Paver Types Compared: Concrete vs. Clay vs. Porcelain

The Quick Comparison

Here is the whole decision in one table. Read it top to bottom to find the row that matters most to you, then dig into the sections below for the reasoning.

Concrete Pavers

Concrete is the workhorse and the value choice. It comes in the widest range of shapes, sizes, and color blends of the three, which is why most residential patios and driveways use it. Manufacturers can mold it into interlocking shapes, tumbled cobble looks, and large-format planks, so you can hit almost any style at the lowest material price. The trade-off is color: the pigment lives near the surface, so decades of sun and traffic can soften the tone, and a chip reveals a paler core. Sealing slows the fade and deepens the color. For load-bearing driveways, concrete pavers are readily available in thicker units rated for vehicles. It is the default answer when budget leads the decision — and where the numbers on the Paver Prices by State page usually land lowest.

Clay Brick Pavers

Clay brick gets its color from fired clay, not surface pigment, so it keeps its warm red-to-brown tones essentially for life — a clay walkway looks the same in thirty years as the day it was laid. Fired clay is very hard and handles freeze-thaw cycles well, which is why old brick walks survive a century of winters. The palette is narrower — you are choosing among classic brick earth tones and traditional sizes — and the price sits above concrete. If you want a timeless, colorfast look for a patio or walkway and are willing to pay a step up from concrete, clay is the pick. Pair it with a running-bond or herringbone layout and size the count in the Paver Calculator with the waste percentage that matches the pattern.

Porcelain Pavers

Porcelain is the premium, low-maintenance surface. Fired dense and glazed, it barely absorbs water, resists stains almost completely, and holds its color better than anything else — you clean it by wiping it. It comes in large-format tiles that convincingly mimic natural stone, wood plank, or smooth concrete, which suits modern designs. Two cautions: buy a slip-rated outdoor porcelain (R11 or higher) for anything that gets wet, like a pool deck, because a smooth indoor tile is dangerous outside; and respect that porcelain pavers are thinnerthan concrete or clay, so they demand an especially flat, well-compacted base — they are less forgiving of a lumpy setting bed. It is the highest material cost of the three, but the upkeep is the lowest.

What Stays the Same: The Build

Whichever material you choose, the build underneath is the same concept: 4–6 inches of compacted gravel for the base, about 1 inch of bedding sand to set the pavers, edge restraint around the full perimeter, and polymeric sand swept into the joints. Size the base gravel with the Gravel Calculator and the bedding sand with the Sand Calculator. The only real difference is that porcelain’s thinness makes base flatness more critical. For the full sequence, see the Paver Patio Installation guide, and if you are drawn to natural stone instead, the Flagstone on a Sand Bed guide covers that route.

How to Choose

Lead with your priority. If budget rules, choose concrete and put the savings into a deeper, better base. If lasting color and a traditional look matter most, pay the step up to clay. If you want the flattest, lowest-maintenance, most stain-proof surface and the budget allows, choose slip-rated porcelain. Then size the job in the Paver Calculator and price your choice against real regional numbers on Paver Prices by State before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are concrete, clay, or porcelain pavers best?

There is no single best — it depends on the job. Concrete pavers are the value pick with the widest range of shapes and colors, good for most patios and driveways. Clay brick keeps its color for life and suits traditional looks. Porcelain gives a flat, stain-proof, low-maintenance surface at the highest price. Match the material to your budget, the load, and how much upkeep you want.

Do porcelain pavers cost more than concrete?

Yes. Porcelain sits at the top of the material price range, clay brick in the middle, and concrete at the value end. But because material is often only a third to a half of an installed job, the difference in total project cost is smaller than the per-paver gap suggests. Check current numbers for each on the Paver Prices by State page before you decide.

Do clay pavers fade over time?

Much less than concrete. Clay brick gets its color from the fired clay itself, so it holds tone for decades. Concrete pavers are pigmented on the surface and can soften or lighten over years of sun and traffic, though quality units and sealing slow that down. Porcelain, which is fired and glazed, is the most colorfast of the three.

Are porcelain pavers slippery when wet?

Only if you pick the wrong finish. Outdoor porcelain pavers are made with textured, slip-rated (R11 and up) surfaces meant for wet areas like pool decks. A smooth indoor-style porcelain tile is not appropriate outside. Concrete and clay pavers have naturally textured surfaces that grip well when wet.

Can all three paver types use the same base?

The base concept is the same for all three: 4–6 inches of compacted gravel plus about 1 inch of bedding sand, with edge restraint around the perimeter and polymeric sand in the joints. Porcelain pavers are thinner and demand an especially flat, well-compacted base because they are less forgiving of an uneven setting bed. Size the base with the gravel and sand calculators regardless of which paver you choose.

Related Calculators

• Paver Calculator — Paver count by area, pattern, and waste
• Paver Prices by State — Compare regional prices for each material
• Gravel Calculator — Size the compacted base in tons
• Sand Calculator — Size the bedding sand setting layer
• Paver Patio Installation — The full step-by-step build for any paver

Written by Daniel McCarney — AceCalc