How to Quote Paving Installation in Australia
Paving looks like a simple per-metre rate until the base prep, access and drainage come into it. Here's how to quote paving installation so the foundation's costed and your margin holds.
Paving is where a lot of tradies lose money to a single number — the per-square-metre rate — while the base prep, the access and the drainage quietly do the damage. A good paving quote breaks out every layer, from excavation to jointing sand. This guide covers what to include, 2026 paver and base costs, how to work out labour, and the mistakes that turn a tidy driveway into a callback.
What goes into a paving quote
The per-m² price is the headline, but a paving quote that holds its margin is itemised underneath it. Break the job into its real parts:
- Site preparation — excavation, removing the old surface, and carting the spoil.
- Base — road base supply and compaction, the foundation everything sits on.
- Pavers — type, area in m², and the unit cost.
- Laying labour — laying, cutting and jointing, as its own line with the hours shown.
- Bedding and jointing sand, edge restraints — non-negotiable, and often forgotten.
- Drainage, steps, edging and sealing — plus site clean-up and rubbish removal.
Paver material costs in 2026
Pavers are usually the biggest single chunk of the quote, and the choice swings the price hard. Confirm current supplier pricing before you commit — these move — but as a 2026 guide:
| Paver type | Supply cost / m² | Look |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers | $25–$50 | Durable, wide colour and finish range |
| Clay brick | $40–$70 | Classic, warm tones |
| Natural stone | $70–$150+ | Premium — granite, travertine, bluestone |
Don't stop at the pavers. Bedding sand, jointing sand and edge restraints add roughly $5–$15/m² and aren't optional — leave them out and you're buying them yourself.
Base prep and drainage — the foundation
The base is where cheap quotes fall over. A solid, well-drained foundation is what stops the pavers moving, cracking and pooling water — and callbacks for failed paving are expensive and bad for your name.
- Excavate to 150–250mm, depending on soil type and the load the paving will carry.
- Lay 100–150mm of compacted road base (DGB20 or similar), screeded level — about $30–$50/tonne and 0.2–0.3 tonnes/m².
- Set a 1–2% fall away from the house so water runs off, not toward the building.
- Large or rain-prone areas may need channel drains or subsurface drainage — that's real cost, quote it.
- Build to AS 3727 for pavement and base design; the standard's there for a reason.
Never cut corners on the base to sharpen a price. A thin or poorly compacted foundation is the number-one cause of failed paving, and a rebuild you wear for free costs far more than the road base you saved.
Working out labour
Labour is the other big number, and it's easy to underestimate on a job that looks like 'just laying pavers'. Value your crew's time properly:
- Allow 1.5–3 hours/m² for experienced pavers to lay and joint.
- Intricate patterns, small pavers and tight access push you toward the top of that range.
- Demolition and excavation of the old surface add another 1–2 hours/m².
- A two-person crew often charges $150–$200/hour — so an honest hours estimate is everything.
- Count travel and material-pickup time, not just the hours on the tools.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Quoting the per-m² rate only. The paver price is the easy bit. Access, ground conditions and drainage swing the real cost far more — price them in.
- Skipping the site visit. You can't assess access, soil or levels from photos. Get on the ground before you quote.
- Not confirming paver stock and price. Suppliers run out and prices shift. Get a firm, current quote for the exact paver before you send yours.
- Skimping on the base. A thin or poorly compacted base is the number-one cause of failed paving. Quote the full excavation and road base every time.
- Leaving out a contingency. Add a 10–15% buffer for bad ground, a wet week or a small material shortfall. Better to quote it than absorb it.
Pro tips for a paving quote that holds
- Do a site visit every time — photos can't tell you what's under the surface.
- Get current, written supplier quotes for the exact paver, colour and dimensions.
- Cost machinery hire for excavation and compaction, even on smaller jobs.
- List bedding and jointing sand, edge restraints and sealing so nothing's absorbed.
- State clearly whether site clean-up and rubbish removal are in or out.
- Confirm the full scope in writing with the customer before you start.
ServiceYak keeps your paver, base, sand and labour rates in a reusable kit, so you can build a fully itemised paving quote on site — base prep and all — and send the PDF the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does paving cost per square metre in Australia?
Supply runs roughly $25–$50/m² for concrete, $40–$70/m² for clay brick and $70–$150+/m² for natural stone, before base, labour and drainage. Installed, most jobs land well above the paver price alone.
How long does it take to lay paving?
Budget about 1.5–3 hours per square metre for laying and jointing, plus 1–2 hours/m² to demolish and excavate the old surface. Patterns, small pavers and tight access add time.
What's the biggest hidden cost in a paving job?
The base. Excavation, road base and compaction are where cheap quotes fall short — and a poor foundation means the paving moves and you're back doing it for free.