The 600x600 paving slabs price in South Africa runs from about R69 to R129 a slab, which works out to roughly R190 to R360 per square metre supplied. Fitted, expect R350 to R500 per square metre in Cape Town.
You need 2.78 slabs per square metre, because each 600 x 600mm slab covers 0.36 m2. That single number is what turns any per-slab price into a per-square-metre one.
600x600 paving slabs price per slab and per m2
Current listed South African retail prices for the common formats:
- Large-format 600 x 600, promotional: from around R69 a slab, about R192 per m2
- 600 x 600 x 40mm: around R104.95 a slab, about R292 per m2
- 600 x 600 x 50mm: around R105.60 a slab, about R294 per m2
- 600 x 600 non-slip, grey: around R129 a slab, about R359 per m2
- 600 x 600 x 45mm charcoal, 10 m2 pack: around R4,750, about R475 per m2
A figure of about R216 per square metre is achievable, and it works out to roughly R78 a slab — the sale and buy-direct end of the range. Full retail in charcoal or a non-slip finish is closer to R360 per m2.
What moves the price
- Thickness. 35mm and 40mm are cheaper; 45mm and 50mm cost more and are the safe choice under load.
- Colour. Grey is cheapest. Charcoal, terracotta and sandstone tones cost more.
- Finish. Smooth is standard; textured and non-slip carry a premium.
- Where you buy. Buying direct from a Cape Town manufacturing yard beats national retail.
Cape Town manufacturers commonly make 600 x 600 x 45mm smooth slabs at roughly 36kg each. That weight is worth knowing — these are two-person units and awkward to carry any distance.
Installed cost in Cape Town
Supply is only part of it. Large concrete slabs are quoted at R350 to R500 per square metre supplied and installed, with the laying alone at R250 to R300 per square metre.
Laying costs more than for small bricks even though there are fewer units. A 600 x 600 slab shows every high and low spot in the bed, so the base and screed have to be far more accurate. There is no bevel edge to hide a millimetre of difference.
- Slabs, supplied: R190 to R360 per m2
- Laying only: R250 to R300 per m2
- Typical installed total: R350 to R500 per m2
Compared against the R390 to R680 per m2 range for paving generally in our paving prices guide, slabs sit mid-table: more expensive than plain grey bricks, cheaper than cast stone or natural stone.
Where 600 x 600 slabs work
- Patios and entertainment areas — few joints, clean modern lines
- Pool surrounds — pick a textured or non-slip finish
- Garden paths and stepping runs — laid with planted gaps between
- Courtyards — large format makes a small space read as bigger
Where they do not
Driveways. A standard 45mm slab is not made to carry a car and will crack across the middle under a point load. If you want a slab look on a driveway you need a purpose-rated thick slab on a 150mm compacted sub-base and a full mortar bed, which costs considerably more.
For anything carrying vehicles, 60mm or 80mm interlocking pavers are the right product. The concrete pavers guide sets out which format goes where.
Laying patterns and joints
- Stack bond. A straight grid. The cleanest and most modern, and the least forgiving of a wandering line.
- Half bond. Offset by half a slab, like brickwork. Slightly more tolerant of small size variations.
- Planted joints. Slabs spaced with grass, gravel or groundcover between. Popular in Cape Town gardens and it stretches your slab count.
- Mixed sizes. 600 x 600 with 600 x 300 and 300 x 300 in a random pattern, which breaks up a large area.
Joint width matters more with large slabs. A 3mm joint looks sharp but demands accurate slabs and accurate laying. A 10mm joint is far more forgiving and reads as deliberate if it is consistent. Paver strength classes and laying guidance come from the Concrete Manufacturers Association.
Sealing
Sealing is optional. It deepens the colour, makes stains easier to lift and helps around a braai area. Against that, it needs reapplying every few years, adds cost, and some sealers get slippery when wet. Manufacturers generally advise waiting several months after laying before sealing new concrete.
Ordering the right quantity
- Measure the area in square metres.
- Add 5 percent for cuts and breakage, or 10 percent if the area is an odd shape.
- Multiply by 2.78 to get the slab count.
- Round up and keep two or three spares from the same batch.
For a 20 m2 patio: 20 plus 5 percent is 21 m2, times 2.78 is 59 slabs, so order 60. Cutting a 600 x 600 slab neatly needs an angle grinder with a diamond blade, and offcuts are rarely reusable. The same method applied to bricks is in our paving coverage and pallet guide.
We install slabs and brick paving across Cape Town, with a free assessment and no call-out fee. See the paving services page, or send us your patio dimensions for a written quote that includes the base preparation.
Frequently asked questions
How many 600×600 slabs are in a square metre?
2.78 slabs per square metre. Each 600 x 600mm slab covers 0.36 square metres, and 1 divided by 0.36 gives 2.78. In practice most people plan on about 3 slabs per square metre once cuts and breakage are allowed for. For a 20 square metre patio that means roughly 56 slabs plus a 5 percent waste allowance.
How much do 600×600 paving slabs cost?
Between about R69 and R129 a slab in South Africa in 2026, depending on thickness, colour and finish. That works out to roughly R190 to R360 per square metre supplied. Around R216 per square metre, or about R78 a slab, is achievable on promotional stock or buying direct from a manufacturing yard.
What is the price of paving slabs 600×600?
Supply prices run R190 to R360 per square metre. Installed in Cape Town, large concrete slabs are quoted at R350 to R500 per square metre, with the laying component alone at R250 to R300. Laying costs more than for small bricks because a large slab exposes every imperfection in the bed underneath it.
Can I lay paving slabs straight onto soil?
Not if you want them to stay level. Slabs laid on soil sink unevenly, rock underfoot and become a trip hazard within a season. They need a compacted sub-base and a screeded sand or mortar bed. On a patio the base can be lighter than on a driveway, but skipping it entirely never works.
What are the cheapest paving slabs?
Plain grey smooth slabs in the thinner 35mm or 40mm range, bought direct from a yard or on promotion, at around R69 to R80 each. Thinner slabs are only suitable for light foot traffic such as pool surrounds and garden paths. For anything carrying weight, pay for 45mm or 50mm — replacing cracked slabs costs more than the saving.