere.
As it’s essentially loose stone.
To save money on a bespoke look, it’s a reliable choice.
It’s here for Gravel prices per square metre
A lesser known alternative to block, and slightly more expensive. This surface lends itself to older properties.
It’s here for Cobblestone prices per square metre
Don’t worry, you won’t need planning permission for permeable concrete blocks. But if you lay block paving that’s not porous by design, you will need a sustainable drainage system.
It would help to let any water drain into your borders or your grass.
Anything bigger than five square metres without drainage will need planning permission, which will set you back £206 to your local planning authority.
Provided you look after your blocks carefully, your driveway or patio can withstand more than a decade of use.
However, that means careful cleaning, weed prevention, and sealing every few years.
It’s only ever a good idea to pave your driveway if you have years of experience in doing so.
This is a specialist trade and my advice is do not even attempt it.
It depends, blocks can be more expensive than man made concrete slabs, but are way cheaper than natural stone flags.
This varies depending on the type of block you invest in, natural stone block paving, for example, is rarely the same size per piece, but concrete blocks tend to arrive in standard sizes of 200 x 100 x 50 (mm).
Some experts suggest that you should get between 44 and 50 clay blocks per m2.
Block paving prices, monoblocking prices, and patio installation costs can escalate depending on your needs.
Materials and complexity will increase your bill.
However, you also need to consider edging blocks, weed membranes, base sand/kiln-dried sand, the sub-base and sealing, and of course, the size and scope, as well as the required depth, of such a project.
What’s more, there’s always the chance of you needing planning permission if your drainage isn’t good enough – so look into permeable block paving costs, too.
This sounds like a lot to juggle, but ultimately, it is worth the mathematics for a great-looking patio or drive.
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