Paving bricks are one of those purchases people research backwards. They start with price — understandably, when a pallet can cost anywhere from R1,600 at Cashbuild to three times that for clay — and only later discover that the cheap brick they ordered is the wrong thickness for a driveway, or that they’ve bought 200 too few. This guide covers the whole picture: the types you’ll find in Cape Town, what they cost in 2026, and how to work out exactly how many you need.
The main types of paving bricks in Cape Town
Concrete bevel bricks (interlocks)
The workhorse. Pressed concrete, usually 200x100mm, with a small bevelled edge. Grey is cheapest; tans, terracottas and charcoals cost a little more. At 50mm thick they handle patios and paths; for driveways you want 60mm or 80mm. Expect R160–R220 per m² for the bricks alone.
Clay paving bricks
Fired clay keeps its colour for decades — the terracotta face is the brick, not a surface layer, so it can’t fade or wear off. They suit older homes and leafy streets, and they’re the standard choice in heritage areas. Budget R320–R450 per m² for material. We compared them head-to-head with concrete in our brick vs concrete pavers guide.
Cobbles and setts
Small, thick blocks that shrug off turning wheels — which is why you see them on steep Cape Town driveways. More labour to lay (more bricks per square metre, more joints), so the installed price climbs even when the block itself is affordable.
Paving brick prices in 2026
Prices move with cement costs and the season, but as of mid-2026 in Cape Town:
- Grey bevel bricks: R4.50–R6.50 per brick at the big sheds; roughly R1,600–R2,400 per pallet
- Coloured bevels: R5.50–R8 per brick
- Clay pavers: R8–R12 per brick depending on grade and colour
- Cobbles: priced per m², usually R220–R380 for material
Cashbuild, Build It and Builders Warehouse all run pallet specials, and the per-brick saving is real if you’re collecting yourself. Just check the delivery fee before celebrating — a R300 saving evaporates quickly when delivery to your side of the mountain costs R650.
How many paving bricks do you need?
The arithmetic is simple once you know two numbers: a standard 200x100mm brick covers 0.02m², so you need 50 bricks per square metre. A typical pallet carries 500 bricks — enough for about 10m².
Worked example: a 55m² double driveway needs 55 × 50 = 2,750 bricks, call it six pallets once you add cuts and breakages. On wastage: add 5% for straight runs, closer to 10% if your layout has curves, circles or lots of edges, because every cut brick risks a wasted one.
Don’t forget what goes under them
Bricks are only part of the shopping list. You’ll need G5 or crusher-run for the sub-base (driveways), plaster or river sand for the bed, and jointing sand to lock it all together. If that list is new to you, read our paving installation preparation guide before ordering anything.
Buying bricks vs paying for supply-and-install
Buying your own bricks saves money if — and only if — you have laying skills or a reliable installer who’s happy to work with supplied material. The trap is buying bricks first and designing second: we regularly meet homeowners with a pallet and a half of the wrong-thickness brick sitting in the yard. An installer quoting supply-and-install also carries the risk on shortfalls and breakages, which is worth something.
For driveways specifically, thickness matters more than brand: 60mm minimum under cars, 80mm if a trailer, caravan or bakkie fleet lives at your place. Our driveway paving service page covers how we spec these jobs.
Second-hand bricks: a quick word
Reclaimed clay bricks can look wonderful and cost half the new price, but the supply is inconsistent and quantities are rarely exact. We wrote a full guide on second-hand paving bricks — short version: fine for paths and patios if you inspect before paying, risky for large driveways.
Where to from here?
If you’re pricing a project, get the material numbers from this page, then ask us for a supply-and-install quote on the same spec. Comparing the two tells you exactly what the labour and base work are worth — and whether the DIY saving is worth your weekends. We work everywhere from Durbanville and the Northern Suburbs to Somerset West.