Concrete pavers are the default paving choice in Cape Town because they are strong, cheap to replace one at a time, and available everywhere. This is a buying guide, not a price list — which shape, which thickness, and which one belongs on a driveway rather than a patio.
For context, concrete paving installs at roughly R380 to R650 per square metre in the Western Cape in 2026, against R550 to R800 for clay and R850 upward for natural stone.
The main types of concrete pavers
Bevel or bevel bond
The standard rectangular brick, typically 200 x 100mm with a chamfered top edge. It is the cheapest per square metre, lays fast, and suits almost anything. The bevel edge hides small level differences between bricks, which is why it forgives a slightly imperfect bed.
Interlocking pavers
Shaped so each unit keys into its neighbours. That interlock spreads a wheel load across surrounding pavers instead of letting one unit sink. This is the driveway choice, normally in 60mm or 80mm.
Twin cobble and Tuscan cobble
Rectangular units cast with a dividing line down the middle so they read as two smaller cobbles. You get a cobbled look at close to bevel labour cost, because you are still laying one brick, not two.
Cottage pavers
A larger 200 x 150mm format. Fewer units per square metre — about 33 against 50 — so laying is quicker over a large area, though each brick costs more.
Slabs and flagstones
Large-format units from 400 x 400mm up to 600 x 600mm and beyond. Very few joints, a clean modern look, and much faster to cover ground with. They are not a driveway product unless specifically rated and bedded for it. Prices and formats are covered in the 600×600 paving slabs price guide.
Choosing thickness
This is the single most important spec on the quote, and the one most often got wrong.
- 50mm: patios, garden paths, pool surrounds, pedestrian areas only
- 60mm: the practical minimum for a residential driveway with cars
- 80mm: heavy vehicles, delivery yards, commercial and municipal roads
Each 10mm of thickness adds roughly R20 per square metre. On a 40 m2 driveway that is about R800 to move from 50mm to 60mm — cheap insurance against cracked pavers under a wheel.
Strength rating
Look for SANS 1058 compliance and the MPa figure. Standard concrete pavers are typically 25MPa, with 30MPa+ options available. For anything carrying vehicles, buy the certified product rather than an unmarked yard brick.
Driveway versus patio: picking the right concrete pavers
The two applications pull in opposite directions.
- Driveway: 60mm or 80mm interlock, laid herringbone at 45 degrees, on a compacted crusher-run sub-base with concrete edge restraints
- Patio or pool surround: 50mm bevel, cobble or a large slab, laid in a simple pattern, with a non-slip surface texture
- Pathway: 50mm anything, but keep it narrow and edge it properly or it creeps
- Parking bay for a bakkie or trailer: treat it as a driveway, not a patio
Herringbone matters on driveways specifically. Laid at 45 degrees to the direction of travel, it resists the twisting force a car applies when the steering turns while stationary. A stretcher bond in the same spot will creep apart over time. Paver strength classes and laying guidance come from the Concrete Manufacturers Association.
Around a pool
Choose a textured or non-slip finish and check that it does not get too hot underfoot. Dark charcoal looks excellent and is punishing in a Cape Town February. Lighter greys and sandstone tones stay usable.
Colour, finish and how they age
- Grey: cheapest, always available, and the easiest to match later
- Charcoal, red, tan: roughly R15 per m2 more on supply rates, more at retail
- Beneficiated or textured: R40 to R150 per m2 extra
- Special shapes: R160 to R180 per m2 extra
Concrete pigment softens over years of UV exposure. It does not fail, it fades, and it fades evenly so it rarely looks bad. Clay brick holds colour permanently because the colour is fired into the clay itself, which is part of why it costs more.
Buy all your bricks in one batch. Colour varies between production runs, and a patch laid from a later pallet is visible for years. Keep a small number of spares from the same batch for future repairs — full comparison in our paving bricks prices guide.
Installation and maintenance
Concrete pavers are a flexible system. They sit on sand over a compacted base rather than being fixed down, which is why a single damaged unit can be lifted and swapped without touching the rest.
- Sweep and rinse regularly to keep joint sand clean and weeds down.
- Top up jointing sand after a few years, especially if you have pressure-washed.
- Lift and relay sunken sections early, before the dip spreads.
- Sealing is optional. It deepens the colour and helps against oil stains, but it needs redoing and is not required for durability.
Well-installed concrete pavers typically last 25 to 50 years. Almost every early failure traces back to the base rather than the paver — shallow excavation, uncompacted fill or missing edge restraints. That is why the paving prices guide spends more time on the base than on the brick.
Once you have picked a paver, the coverage and pallet maths tells you how many to order. We give a free site assessment with no call-out fee — see our paving services or get a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price of concrete pavers in South Africa?
Supply only, standard grey 50mm concrete pavers cost about R3.00 to R3.70 each, or R150 to R190 per square metre. Installed in the Western Cape in 2026, concrete paving runs R380 to R650 per square metre depending on thickness, shape and base preparation. Coloured and textured finishes add R15 to R150 per square metre.
Is it cheaper to lay pavers or concrete?
A poured concrete slab is often cheaper up front for a plain surface, but pavers usually win over the life of the job. A cracked slab has to be cut out and recast, while a damaged paver is lifted and swapped in minutes. Pavers also give better drainage and far more choice of colour and pattern.
What are the typical sizes of cement pavers?
The most common South African format is 200 x 100mm in 50mm, 60mm or 80mm thickness. Larger cottage pavers are 200 x 150 x 50mm, square cobbles are usually 150 x 150 x 60mm, and slabs run from 400 x 400mm up to 600 x 600mm and larger. Coverage ranges from 50 bricks per square metre down to 2.78 slabs.
Should concrete pavers be sealed?
It is optional, not required. Sealing deepens the colour and makes oil and food stains easier to lift, which suits patios and entertainment areas. The downsides are cost, the need to reapply every few years, and a surface that can be slippery when wet. Manufacturers also advise waiting several months after laying before sealing.
How long do cement pavers last?
Properly installed concrete pavers typically last 25 to 50 years, and clay or natural stone longer still. Lifespan depends far more on the base than the paver — a compacted sub-base, correct bedding depth and concrete edge restraints are what keep the surface flat. Individual damaged units can be replaced without relaying the area.