Overview
Paving quotes have a square metre on the surface and a mountain of dirt underneath
A driveway looks like a square metre price. It isn't. The square metre on the surface sits on top of an excavation, a sub-base, a binder, edge restraint, and drainage. Skip the excavation depth and you're paving on soft ground that breaks up under a single car. Skip the drainage and the customer phones you in November asking why their drive is a swimming pool. The cost the customer can see is the block; the cost they can't see is everything else, and a quote that doesn't name the depth of the dig is a quote that loses money on every soft site.
QuoteGenio gives paving contractors a way to put the whole stack on the quote. Excavation by depth and area, sub-base by tonne, binder by tonne, blocks by square metre with the brand named, edge restraint by linear metre, drainage as its own line, and labour by day for the install. Plant hire (digger, plate, dumper) gets its own line because customers ask. Send via WhatsApp from the customer's drive, take a deposit on acceptance, raise a progress invoice once the excavation is signed off, and the final invoice when the last block is laid.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of paving, driveway, and hard landscaping business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every paving contractor knows
Paving quotes live or die on square metres, base prep, and edge restraint. Skip any of them and the job eats your profit.
Driveway quotes take a full evening
Measuring a 120 sqm driveway, working out base, sand, pavers, and edges by hand, then typing it up in Word, is a three-hour job after dinner.
Base prep always gets underpriced
Clients see the pavers, not the 150mm of crusher run underneath. If you don't itemise the base, you absorb it on every quote.
Edge restraint and falls get forgotten
No edge means the pavers spread and the job fails. No falls means standing water and a call-back. Both cost you real money if left off the quote.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A faster, cleaner workflow built around how paving crews actually work, on-site, quoting before the client calls the next guy.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for paving work
Line items for excavation, base, bedding sand, pavers, edge restraint, and jointing. Quote the way the driveway actually goes down.
Per square metre pricing
Enter the driveway area once and QuoteGenio multiplies the rate. No maths mistakes on a 200 sqm commercial yard.
Quote from the site visit
Measure the area, add the lines, send the quote before you pack up the tape. Client is impressed, you're on to the next.
From quote to paid invoice
When the pavers are laid and jointed, convert the accepted quote into an invoice in one click and track payment.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how paving contractors actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Paving Contractors choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Paving Contractors build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Paving Contractors job pricing
A rough guide to what paving contractors charge for common jobs. Pricing varies with paver type, base depth, access for machinery, and whether the existing surface needs to come up first. Use these as a sanity check when you build your own rates, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Site measure and detailed quote | R0 - R2,975 |
| Standard brick paving (per sqm) | R744 - R1,405 / sqm |
| Cobble or clay brick paving (per sqm) | R1,240 - R2,396 / sqm |
| Permeable paving (per sqm) | R1,405 - R2,727 / sqm |
| Pressed concrete paving (per sqm) | R909 - R1,818 / sqm |
| Excavation and base prep (per sqm) | R297 - R628 / sqm |
| Edge restraint (per metre) | R198 - R463 / m |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Residential driveway quotes are usually given free locally. A detailed commercial take-off with levels, falls, and kerb details can take a full day, and many paving contractors charge R1,983 to R4,628 for a properly itemised quote, refundable against the contract. It weeds out browsers.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per-square-metre pricing for clean, open areas with known base depth. Use fixed or provisional lines for old surface removal, tree root cutting, soft spots under the existing driveway, and any drainage adjustments. Be clear on the quote about which lines are measured and which are provisional.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised quote for a typical domestic driveway looks like. Notice how break-out, base, pavers, edges, and jointing are all separate lines. Clients stop comparing on a single lump sum because they can see what each part costs.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Domestic driveway, 85 sqm standard brick paving
Break out and remove old concrete driveway
Excavation to 200mm below finished level
Crusher run base, 150mm compacted
Bedding sand, 30mm screeded
60mm brick pavers, standard grey
Paver install labour
Concrete edge restraint
Jointing sand and compaction
Site clean and waste removal
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Break out and remove old concrete driveway | 85 | R364 / sqm | R30,905 |
| Excavation to 200mm below finished level | 85 | R231 / sqm | R19,667 |
| Crusher run base, 150mm compacted | 85 | R297 / sqm | R25,286 |
| Bedding sand, 30mm screeded | 85 | R116 / sqm | R9,834 |
| 60mm brick pavers, standard grey | 92 | R364 / sqm | R33,451 |
| Paver install labour | 85 | R264 / sqm | R22,477 |
| Concrete edge restraint | 38 | R297 / m | R11,304 |
| Jointing sand and compaction | 85 | R66 / sqm | R5,619 |
| Site clean and waste removal | 1 | R5,289 | R5,289 |
| Subtotal | R163,832 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R16,378 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R180,210 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Old surface break-out and disposal, a wastage allowance on pavers for cuts, edge restraint per metre, jointing sand and compaction, tree root cutting if present, and a site clean line. Put these on your template once and stop losing them out of your margin.
Peer snapshot
How Paving Contractors actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Paving Contractors on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
16
Quotes sent per month
48%
Average quote acceptance
4 min
Median time to send quote
R180,210
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Paving Contractor jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of paving contractors. The same traps come up every time: free base prep, missed edges, and standing water complaints. Fix these and your driveways stop turning into warranty callbacks.
Mistake: Quoting paver area exactly with no wastage
Better: Add 5 to 10 percent to the paver quantity for cuts, more for patterns like herringbone or circles. State the wastage on the quote so the client isn't surprised when the pallet count is higher than the driveway area.
Mistake: Not itemising base depth
Better: A 75mm base and a 200mm base are different jobs at different prices. State the compacted base depth on the quote. Clients who don't see the base on paper assume it's the same everywhere.
Mistake: Forgetting edge restraint
Better: Without a concrete haunch or kerb, pavers creep and fail in 18 months. Edge restraint must be on every paving quote as a priced line, never free. Measure the perimeter and price per metre.
Mistake: No line for old surface removal
Better: Breaking out an old concrete driveway is real plant hire and skip cost. Quote it per square metre separately from the new paving so the client sees both sides of the job.
Mistake: Ignoring falls and drainage
Better: A driveway without falls and channel drains ends up flooding the garage. Add a line for channel drain or soakaway where needed, and state the fall (typically 1 in 60 to 1 in 80) on the quote.
Mistake: Not specifying paver thickness and grade
Better: 50mm, 60mm, and 80mm pavers are different products for different loads. Put the thickness and manufacturer on the quote so the client can't compare against a thinner non-vehicular paver at a cheaper rate.
Mistake: No validity period on the quote
Better: Paver, cement, and crusher run prices move. Put a 30 day validity on every quote and state that material costs beyond that date are subject to re-quote. It protects you from a client taking three months to decide.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote paving jobs
Walk the driveway or patio with a tape and a spirit level before pricing. Measure the area in square metres, walk the perimeter for edge restraint linear metres, and check access for the dumper, skid steer, or plate compactor because tight gates change the labour plan. Look at the existing surface: old concrete needs break-out and skip hire, tarmac is plant and disposal, and a previously-paved area means lifting and sorting. Check fall direction to the drain or street because every paved area needs a minimum 1 in 80 fall, 1 in 60 in heavy-rain areas. Note any trees with roots crossing the line, because root cutting is a provisional. Decide paver thickness: 50mm for foot traffic, 60mm for cars, 80mm for commercial vehicles.
Itemise old surface break-out, excavation, crusher run base, bedding sand, paver supply, install labour, edge restraint, and jointing as separate lines. State compacted base depth on the quote (150mm for a car driveway, 200mm to 250mm for caravans or commercial access) because clients who do not see the base on paper assume it is the same everywhere. Add 5 to 8 percent paver wastage for straight lays, 10 to 15 percent for herringbone or diagonal, up to 20 percent for circular or radius layouts. Price edge restraint per linear metre of perimeter (concrete haunch or PCC kerb) on every job including small patios, because that is the single biggest cause of premature paving failure. Specify paver thickness, manufacturer, and finish in the description so the client cannot compare against a thinner non-vehicular paver.
Put a 30 day validity on every paving quote because paver, cement, and crusher run prices shift with commodity indexes and freight, and protecting the rate means a client taking three months to decide has to come back for a re-quote. State the fall direction and drainage method (channel drain, soakaway, fall to street) on the quote so standing-water disputes get closed before they start. For driveway jobs over $ 5,000 take a 30 to 40 percent deposit to cover pavers, crusher run, and plate hire, then a progress payment at base-compacted stage and the balance on completion. Add a provisional for tree root cutting or soft spots in the sub-base, photographed and signed off before you bring extra crusher run.
Send the quote from the site before you drive off. Homeowners planning a new driveway invite three or four paving contractors in the same weekend, and the itemised PDF that lands on WhatsApp first with a clear base-depth line and edge restraint per metre almost always wins. Build the quote on your phone while you are still pacing the perimeter, share it as a WhatsApp link, and follow up after two days. When the client asks to extend the patio mid-job or upgrade from standard grey to clay brick, duplicate the quote in QuoteGenio, update the paver line, and reissue as a variation so the extra square metres are signed off in writing before you lay another string line.
FAQ
Common questions from paving contractors
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Set the unit to square metres, enter the driveway or patio area once, and QuoteGenio multiplies the rate automatically. You can mix per sqm lines with per metre lines for edging on the same quote.
Yes. Once your quote is built, share it as a secure link via WhatsApp. Your client opens a professional branded document on their phone straight away.
Yes. As you add line items and quantities, subtotals, VAT, and grand totals update in real time. No calculator, no spreadsheet, no arithmetic errors on a 300 sqm yard.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your client can open it on their phone and accept online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote into an invoice with one click. All the line items carry over, so there's no double entry.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
For a domestic driveway taking car weight, 150mm of compacted crusher run on firm subgrade is a solid standard. For heavy vehicle access (caravans, delivery trucks, commercial yards) go to 200mm to 250mm. Quote the compacted depth clearly on the paving line so the client understands why a thicker base costs more.
5 to 8 percent for straight-lay patterns on square driveways, 10 to 15 percent for herringbone or diagonal, up to 20 percent for circular or radius layouts. State the wastage assumption on the quote so the pallet count makes sense to the client.
Yes, always. Without a concrete haunch, PCC kerb, or fixed edge, the pavers will creep and the joint sand will migrate. Quote edge restraint per linear metre of perimeter on every job, even small patios. It's the single biggest cause of premature paving failure.
Every paved area needs a minimum 1 in 80 fall to drain, 1 in 60 for areas prone to heavy rain. Where pavers run against a wall or into a garage, add a channel drain line. Put the fall direction and drainage method on the quote so the client doesn't blame you later for standing water.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Pricing benchmark
What do paving contractors charge in 2026?
Hourly rates by region, common job prices, a worked sample quote, and the FAQs customers actually ask. The complete pricing reference for paving contractors.
Typical hourly
$45-$100/hr
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Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Security quotes with six or seven cameras and zones used to be a nightmare. The line item structure handles it easily and clients understand exactly what they are getting."
Seán McKenna
CCTV Installer · Cork
"Keeping track of who has paid and who has not used to be a mess. Now I can see everything at a glance and follow up properly."
Jason Petersen
Handyman · Port Elizabeth
"Quoting per head with add-ons for staffing and equipment is straightforward. Clients can see exactly what they are paying for and they stop haggling on the total."
Amira Hassan
Caterer · Dubai
Guides
Guides for Paving Contractors
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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