Concrete Pavers and Slabs for Paths and Driveways: How to Choose

Choosing between a paver and a slab looks like a minor detail, but it decides how much load the paving takes, how long it takes to lay and how the path looks years from now. The rule of thumb is simple: thickness rules. A 6 or 8 cm paver suits paths, patios and driveways; a 3.5 cm slab is made for walking on, not driving on. In this guide we go through Vetonek's concrete pavers and slabs with their real dimensions, so you know which one fits each area.

Paver or slab: thickness decides the use

A paver is a thick, small-format unit laid in a running bond, herringbone or grid pattern. The data sheets of our pavers list 5.5, 6 and 8 cm thickness and outdoor use for pedestrians and light vehicles; only the 8 cm paver is listed for vehicle traffic. The slab is thinner (3.5 cm on both models), covers more surface per piece and goes down faster, but its data sheet limits it to pedestrian use.

The pavers and slabs are made of vibro-pressed single-layer concrete and are laid dry on a sand bed, with no cement on the surface. That has two practical advantages: the joints drain, so the paving does not collect puddles, and if you have to open a trench or replace a piece, you lift only the affected pieces and lay them again.

Concrete pavers: formats and what each one is for

• Universal 10 × 20 cm format. The Cascante paver measures 6 × 10 × 20 cm, takes 50 pieces per m² and comes in six colours (White, Cream, Grey, Multicolour, Red and Salmon). It is the classic paving layout: easy to set out and to combine in borders.
• Elongated 12 × 24 cm format. The Cáseda paver (5.5 × 12 × 24 cm, about 35 pieces per m²) allows running bond or herringbone patterns, in White, Cream, Grey and Salmon. Its data sheet lists it for pedestrian use and occasional light vehicles.
• Small format. The Aibar paver (6 × 9 × 19 cm, about 58 pieces per m²) gives finer patterns and gentle curves on narrow paths, in Cream, Grey, Multicolour and Salmon.
• Trapezoidal. The Gallipienzo paver (6 × 9/14 × 23 cm, about 38 pieces per m²) draws fans, circles and curves without cutting pieces, and by alternating the orientation it also works for straight courses. Colours: Cream, Grey, Multicolour, Red and Salmon.
• Reinforced for vehicle traffic. The Eslava paver keeps the 10 × 20 cm layout (50 pieces per m²) but goes up to 8 cm thick. Its data sheet lists it for outdoor use, pedestrians and vehicle traffic, in Cream, Grey, Multicolour and Red.

Concrete slabs for patios, pavements and garden paths

The Cortes slab (3.5 × 20 × 24 cm, about 21 pieces per m², 2.5 kg per piece) comes in White and Red and suits patios, pavements around the house and garden paths. The Lerga slab (3.5 × 15 × 15 cm, about 44 pieces per m², 1.6 kg per piece) is square, in Grey and Multicolour, and its light weight makes it easy to handle for garden stepping stones and borders around flower beds.

One detail from the data sheets themselves: if a car will cross the paved area, handle that strip with a 6 to 8 cm paver and keep the slab for the rest. And for stepping stones across a lawn, the Lerga data sheet recommends setting each slab 1 cm below the lawn level so the mower can pass over it.

Grass pavers: parking or driving on green

If you do not want to give up the lawn, the Obanos grass paver is a concrete grid of 8 × 36 × 60 cm with Ø 7.5 cm openings, about 4.6 pieces per m² and 24 kg per piece. It is laid dry, without mortar, and the openings are filled with soil and grass, artificial turf or decorative gravel. It comes in White and Grey and its data sheet lists it for pedestrians and light vehicles. If you park every day, the data sheet advises filling the wheel-track openings with gravel instead of grass. More models in our lattice and grass paver collection.

How to choose: four criteria

• Use: pedestrian (slab or paver), light vehicle (5.5 or 6 cm paver) or vehicle traffic (Eslava, 8 cm).
• Pattern: small or trapezoidal pieces for curves; 10 × 20 or 12 × 24 formats for straight areas, herringbone and borders.
• Colour: several models share colours, so you can combine them in borders, chequerboards and contrast edges. If you mix colours, take pieces from several pallets.
• Quantity: multiply the m² by the pieces per m² on the data sheet and add 5% for cuts and spares. For example, 20 m² of Cascante pavers is 1,000 pieces, or 1,050 with the allowance.

Sub-base and dry laying, step by step

1. Excavate and compact the crushed-stone sub-base: 10 to 15 cm for pedestrian use and more for vehicles; the data sheets give 20 to 25 cm, compacted in layers, for vehicle traffic. For slabs, 8 to 10 cm.
2. Restrain the perimeter with an edging so the paving does not spread (our garden edging guide helps).
3. Spread a 3 to 4 cm sand bed and level it with a screed board.
4. Lay the pieces tight together or in a running bond; slabs are bedded in with a rubber mallet.
5. Compact with a protected plate compactor and sweep fine sand over the joints until they are full.

The life of dry-laid paving depends on the sub-base more than on the piece. If the ground is doubtful, there are level changes with a retaining wall, or the area will take frequent traffic, consult your project's technician. For general laying, see how to lay slabs and pavers in gardens; if the path is made of irregular slabs, there is the opus incertum garden path guide. You may also like our guides to concrete retaining walls and reconstituted stone cladding to finish the surroundings.

You can see the whole range in the Paving stones - concrete and granite, Concrete Slabs and Exterior Flooring collections.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a paver and a slab?

The main difference is thickness and, with it, the use. Vetonek pavers are 5.5 to 8 cm thick and suit paths, patios and driveways; the slabs are 3.5 cm thick and their data sheets limit them to pedestrian use.

Which paver is suitable for a driveway?

For vehicle traffic, the 8 cm Eslava paver is the one its data sheet lists for it. The 5.5 and 6 cm pavers are listed for pedestrians and light vehicles, always on a well-compacted base.

How many pavers do I need per square metre?

It depends on the format: 50 pieces per m² for the 10 × 20 cm (Cascante and Eslava), about 35 for the 12 × 24 cm (Cáseda) and about 58 for the small format (Aibar). Calculate your area and add 5% for cuts.

What sub-base does paver paving need?

It needs a compacted crushed-stone base and a 3 to 4 cm sand bed. The data sheets give 10 to 15 cm of base for pedestrian use and 20 to 25 cm for vehicle traffic, with the perimeter restrained by an edging.

Can you park on grass with grass pavers?

Yes, the Obanos grass paver is listed for light vehicles on a compacted base. The openings are filled with grass, artificial turf or gravel, and for daily parking the data sheet advises gravel in the wheel tracks.

Once the use is clear, the rest is a matter of taste: look at the Cascante paver for a classic path, the Eslava paver for the garage driveway or the Cortes slab for a pedestrian patio.