2GreenThe short answer: supplied and laid, most home paving in South Africa lands between about R300 and R800 per square metre in 2026, from basic cement pavers up, with natural stone well above that. But that national band hides the two things that actually move the number, and one of them matters a great deal here.
The first is what the quote includes, above all whether the base is properly built. The second is where you are. Green Fix, a Cape Town paving contractor, publishes a rate by area and puts Stellenbosch, Somerset West and the Winelands at R850 to R1,300 per square metre for a driveway, which is a floor above the national ceiling. For a Paarl driveway, budgeting off a national average will under-quote you.
These are planning ranges, not a quote
Paving prices vary with the paver, the site, access and the amount of groundwork, and they move over time. Use the figures below to plan a budget, then get an on-site quote for an accurate price.
Paving cost per square metre by type
Installed rates cover excavation, a compacted base, the pavers, laying and edging. As a rough 2026 guide for the Winelands and greater Cape Town:
| Paver type | Supplied & laid (per m²) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cement / concrete pavers | R300 to R550 | Budget patios, paths, general use |
| Interlocking pavers | R400 to R650 | Driveways and high-traffic areas. Allow to about R700 on a driveway, for the deeper base |
| Tumbled / simulated cobble | R500 to R800 | Feature patios, a rustic look |
| Clay brick pavers | R550 to R800 | Warm, classic Winelands character |
| Natural stone / cobblestone | R850 to R1,500+ | Premium patios and entrances |
What is included, and what is not
A proper installed price should cover the excavation, a compacted base layer, bedding sand, the pavers, laying, cutting and edge restraints. Watch for quotes that leave out the base or edging, because that is exactly where cheap paving fails. Things usually quoted separately include removing an old surface, extra earthworks on a slope, retaining walls, and drainage.
What drives the price up or down
- ✓Paver choice: this is the single biggest factor, as the table above shows.
- ✓Base and use: a driveway needs a deeper, stronger sub-base than a patio to carry a vehicle, which adds cost.
- ✓Area size: larger areas usually cost a little less per square metre, as setup is spread over more metres.
- ✓Pattern and cutting: herringbone, circles and diagonals need more cutting and labour than a simple stack bond.
- ✓Site access and prep: difficult access, a steep slope or removing an old slab all add to the bill.
- ✓Location: rates differ between regions and between a quick job and a small, fiddly one.
Driveway vs patio: why the difference
A patio only carries foot traffic and outdoor furniture, so a standard compacted base is enough. A driveway carries the weight of vehicles, so it needs a deeper, properly compacted sub-base and often a stronger interlocking paver, which is why a driveway usually costs more per square metre than a patio in the same paver. Skimping on the driveway base is the most expensive mistake we are called to fix, because the fix is a full relay.
Supply only vs supplied and laid
If you buy pavers yourself, supply-only prices are lower. In August 2026 Inca Concrete Products at Eerste Rivier priced plain concrete and interlocking pavers at roughly R115 to R180 per square metre using their own stated coverage, and Paving Pros quotes R120 to R200 per square metre for paving bricks generally. Cast stone is another bracket entirely: Revelstone in Killarney Gardens sells its Kent Cobble at R487 to R977 per square metre including VAT.
Laying labour, on a base someone has already prepared, runs roughly R100 to R200 per square metre. Add excavation, base preparation and edging and it rises to roughly R200 to R370. It does not reach R650, and this page said it did until August 2026, which was plainly wrong: it would have meant the pavers, the base stone, the bedding sand and the edging were all free.
We had the labour figure wrong until August 2026
This page previously said labour alone runs R300 to R650 per square metre, which is two to three times what any source publishes and more than this same page quotes for cement pavers supplied and laid. The corrected figures are above. If you priced a job off the old number, it was too high.
For most homeowners a single supplied-and-laid quote is still simpler, and it avoids the risk of a poor base, which is the part you cannot inspect once the pavers are down.
How to save on paving
- ✓Choose a cement or interlocking paver over clay or stone if budget matters more than the finish.
- ✓Keep the layout simple: a stack bond or basic running bond cuts labour compared with herringbone or circles.
- ✓Pave only what you use, and use gravel or planting for the rest.
- ✓Get the base right first time, because a cheap base that fails costs more than doing it properly.
- ✓Compare a few quotes on a like-for-like basis, checking the base and edging are included.
Estimate your materials first
Before you compare quotes it helps to know your quantities. Work out your area, then see how many pavers per square metre your chosen size needs, or let our paving calculator work out the pavers and bedding sand for you. It also helps to know what a quote should actually specify, which our guide to how paving is laid sets out step by step. When you are ready for an accurate installed price, our paving team quotes supply and installation across Paarl, Stellenbosch and the Winelands.
Frequently asked questions
How much does paving cost per square metre in South Africa?＋
In 2026, supplied and laid, most paving falls between R300 and R800 per square metre, with basic cement pavers at the lower end and clay or tumbled cobble higher. Natural stone can be R850 to R1,500 or more. The paver you choose and the groundwork are the biggest factors.
What is the cheapest paving option?＋
Plain cement or concrete pavers are the most affordable, from around R300 per square metre supplied and laid, followed by interlocking pavers. Gravel is cheaper still where a solid paved surface is not essential.
How much does it cost to pave a driveway?＋
A driveway usually costs more per square metre than a patio in the same paver, because it needs a deeper, stronger sub-base and often a tougher interlocking paver to carry vehicles. Budget from around R400 to R700 per square metre installed for a typical interlocking driveway.
Is paving cheaper than concrete or tar?＋
The upfront cost is often similar, but paving is easier to repair, since you lift and replace individual pavers rather than breaking up a slab. It also usually looks better and adds more value, which is why many homeowners choose it.
Does the paving price include the base?＋
It should. A proper installed quote covers excavation, a compacted base, bedding sand, laying and edging. If a quote looks unusually cheap, check that the base and edge restraints are included, because that is where poor paving fails.
How much is labour only to lay paving?＋
Roughly R100 to R200 per square metre to lay on a base that is already prepared, and roughly R200 to R370 per square metre if the excavation, base preparation and edging are included. Published rates cluster tightly around this: Procompare gives R100 to R300 with an average of R200, and SA Property Tools gives R80 to R150 for laying on a prepared base. Which of the two bands applies depends entirely on whether the base is in the quote, so ask.
Does paving add value to my property?＋
Yes. A neat driveway, patio and paths lift kerb appeal and make outdoor space usable, both of which help a home sell faster and for more. It is one of the better-return hard-landscaping improvements.