How Much Does a Brick Paver Driveway Cost?

Average Brick Paver Driveway Installation Cost

The average completed cost of a paver driveway is $17.00 per square foot when installed by a professional contractor. Using that price, a 40-foot driveway that is 14 feet wide with a larger parking area in front of a 2-car garage (1,050 total square feet) would cost around $18,000.

If you have an existing driveway, that it going to be the first step of the project. A concrete or asphalt driveway is removed and the materials hauled away, expect a separate cost of $3-$6 for that job. Installing a new paver driveway involves creating a stable and level bed for the pavers. Turf, topsoil and clay are removed to a depth of about a foot. Then sand and/or small stone is installed as a base. They drain well and are not subject to heaving caused by frost. Several inches of sand are installed as the final layer before pavers are placed, because sand can be made “perfectly” level.

Finally, the pavers are installed, and if the design leaves gaps between pavers, the gaps are filled with sand or slag material suitable to the climate and pavers used. This is less common as pavers are made in various interlocking shapes – and even shapes with rounded edges and slanted sides that allow circular patterns in very tight arrangements. They’ll water in the material to pack solidly, run a compactor over the driveway a final time and finish the cleanup.

Average Costs

Overview of Paver Driveways

No driveway material matches the classic elegance of a paver stone driveway. And it shows in the price, from $12 to $26 per square foot – and it can go higher when intricate, circular patterns are used in the design. In fact, the cost of a paver driveway is significantly higher than the price of a concrete driveway and asphalt drives.

A useful investemnt to consider in cold climates is to install a heated driveway system before adding the paver driveway. Electric and hydronic systems are available. And the investment begins paying you back immediately by eliminating snow clearing costs and hassle.

If you want to learn more, True Grid Paver has a great intro to paver driveways, when they make sense and when they don’t.

 

Paver Driveway Cost Breakdown

Paver Cost Factors

We provide paver driveway cost factors to allow you to better estimate your cost between $12 and $23 per square foot.

• Brick vs Concrete Pavers – Clay brick pavers cost more than concrete pavers, and the appearance of the materials is different. View a good selection of both types before settling on the look you prefer.
• Driveway Size and Design – Most local codes require driveways to be a minimum of 12 feet wide. Depending on your lot dimensions and home size, you might want a wider driveway, and cost will rise. Creating a full-width parking area in front of the garage, extending out from 20 to 24 feet, will increase cost, but is recommended. Some homeowners also appreciate a parking area or turn-around point to one side of the driveway.
• Soil Conditions – A paver driveway needs at least a foot of stable, well-drained materials beneath it. What you currently have will determine how much is removed and replaced with suitable materials – small stone, gravel and sand.
• Site Conditions – Slopes, low spots and wet spots all create challenges for installation that can raise the preparation, materials and labor costs.

Summarizing the major cost factors, a straight driveway with simple design on level ground with sandy soils beneath it will cost on the low end of the price spectrum.

A curved driveway with an intricate pattern installed where the land slopes and the bed requires a lot of excavation and improvement, cost will tend toward the high end of the price range.

If you want features like an automatic driveway security gate, underground conduit for future electrical or a lawn sprinkler system, etc – now is the time to install those accessories as it will save money on the total project cost.

What about trees and stumps?

Small trees and stumps can be bulldozed out as part of preparing the driveway bed. When the trees are larger, consider working your driveway around them to preserve the natural beauty of the property. If you want them removed, you will likely need to hire a tree service for the work.

Cost of Supplies, Brick Pavers and Extras

These are common costs on paver driveway installation estimates:

• $3.00 – $10.00 per square foot | Concrete pavers in various dimensions and colors.
• $8.00 – $22.00 per square foot | Clay brick pavers in various dimensions and colors.
• $12.00 – $24.00 per square foot | Kits with shaped pavers used to create circular, starburst and other designs
• $0.25 – $0.50 per square foot | Excavating the driveway and hauling away materials
• $0.75 – $1.15 per square foot | Base layer: Up to 8” of small stone, sand or gravel
• $0.40 – $0.80 per square foot | Sand layer: About 4” of slag sand
• $8.00 – $15.00 per linear foot | Drain tile, when necessary, in low or wet area (not common)
• $800 – $1,000 installed | Culvert drainpipe in ditch, where required
• $100 – $300 installed | Placing a 4” to 6” PVC pipe laterally beneath the driveway for future use for wiring outdoor lights or a sprinkler system line
• $2.00 – $5.00 per square foot | Removal of an existing hardscape driveway – pavers, asphalt or concrete. Some of this cost is offset if there is a base beneath the driveway that is suitable for new pavers.

Buying tip: If you are planning a paver patio or walkway soon, consider buying enough pavers for both projects now to ensure they will match. The extra pavers can be stacked and stored without damage for years.

Here are sample brick paver driveway costs based on size and partially on configuration too.

The total cost range of brick driveways is $12 to $26 per square foot, a wide range. It might be useful to review the Cost Factors above such as paver choice and site conditions as you estimate the price of a brick paver drive at your home.

$2,390 – $5,225 | 10’x20’

$3,375 – $7,300 |14’x20’

$4,325 – $9,385 | 18’x20’

$7,685 – $18,770 | 18’x40’

$5,775 = $12,480 | 20’x24’

$9,590 – $20,850 | 20’x40’

$7,175 – $15,650 | 10’x20’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad*

$9,585 – $20,850 | 10’x40’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad

$16,785 – $40,450 | 10’x100’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad

$7,665 – $16,685 | 12’x20’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad

$10,550 – $22,900 | 12’x40’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad

$13,425 – $29,200 | 12’x60’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad

$19,250 – $41,700 | 12’x100’ plus a 20’x20’ parking pad

*Parking pads are installed immediately in front of the garage

Permits, Inspection, and Labor Costs

Permits and Inspection

• $0 – $200+ | You might not need a permit if you are replacing an old driveway. If this is a new driveway, a permit and inspection will be required to ensure that the driveway meets local width requirements, a culvert is installed, and the driveway is placed where drivers can safely enter and leave traffic.

Concrete Driveway Installation Labor Cost

• $6.00 – $20.00 per Square Foot: Installing a paver driveway is a labor-intensive job. Cost ranges from $6.00 to $9.00 per square foot for basic designs and up to $20 per square foot for intricate patterns. When you get paver driveway cost estimates, materials and labor should be itemized.

Installation Time

Here is an average schedule for installing a paver driveway of 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.

• 1-2 Days | Remove an old driveway, if needed
• Up to 1 Day | Excavate the driveway bed and install suitable materials to create the paver bed
• 2-5 Days | Time it takes a crew of 2-4 workers, depending on driveway design

Weather note: Heavy rains make it difficult to excavate a driveway and install base materials. Delays are common in seasons with a lot of rainfall.

Related Projects

Here are several other common projects related to having a brick paver driveway installed at your home.

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DIY or Hire a Pro

With a total cost of $12 to $27 per square foot, it is tempting to find ways to lower costs. How much can you save by doing it yourself? It’s hard work, so how much can you “earn” might be a better question.

We’ve put labor costs at $6.00 to $9.00 per square foot for most jobs. Homewyse suggests $6.00 to $7.50 out of a total cost of $14 to $19 per square foot. HomeGuide offers a broader $6 to $10 per square foot with a total job cost of $10-$30.

First consider these costs and challenges to a successful job:

• Backhoe or skid loader rental of $250 to $400 per day.
• Hauling away of materials removed to form the driveway bed: $20-$40 per cubic yard.
• Scheduling delivery of the proper materials in the correct amounts to be brought to your home
• Installing, spreading and compacting the materials
• Using a laser to create a very level sand base for the pavers
• Installing pavers one at a time – thousands of them

Driveway contractors get better pricing on materials. In fact, some own their own pits, so they can offer very competitive prices on materials used in the base. Plus, they own the heavy equipment and probably don’t factor in daily costs anywhere near rental pricing.

The bottom line is that you might not save much with DIY. And if the results are inferior, such as non-straight lines, low spots in the driveway due to settling or a base that wasn’t level, you’ll have to live with them or re-do affected areas.

In short, this is a job that most homeowners hire a contractor to complete.