Patio comparison
Paver vs Concrete Patio: Cost Comparison
Poured concrete is cheaper to install and pavers are easier to live with. The difference shows up when the ground moves, which it does everywhere sooner or later.
Pavers
$12 to $30 per sq ft installed
Poured concrete
$8 to $18 per sq ft installed
| Feature | Pavers | Poured concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost per sq ft | $12 to $30 | $8 to $18 |
| Typical 300 sq ft patio | $3,600 to $9,000 | $2,400 to $5,400 |
| Cracking | Individual units, no cracking | Expected over time |
| Repairability | Lift and reset | Difficult to match |
| Weed growth at joints | Real, use polymeric sand | Only at cracks |
| Freeze-thaw performance | Good, flexible base | Cracks without proper control joints |
| Install time | Longer | Faster, plus cure time |
| Appearance options | Many patterns and colors | Plain, stamped or stained |
Pavers
- Moves with the ground instead of cracking
- A settled area can be lifted and reset
- Wide range of patterns, colors and borders
- Usable immediately, no cure time
- Costs more to install
- Joints need polymeric sand and occasional topping up
- Weeds and ants colonise poorly maintained joints
- A bad base shows up as an uneven surface within a year
Poured concrete
- Lower installed cost
- Fast to place, one continuous surface
- Nothing to weed at joints
- Can be stamped or stained for a decorative finish
- Will crack eventually, especially without proper control joints
- Repairs are visible and hard to match
- Needs curing time before use
- Removal is heavy, disruptive work
The verdict
Choose pavers for a patio you want to look good for decades, in freeze-thaw climates, and anywhere the ground is likely to settle. Choose poured concrete for the lowest cost, for a simple utility surface, or where a stamped decorative finish is wanted at a lower price than paving. With either, the base is what determines the result: a properly compacted sub-base of the right depth matters far more than the surface material, and it is where cut-price installers save money at your expense.
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View on AmazonFrequently asked questions
Are pavers worth the extra cost over concrete?
If you are staying put, usually yes, because pavers can be lifted and reset when the ground settles while a cracked slab cannot be repaired invisibly. If the patio is a functional surface for a grill and a table and budget is tight, poured concrete does the job for less. In freeze-thaw regions the case for pavers is stronger.
Why do concrete patios crack?
Concrete shrinks as it cures and moves with temperature and ground conditions, so cracking is managed rather than prevented. Control joints are cut or tooled in to make the concrete crack in straight planned lines rather than randomly. Cracks appear anyway when the sub-base is inadequate, when joints are spaced too far apart, or when the slab is too thin for the use.
How long does a paver patio last?
The pavers themselves can last decades, and the practical lifespan is set by the base and the joints. A properly compacted base with correct edge restraint stays flat for a very long time. Joint sand needs topping up periodically, and settled areas can be lifted and reset rather than replaced, which is why the surface can outlive several concrete slabs.
Can pavers be laid over an existing concrete patio?
Sometimes, if the slab is sound, drains properly and the added height does not create problems at doors and steps. It is a common approach for resurfacing a cracked but stable slab. If the slab is heaving, badly cracked or holding water, laying over it repeats the underlying problem. Get an installer to assess the slab rather than assuming it is a shortcut.