Paving cost per square metre in Adelaide and Gawler: what drives the price
By May Paving, Gawler SA · Published
Short answer: published Australian cost guides put supply-and-lay paving at roughly $40 to $100 per square metre, and paved driveways at around $70 to $100 per square metre depending on the paver. Those are national averages, not our prices. What moves a real quote in Gawler or Adelaide is mostly what you cannot see once the job is finished: digging out, the base, levels and drainage, plus access and how many cuts the pattern needs.
Below we set out the published ranges, then walk through each thing that changes the price, so you can read a quote properly and compare like with like.
What the published cost guides say (2026)
The figures most people find online come from cost guides such as hipages. They are averages across Australia, include materials and labour, and are a starting point only.
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| General paving, supply and lay | $40 to $100 per m2 |
| Concrete pavers | $45 to $60 per m2 |
| Brick pavers | $70 to $90 per m2 |
| Granite, travertine and flagstone | $75 to $100 per m2 |
| Crushed rock base, 50 m2, easy access | $1,500 to $1,800 |
| Poured concrete base, 50 m2, easy access | $2,300 to $2,800 |
Source: hipages, How Much Does Paving Cost Per Square Metre? [2026] (updated 6 January 2026) and How Much Does it Cost to Pave a Driveway? [2026] (updated 31 August 2026). National averages, checked 5 October 2026.
Notice how wide the ranges are. Two quotes for the "same" 40 square metre patio can be thousands of dollars apart, and usually that is because one includes more preparation than the other.
The six things that set the price
1. Excavation and the base
Pavers are only as flat as what sits under them. Most of the labour on a paving job goes into digging out to the right depth, laying and compacting the base, then screeding the bedding layer to level. A driveway that carries cars needs a deeper, stronger base than a garden path. If the old surface (lawn, gravel, cracked concrete or old pavers) has to come out and go to the tip first, that is extra time and disposal cost.
2. Levels, fall and drainage
Paving has to shed water away from the house and toward somewhere it can drain. On a flat site that is simple. On a block that falls toward the house, or where the new paving has to tie into existing levels, it can mean lowering the area, adding a grated channel drain, or connecting to stormwater. We cover the rules in our guide to paving fall and drainage next to your house. A typical example from our enquiries: a 45 square metre area that needed repaving with proper fall and drainage, dug down about 30 cm because the old surface sat too high against the slab. That job is priced very differently from 45 square metres on a flat, open yard.
3. The paver you choose
Concrete pavers generally sit at the lower end of the range, clay and brick pavers in the middle, and natural stone such as granite or travertine at the top. Large-format pavers and thin pavers can be quick to lay on a flat area but need a very accurate base. Ask what is included: some quotes are for laying only, with you supplying the pavers.
4. Pattern, borders and cuts
A straight stretcher bond with few cuts is the quickest layout. Herringbone, borders in a contrasting paver, curves and lots of edges against walls, pits and garden beds all add cutting time. Pool surrounds are a good example: the pavers are cut to the pool edge and scribed by hand around rocks and boulders.
5. Access
If a small excavator or loader can drive in, digging out and bringing in base material is quick. If everything goes through a side gate by wheelbarrow, the same job takes longer. Courtyards in retirement villages and townhouses are often in this category.
6. Size of the job
There is a fixed cost to every job: travel, setting up, delivery and cleanup. On a 10 square metre job that is spread across very few square metres, so the rate per square metre is higher than on a 60 square metre driveway. That is why "small paving jobs" can look expensive per metre even when the total is modest.
Matching existing pavers
A common request is extending an existing area, for example replacing a 3 by 4 metre gravel patch with pavers that match the rest of the yard. If the paver is still in production we can usually get it, but pavers that have been down for years fade, so new ones can look brighter until they weather. When a range has been discontinued, a contrasting border or a clean break line often looks better than a near-miss match.
How to compare paving quotes
- Is the area measured, and is it the same on every quote?
- What base goes down, and how deep? Is excavation and removal of the old surface included?
- Who supplies the pavers, and which product is quoted?
- How is drainage handled: fall only, or a channel drain or stormwater connection?
- Are edge restraints, cuts around pits and walls, and cleanup included?
- Is the business licensed and insured? May Paving holds Builder's Licence BL 355972.
A written quote that spells these out is worth more than a low number per square metre. Ours covers preparation, materials and cleanup, and Brodie, who measures up, is the one on site doing the work.
Where we work
We are based in Gawler and quote across Gawler and the northern suburbs, the Barossa Valley and greater Adelaide. See the full list of paving services, browse recent jobs, or ask for a free quote.
Common questions
How much does paving cost per square metre in Adelaide?
Published national guides put supply-and-lay paving at roughly $40 to $100 per square metre (hipages, updated January 2026), with brick pavers around $70 to $90 and natural stone around $75 to $100. Your actual price depends on the paver, the base and excavation, drainage, access and the size of the job, so the only reliable number is a measured quote.
Why do small paving jobs cost more per square metre?
Setting up, delivering materials, cutting in edges and cleaning up take roughly the same time whether the area is 10 or 50 square metres. On a small job those fixed costs are spread over fewer square metres, so the rate per square metre goes up even though the total is lower.
Can you match my existing pavers?
Often, yes. If the original paver is still made we can usually source it, but older pavers fade, so new ones can look brighter for a while. If the range has been discontinued we will show you the closest options, or suggest a contrasting border so the new section looks deliberate.
Does May Paving give free quotes?
Yes. Brodie comes out, measures up and talks through options on site, then Kayla sends a written, no-obligation quote that covers preparation, materials and cleanup. Call 0435 287 076 or use the quote form.
This article is general information for South Australian homeowners, not engineering, legal or planning advice. Rules and published prices change, so check the linked sources and your council before you start.
