The Complete Guide to Paver Estimating in 2026 (+ Free Calculator)
A bad paver estimate doesn't just cost you the job. It costs you the job and $15,000.
We've seen it hundreds of times: a contractor bids a driveway at $18/SF, wins the work, then realizes halfway through that they forgot freight costs, underestimated cuts on a herringbone pattern, and didn't account for the 6" of base that needed to come out first. By the time the last paver is laid, they've worked for free — or worse, at a loss.
This guide is the antidote. We're going to walk through every component of a paver estimate, give you real cost data, and show you the math so you never leave money on the table again.
Want to skip ahead and just build an estimate? Use our free paver calculator →
What Goes Into a Paver Estimate
Every paver estimate has 5 cost categories. Miss any one of them and your margins evaporate:
- Materials — Pavers, base, sand, polymeric, edge restraint, geotextile
- Labor — Installation, demo/removal, grading, compaction
- Equipment — Plate compactor, skid steer, excavator, saw
- Overhead — Insurance, truck costs, office, permits, disposal
- Profit — Your margin. Not optional. Not “whatever's left.”
Let's break each one down with real numbers.
Installation Methods: Sand-Set vs Mud-Set vs Permeable
Before you price anything, you need to know which installation method you're using. Each has different material requirements, labor rates, and complexity.
Sand-Set Installation
The most common method for residential driveways, patios, and walkways. Pavers sit on a compacted aggregate base with a bedding sand layer, locked in with polymeric sand and edge restraint.
- Best for: Driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks
- Base depth: 6-8" compacted aggregate (4-6" for patios, 8-12" for driveways)
- Bedding layer: 1" of ASTM C-33 concrete sand
- Joint fill: Polymeric sand
- Labor rate: $3.00-5.50/SF installed
Mud-Set (Mortar-Set) Installation
Pavers or natural stone are set on a mortar bed over a concrete slab. More expensive but provides a rigid, permanent installation ideal for elevated patios, steps, and areas with drainage concerns.
- Best for: Elevated patios, steps, veneers, pool coping, areas over existing concrete
- Substrate: Existing or new concrete slab (4-6")
- Setting bed: 3/4-1" mortar
- Joint fill: Grout or polymeric
- Labor rate: $5.50-9.00/SF installed
Permeable Paver Installation
An increasingly required method for stormwater management. Uses open-graded aggregate base with wider joints filled with small aggregate instead of polymeric sand. Often required by code in commercial projects and some residential jurisdictions.
- Best for: Driveways, parking areas, commercial applications, stormwater compliance
- Base depth: 12-18" open-graded aggregate (acts as reservoir)
- Bedding layer: ASTM #8 stone (not sand)
- Joint fill: ASTM #8 or #9 stone chips
- Labor rate: $4.50-7.00/SF installed (higher base prep)
Material Cost Breakdown
Here's what materials actually cost in 2025-2026. These are contractor/wholesale rates — not retail. Adjust for your market and supplier relationships.
Paver Materials (per square foot)
| Material | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers (standard) | $3.50/SF | $5.50/SF | $8.50/SF |
| Travertine pavers | $8.00/SF | $12.00/SF | $16.00/SF |
| Porcelain pavers | $12.00/SF | $16.00/SF | $22.00/SF |
| Natural stone (bluestone, etc.) | $10.00/SF | $15.00/SF | $25.00/SF |
| Permeable pavers | $6.00/SF | $9.00/SF | $14.00/SF |
Base and Setting Materials (per square foot)
| Material | Low | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base material (crushed aggregate) | $0.35/SF | $0.65/SF | Per inch of depth |
| Bedding sand (ASTM C-33) | $0.20/SF | $0.45/SF | 1" layer |
| Polymeric sand | $0.30/SF | $0.75/SF | Varies by joint width |
| Geotextile fabric | $0.15/SF | $0.35/SF | Non-woven separation fabric |
| Edge restraint | $1.50/LF | $3.50/LF | Snap Edge or equivalent + spikes |
Putting It Together: Material Cost per SF
For a typical sand-set concrete paver patio with 6" base:
- Pavers: $5.50/SF (mid-range concrete)
- Base material (6"): $2.40/SF ($0.40 × 6)
- Bedding sand: $0.30/SF
- Polymeric sand: $0.45/SF
- Geotextile: $0.20/SF
- Edge restraint: ~$0.50/SF (calculated from perimeter)
Total materials: ~$9.35/SF
That's before waste, freight, and tax. We'll get to those.
Labor Rates by Installation Type
Labor is where most estimating mistakes happen. These rates include all labor from site prep through final compaction:
| Work Type | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand-set paver install (complete) | $3.00/SF | $4.25/SF | $5.50/SF |
| Mud-set paver install (complete) | $5.50/SF | $7.00/SF | $9.00/SF |
| Demo/removal (existing hardscape) | $1.50/SF | $2.50/SF | $3.50/SF |
| Grading and excavation | $1.00/SF | $2.00/SF | $3.00/SF |
| Permeable system install | $4.50/SF | $5.75/SF | $7.00/SF |
Important: These are burdened labor rates — meaning they include your crew's wages, payroll taxes, workers' comp, and benefits. If you're using unburdened rates (just hourly wages), you need to multiply by 1.25-1.45 to get real cost.
Waste Factors by Pattern
Pattern selection directly impacts how much material you need. More cuts = more waste. Here's what to add:
| Pattern | Waste Factor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Running bond (stack) | 5% | Simplest layout, minimal cuts |
| Running bond (staggered) | 5-7% | Slight increase at edges |
| Basketweave | 5-8% | Moderate cuts at borders |
| Herringbone (90°) | 10-12% | Significant edge cuts |
| Herringbone (45°) | 12-15% | Maximum cuts — the hardest pattern |
| Random/ashlar | 8-10% | Depends on paver sizes used |
| Circular/fan | 15-20% | Extreme cutting, specialty pavers recommended |
Pro tip: For irregular-shaped areas (curved edges, lots of obstacles), add an additional 3-5% on top of the pattern waste. A kidney-shaped pool deck with 45° herringbone can easily hit 18-20% total waste.
Equipment Costs
Equipment costs depend on whether you own or rent. Here's what to budget per project day:
- Plate compactor: $75-150/day rental (or amortize ownership cost)
- Skid steer / mini excavator: $250-500/day rental
- Paver saw (wet cut): $100-200/day rental + blades ($50-150 each)
- Laser level / transit: $50-100/day
- Hand tools and consumables: Budget $0.10-0.25/SF as a project cost
For a typical 1,000 SF patio (2-3 day install), equipment runs $500-1,500 — or roughly $0.50-1.50/SF.
Overhead and Profit
This is where amateur estimators leave money on the table. Your overhead is real, and it needs to be in every estimate:
Overhead Items (Typical for Small Paver Contractor)
- General liability insurance: $3,000-8,000/year
- Workers' compensation: 10-20% of payroll
- Vehicle costs (fuel, insurance, maintenance): $500-1,500/month per truck
- Office/yard lease: $1,000-3,000/month
- Software and tools: $200-500/month
- Permits and disposal fees: per-project variable
- Marketing and sales: 3-8% of revenue
Rule of thumb: Total overhead for a small paver contractor runs 15-25% of job revenue. Apply this as a markup on your direct costs.
Profit Margin
Your profit margin is not “what's left.” It's a line item. Target ranges for paver work:
- Residential: 15-25% net profit margin
- Commercial: 10-18% net profit margin
- High-end/custom: 20-35% net profit margin
If you're consistently below 15%, something is wrong with your estimating, your production rates, or your pricing position. Read our guide on running a profitable hardscape business →
The Full Estimate: A Real Example
Let's build a complete estimate for a common job: 1,200 SF residential driveway, concrete pavers, herringbone pattern, 8" base, existing asphalt removal required.
Materials
| Item | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers (mid-range) | 1,344 SF (12% waste) | $5.50/SF | $7,392 |
| Base aggregate (8") | 1,200 SF | $3.20/SF | $3,840 |
| Bedding sand | 1,200 SF | $0.30/SF | $360 |
| Polymeric sand | 1,200 SF | $0.50/SF | $600 |
| Geotextile fabric | 1,200 SF | $0.20/SF | $240 |
| Edge restraint | ~150 LF perimeter | $2.50/LF | $375 |
Materials subtotal: $12,807
Labor
| Item | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt demo/removal | 1,200 SF | $2.50/SF | $3,000 |
| Sand-set paver install | 1,200 SF | $4.50/SF | $5,400 |
Labor subtotal: $8,400
Equipment
4 days × $350/day average = $1,400
Summary
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Materials | $12,807 |
| Labor | $8,400 |
| Equipment | $1,400 |
| Direct cost | $22,607 |
| Overhead (20%) | $4,521 |
| Profit (20%) | $5,426 |
| Total bid price | $32,554 |
| Per SF price | $27.13/SF |
That's a real, profitable bid. Not a “hope it works out” number.
Common Estimating Mistakes (The $15K Problem)
These are the errors we see most often. Any one of them can turn a profitable job into a disaster:
1. Forgetting Freight and Delivery
Paver freight can run $0.50-2.00/SF depending on distance from the supplier. A 1,500 SF job at $1.25/SF in freight is $1,875 you forgot to include. Always confirm delivery costs with your supplier before finalizing.
2. Underestimating Waste on Complex Patterns
We see contractors bid herringbone at 5% waste (running bond rate) all the time. On a 2,000 SF job, the difference between 5% and 12% waste is 140 extra square feet of pavers — $770-1,190 in materials alone.
3. Not Accounting for Cuts
Cutting takes time. On a herringbone driveway, your crew will spend 20-30% of install time just cutting. If your labor rate assumes straight-lay production, you're underwater. Factor cutting time into your production rate, not just waste.
4. Using Unburdened Labor Rates
If you pay a guy $25/hour and use $25/hour in your estimate, you're losing money. Payroll taxes (7.65% FICA), workers' comp (10-20%), benefits, and PTO add 25-45% to your actual labor cost. A $25/hour employee costs you $31-36/hour.
5. Forgetting Site Access and Staging
Tight backyard access? Add time for wheelbarrowing materials. No place to stage pallets? Add equipment time. Steep grade? Add grading labor. These “soft” costs can add $500-2,000 per job that weren't in your standard rates.
6. Skipping Overhead and Profit
The most dangerous mistake of all. You add up materials and labor, add 10%, and call it a bid. That 10% gets eaten by insurance, gas, your phone bill, and vehicle payments. Your actual profit? Zero. Always apply overhead AND profit as separate line items.
Use the Free Paver Calculator
Don't want to do all this math by hand? We built a free paver estimating calculator that handles:
- Material takeoff by area and paver type
- Automatic waste factor by pattern
- Labor cost calculation by install method
- Base material and sand quantities
- Overhead and profit markup
- Professional proposal generation
It uses the same rate databases referenced in this guide, updated for 2026 pricing. No signup required.
Stop Leaving Money on the Table
Accurate estimating is the difference between a hardscape business that grows and one that stays stuck at $500K forever. Every job you underbid is money out of your pocket. Every job you overbid is work you don't win.
BRIKT's estimating engine was built specifically for paver and hardscape contractors. Real rate data. Real waste calculations. Real profit margins. And it's free to start.
Build your first estimate free →
Already estimating by hand and want to level up your whole operation? See what BRIKT can do for your business →