Paver Driveway Cost Calculator

These are installed prices for concrete pavers on a driveway-grade base at the U.S. average rate of $10–28 per square foot. Two cars need about 20 ft of width; a single car needs 10–12 ft.

A 24×24 double driveway runs $5,750–15,800, and a long 12×50 single lane costs about as much as a double because the area is similar. The driveway design ideas page shows layouts at each of these sizes.

The same pavers cost about 25% more per square foot on a driveway than on a patio. Cars and delivery trucks put far more load on the surface, so a driveway needs:

• A deeper base: 8 inches of compacted gravel instead of 4 inches.
• Thicker pavers: vehicle-rated pavers are heavier and cost more.
• More excavation and compaction: more soil to haul and more lifts to compact.

On a 20×24 area, that is the difference between $3,850–10,600 for a patio and $4,800–13,200 for a driveway. For patio pricing, use the paver patio cost calculator.

The base carries the load; the pavers mostly spread it. A driveway on well-drained soil needs 8 inches of compacted crushed gravel plus a 1 inch sand bed. On clay or freeze-thaw soil, add 2 inches. For a 20×24 driveway that means about 21.3 tons of gravel on drained soil, or 26.7 tons on clay.

On clay soil the totals rise again:

Get exact gravel and sand for your soil from the paver base calculator and the paver sand calculator.

Poured concrete is the cheaper driveway. Pavers cost more up front but don't crack as one slab, and a stained or sunken section can be lifted and relaid. Here is a 20×24 driveway in each surface, all at driveway rates:

Plain concrete comes to about $3,300–6,600 versus $4,800–13,200 for concrete pavers. The concrete rows are national ballparks for comparison only; this calculator prices pavers. Concrete pricing in detail, with thickness, finish and reinforcement, lives on our sister site's concrete driveway cost calculator. Also read our concrete driveway cost guide.

Asphalt is usually the lowest-cost hard surface to install, but it needs resealing every few years and softens in hot weather. Pavers cost more to install and last much longer with less upkeep; individual units can be replaced instead of patching. Asphalt also offers almost no design choice, while pavers come in many colors, shapes and patterns. Our concrete vs asphalt driveway comparison covers lifespan and upkeep, and the driveway border ideas show how a paver band can dress up an existing driveway for less.

Clay brick pavers raise a 20×24 driveway from $4,800–13,200 to about $7,200–15,600. Natural stone and porcelain cost more again and need careful selection: only products rated for vehicle loads belong on a driveway.

Our concrete pavers guide compares styles and sizes, and the paver calculator gives the exact paver count for any pattern.

Labor is the biggest regional variable. These multipliers apply to the whole estimate for a 20×24 driveway; they are broad averages, not ZIP-level quotes.

Most paver driveways replace an old one. Breaking out and hauling away a concrete or asphalt driveway adds about $2–6 per square foot. For a 20×24 driveway, removal alone runs $960–2,900, bringing the total to about $5,750–16,100.

An old asphalt or concrete surface is not a suitable base for pavers; it has to come out so the gravel base can be built to depth. If your existing slab is sound, driveway resurfacing may be a cheaper alternative.

Compare quotes line by line. A complete driveway quote lists each of these; if one is missing, ask, because it will either be included silently or show up later as an extra. Quantities are for a 20×24 driveway on drained soil:

• Excavation to depth and haul-away of soil
• Geotextile fabric where the soil is soft or clay
• 8 inches of compacted gravel base (about 21.3 tons)
• 1 inch of bedding sand (about 2 tons)
• About 1,344 vehicle-rated pavers, including 5% for cuts
• Edge restraint (88 linear feet around the full perimeter)
• Polymeric joint sand (7 bags of 50 lb)
• Removal of the old driveway, if any, and cleanup

Permeable pavers have wider joints filled with small chip stone instead of sand, and sit on a deeper, open-graded stone base that stores and drains rainwater into the soil. Some towns require or reward them where runoff is restricted. They cost more than standard pavers because of the deeper base and specialized materials, and the joints need occasional vacuuming to keep draining. Ask local installers for a quote, since this calculator prices standard pavers on a dense-graded base. For finished looks, browse driveway edging ideas or our concrete driveway design guide.