Brick pavers vs concrete pavers: which lasts and costs less?

The quick comparison

	Clay brick pavers	Concrete pavers
U.S. standard	ASTM C902 (patios, walks, home driveways); ASTM C1272 for heavy traffic[1]	ASTM C936[3][5]
Strength requirement	Class SX: 8,000 psi average (4,000 psi for molded brick)[1]	8,000 psi average[3]
Absorption limit	Class SX: 8% average cold water absorption (16% for molded)[1]	5% average[3]
Common thickness	2 1/4 in or 1 1/2 in[1]	2 3/8 in (60 mm) for patios and driveways[3]
Color	Through the body; highly resistant to fading[1]	Pigmented concrete; sealers help inhibit fading[4]
Variety (HomeGuide)	Many colors and textures[6]	Many colors, styles and shapes[6]
Installed cost, HomeGuide (2024)	$10 to $17 per sq ft[6]	$8 to $15 per sq ft[6]
Installed cost, Fixr (2022)	$12 to $20 per sq ft[7]	$10 to $25 per sq ft[7]

The strength and absorption figures above come from industry summaries: BIA's Technical Note 14 (2017) for clay^[1] and CMHA's 2022 construction guide for concrete^[3]. ASTM revises these standards, and the current edition of C936 is newer than CMHA's summary^[5]. Ask your supplier for a test report against the current edition.

Cost: closer than you might think

Installed prices overlap. HomeGuide's 2024 paver patio data puts brick at $10 to $17 per square foot and concrete pavers at $8 to $15^[6]. Fixr's older 2022 data has brick at $12 to $20 and concrete pavers at $10 to $25, a wider range because it includes premium concrete products^[7]. For the pavers alone, HomeGuide lists clay brick at $1.40 to $15.00 and concrete at $1.25 to $18.00 per square foot^[6].

Labor, base and edging are the same job for both. HomeGuide says the brick itself is 40% to 50% of a brick patio's cost and labor is the other 50% to 60%^[8]. So the paver you choose matters less to the total than the size of the area and the site prep.

Freeze-thaw: what to specify in Ohio, Illinois and other cold states

For clay pavers, ASTM C902 sorts brick by weather exposure^[1]:

• Class SX for pavers that may freeze while saturated. BIA says Class SX is used for most exterior residential work.
• Class MX for exterior use where pavers will not freeze.
• Class NX is not acceptable outdoors.

For concrete pavers, CMHA describes freeze-thaw testing under ASTM C1645. Average mass loss must stay at or below 225 g per square meter after 28 cycles, or 500 g after 49 cycles. Where deicers will be used, the test uses a 3% salt solution instead of tap water^[3].

In practice, ask for Class SX brick or C936 concrete pavers anywhere it freezes. Parts of Texas freeze often enough that the same advice is a safe default there too.

Traffic and thickness

C902 also sets an abrasion Type. BIA says Type I suits heavy-wear areas such as public sidewalks and driveways, Type II suits busy residential walks and home driveways, and Type III is for low-traffic patios and floors^[1]. For a home driveway, ask for Type I or II.

Thickness matters most for driveways:

• Brick. C902 has no minimum thickness. Brick is commonly made 2 1/4 or 1 1/2 inches thick, and BIA says the thinner 1 1/2 inch units usually go only over a rigid concrete base, except for patios and walks in warm climates with little frost^[1].
• Concrete. CMHA says pedestrian areas and driveways use 2 3/8 inch (60 mm) pavers, while streets and industrial paving need at least 3 1/8 inches (80 mm)^[3].

For driveways, BIA recommends a herringbone pattern^[2].

Color, fading and white haze

This is the clearest difference between the two.

BIA says clay paver color is "typically consistent through the body of the paver and is highly resistant to weathering and fading because of its vitrified composition"^[1]. Expect some color variation between production runs, so installers should mix pavers from several pallets^[1].

Concrete pavers get their color from pigments in the concrete. CMHA notes that sealers and liquid joint stabilizers enhance color, "inhibit fading" and protect against stains^[4]. CMHA also explains efflorescence, a white powdery haze from the cement, which can peak about 60 days after installation. It does not affect strength or durability and often wears away, or it can be removed with a cleaner made for pavers^[4].

Myth: "Concrete pavers are just cheap brick"

Not true. Concrete pavers made to ASTM C936 have to meet the same 8,000 psi average strength that Class SX clay brick does, and a tighter absorption limit^[1][3]. The differences are color permanence, look and shape options, not basic toughness. A poorly built base will ruin either one.

The base and edges decide how long either lasts

Both systems are usually laid on a compacted aggregate base with a sand setting bed. CMHA calls for about 1 inch of bedding sand, at least 4 inches of compacted base for patios and walks on well-drained soil, and at least 6 inches for residential driveways, thicker in cold climates or on wet or weak soils^[3]. BIA suggests adding another 4 inches of base or subbase for driveways on clay or silt subgrades^[2].

Both also need a solid edge restraint so the pavers stay locked together^[2][3]. See paver edging options and paver base and installation basics.

Upkeep

• Brick. HomeGuide suggests cleaning and sealing a brick patio every 3 to 5 years and puts its lifespan at 25 to 50 years^[8].
• Concrete pavers. Sealing is optional but slows fading and staining^[4]. Clean efflorescence with a product made for concrete pavers^[4].
• Both. Keep joints full of sand, pull weeds and reset any unit that settles. HomeGuide notes brick can chip and can have a slick surface^[6].

When to call a pro

• For driveways, to confirm the paver class, type and thickness suit vehicle traffic and your soil.
• If pavers have sunk, rolled at the edges or spread apart, which usually means a base or edge restraint problem.
• If water from the paved area flows toward the house, have a contractor correct the slope before resetting.
• If you are matching new pavers to an old installation, get samples from the supplier and compare them outdoors in daylight.