A paver driveway is one of the best things you can add to your hardscape project. The functionality allied to aesthetics make it for a prime choice for both driveways and patios. But how thick should a paver driveway be? Is there a difference between a driveway installation and a patio one?

In fact, yes, there is. Not only your choice of paver can make all the difference, but the deepness of your installation is extremely important as well. So let’s get right on it and explain how you should approach your paver driveway installation.

How Thick Should Pavers Be?

The answer to that question varies a lot depending on what kind of paver you have chosen for your project and what is your objective in general. In fact, you should start with the objective of the project, and then you’ll have an idea of what kind of paver fits it.

For example, let’s say you’re going for a poolside installation. For that, travertine is considered to be the best option of paver available. Travertine paver are usually 1/2″ thick, and, since the patio will only have foot traffic, a base of 4″ deep will suffice.

For a driveway, however, things are different. In that case, porcelain pavers are considered the kings of vehicular traffic flooring. Porcelain pavers are heavily used in fabric flooring and place that withstand heavy vehicular traffic.

What makes them so good is the fact that they are non-porous. That means they are naturally impervious and won’t get stained with the constant tire marks and oil drops. They also extremely sturdy, able to withstand a tremendous amount of weight and shock without a scratch.

Porcelain pavers come in two variations in thickness: the standard thickness, which is typically between 8 mm – 10 mm in thickness, and outdoor variation, that are 2 cm thick.

Porcelain pavers are a great (currently the best, in fact) choice for a driveway, and if you decide to go for it, make sure to get the 2 cm variation.

But, as a rule, the thicker the paver, the better it will fare against vehicular traffic. Although, with most paver materials, you won’t have much choice when it comes to thickness. Some materials are not even recommended for vehicular traffic, so pay attention to that.

Differences in Installation

“How thick should a paver driveway be” is not the only important question to be answered. One equally important is “How deep should the base of a paver driveway be”. The answer to that, unlike the thickness of pavers, is very objective: a paver driveway should have a depth of 7 inches plus the thickness of the pavers.

Of those 7 inches, 6 will be of road base or gravel, and the remaining 1 inch will be of the sand bedding. You should account for the entire thickness of the pavers if you want them to be level to the ground. If you want them a little higher, you add just a portion of the thickness, according to the height you want.

In a regular installation, a base of 4 inches plus 1 inch of sand bedding would be enough, but for vehicular traffic a stronger base is required. Aside from that, the entire installation follows as it normally would.

How Thick Should a Paver Driveway Be: Paver Options

Now that you know how important it is to establish the right depth for an installation, we can start thinking about what are the best options of pavers for a driveway.

Porcelain
Like we mentioned before, porcelain pavers really are unmatched at the moment, both in resistance and aesthetic. Capable of emulating virtually any other material available, without sacrificing resistance, porcelain is a top tier choice when it comes to driveways. It is also extremely easy to maintain and can last for decades with proper care.

Porcelain paver can greatly vary in price, anything from $10 to $35 per square foot.

Concrete
Concrete is the second-best option available, but it was the first and only option during the past 30 years. They have proven themselves to be extremely reliable, and many people still consider it to be the best options of pavers available.

It really does it all. It comes is a wide variety of colors and designs, it is incredibly sturdy and easy to install. Maintenance can be a bit trickier than porcelain, since it requires sealing, but it is still one of the best choices for a driveway.

As for the cost, concrete pavers usually range from $30 to $40 per square foot, including materials and labor.

Cobblestones (Stepping Stones)
Cobblestones can be huge, difficult to manage and expensive to acquire, but they last a lifetime before starting to cause problems. The “rugged” looks divides the opinions of homeowners. Many find them very attractive, while others prefer a more even flooring option.

Cobblestone usually costs around $40 to $70 per square foot.

Brick Pavers
The oldest paving material known to man, brick pavers are dense blocks of clay able to withstand high pressure and temperature. As long as they have the right size and thickness, they can be a good and more affordable option. They are not as resistant and don’t have as much variation as the other options, but they can still do the job fairly well.

Brick pavers can cost from $10 to $25 per square foot.

How Thick Should a Paver Driveway Be? Professional Help

At the end of the day, every paver installation is unique on its own. You can never know exactly how things will go, what would be the best choice of pavers, or how exactly to account for everything that might go wrong during the installation process.

On that front, your best course of action is to hire hardscape professionals to help you with it. There is way less chance of getting things wrong when working with qualified personnel.

We here at Eagle Pavers have helped countless homeowners with their paver installation during our 12 years of activity. We know the importance of working closely and adapting the situation to our customers needs, so we highly recommend you search for a professional in your area.

And if you happen to be around our area of activity, the Sarasota and Manatee counties, in FL, why not give us a call to help you?

You can contact us right now at +1 941-210-4192 or email us at sales@eaglepavers.us. We would be happy to hear from you and help you with your project.