If you’re looking for a great way to really spruce up and perfect your walkway, you can use pavers to enhance the look, make it smooth, and really make your space stand out. Pavers allow you to design a walkway or even just a decorative path with your own preferences and taste.

There are a ton of different options out there when it comes to using pavers. You can choose colors, shapes, and styles that meet the design that you are looking for. You can always gather some inspiration from the sellers or even from places like Pinterest and landscaping boards as well.

How do you navigate the types of pavers to choose from? The best thing you can do is review the different types of pavers out there and choose the look and style that stands out to you.

In this guide, we will share with you several different types of pavers with a complete overview. Hopefully, this guide will help you be able to take a look at the different options and figure out which one will work best for your needs. You can choose based on a specific design, your style preference, or just something that really catches your eye. It’s totally up to you!

What Exactly is a Paver?

Pavers are small, decorate slabs of hard material. They are almost always used for outdoor sprucing such as to driveways, walkways, gardens, patios, fire pits, and more. There are so many different options.

These slabs of material can also be made from a lot of different types of materials. They might be made from stone, concrete, porcelain, brick, or even something else that could be strong and sturdy.

Basically, they should be made from a material that will be fine outdoors in the weather and elements. The materials should be strong because they are often used as a foundation or a walking place. In some cases, they might even be used for a driveway. You get the need for strength.

They are not usually super fancy, although you can find some pretty creative options out there. The majority of the time, they are solid, plain material. They can come in color varieties. Here’s the thing. While they are simple, they still look very nice. Some of them might even interlock together like puzzle pieces for a unique look.

8 Types of Pavers

Let’s take a walk (no pun intended!) through some different paver options.

1. Brick Pavers

Most brick pavers are made out of clay. They usually are red or the color of clay. If you’ve ever seen a brick road or a brick pathway, this is the same type of style you are going to get with brick pavers.

Bricks have always been popular for this kind of thing so that’s nothing new here. It’s a classic and reliable option. You will set brick pavers with mortar and maybe some sand as well to get a level foundation. How you lay them is totally up to you.

Brick pavers don’t always just come in rectangles like standard bricks. You can find brick pavers in different styles and now you can also find them in different colors. You don’t have to have that brick red color to use brick pavers.

The best part is that you can also find them in different shapes and you can place them in a variety of ways or lay them out in a pattern. It’s completely up to you!

The downside to brick pavers is that you have to maintain them properly in order to be sure they don’t fall apart or chip and crumble.

2. Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers are probably one of the most common materials that you will find out there. They are simple and easy to come up with. They typically are sturdy, affordable, and fairly easy to place.

Concrete pavers are popular for their versatility but also because they are simply reliable. Much like any other type of paver out there, they come in different sizes, styles, and colors. Concrete pavers are used for flooring, driveways, roads, and even gardening paths.

One of the best things is these are easy to install. They can be cut and placed easily and they will typically last for a long time. They don’t require as much maintenance as some types of pavers but you do need to take care of them to make them last.

Ultimately, these are affordable and easy to work with so they are one of the most popular pavers solutions. Since the materials are lower cost, you need to seal them and care for them to make them last as long as possible.

3. Marble Pavers

Marble pavers are absolutely stunning. They are also incredibly durable. On the downside, they tend to be a bit expensive and they most definitely can be a little bit high maintenance.

If you’re not familiar with marble, it’s made from limestone. However, the limestone goes through a very specific process that uses high heat combined with pressure. These are used most often for decorative purposes but they can be used for walkways and driveways as well.

Your landscape area outdoors will be perfect with these. It’s also going to have an elegant appeal. Marble always adds a touch of elegance.

Marble pavers look smooth and sleek. Because of the process to create them, they are extremely sturdy and durable. They do get very hot in the summertime. Marble pavers can also scratch easily or even discolor and wear down so you will need to take steady care of them to maintain them.

4. Flagstone Pavers

Flagstone is very nice with a bit of a Southwest look to it. Although if Southwest isn’t your style, you can make them fit with just about any style. They come in different colors and have a stone look to them. Because each paver is incredibly unique, it makes your design stand out every single time.

These are most popular with patios and walkways but they can be used in different ways as well. These are fairly thin so you might have to be more careful about where you place them. For example, they might not be great in a driveway because they are more fragile.

In most cases, flagstone will be grays, reds, and browns. However, they do come in other colors as well.

Flagstone pavers can be pretty versatile because they come in tons of shapes and sizes. You can place them together in just about any pattern. They have a very natural appeal to them. The biggest downside to flagstone is that it can be a little bit pricy to acquire and to get laid down.

5. Cobblestone Pavers

Next up, we have cobblestone pavers. These are heavy and unique and made to look like a cobblestone path. Most of the time they are used for walkways or perhaps garden paths and decorative spaces.

These pavers are a combination of materials put together and then they look like they have cobbled stones on the top side of the piece. If you’ve ever looked at cobblestone pathways or roads, pavers are just portions that look much the same way.

They are extremely durable and reliable. That’s why they have been used for years for things like these. They look great and they last great. This is why they can be a great choice.

The best part about cobblestone pavers is you don’t have to worry about a ton of maintenance in order to keep them looking nice. They come in different colors, shapes, and styles. The downside though is that these can be pretty expensive and they take a lot of effort to get laid down initially.

6. Rubber Pavers

That’s right! Rubber pavers are totally a thing and they’re not bad at all. These are innovative and reliable. The best thing about these are they are often made from recycled materials so it’s an eco-friendly type of approach.

Rubber pavers are also a good solution if you want something that is going to be affordable and reliable. They look very nice and they are very durable. You don’t have to worry so much about people judging you for not having “real” pavers. They look great.

You do have to take a little bit of care when it comes to laying down the pavers. It’s important to make sure the area is dry and that the weather will be dry as well. Since they are rubber, they can absorb heat and water but it shouldn’t be a huge issue once you get them laid down.

Since they are made of rubber materials, they won’t split or crack as stone and concrete might. They might not look as sleek as stone or concrete but they are still a very nice option.

7. Travertine Pavers

Travertine pavers are fairly similar to marble comparison. They have that nice, elegant appearance that almost looks like slated stone. They are made from all-natural material so they can be very unique in style and appearance. They are also eco-friendly thanks to natural materials.

You see travertine a lot when it comes to decks and patios. That outdoor pool that has a very nice look around it could quite possibly be enhanced thanks to the travertine style. However, they can be used in other ways as well.

These are readily available and easy to find. They can be a bit on the expensive side. They are very durable if you’re willing to put in the effort to make them work. While they can be expensive, you will still find they are cheaper than some of the other options (like marble).

Travertine comes in different colors and styles. They don’t get nearly as hot as some materials. They can be sensitive to some things, particularly acids, so you have to be careful with the material.

8.    Plastic Pavers

Plastic pavers are another surprisingly great choice. Sometimes, they come from recycled plastic but they might also be made from real plastic as well. Plastic pavers are made by melting plastic and mixing it together with the soil. It might then be shaped in different ways.

It’s a unique process but it’s affordable and it makes a nice paver. If you use options that are made from recycled plastic, it’s an eco-friendly choice. It can reduce plastic waste so it’s a good use for plastic, depending on how it was made.

However, they can be a little bit pricy considering they are made of plastic. They also are not as durable as many of the other options out there.

We hope this guide to some of the most popular paver choices is helpful for you. Check out these common questions for some additional information as well.

What is the Most Affordable Type of Paver?

Concrete is one of the most affordable options when it comes to pavers. They are inexpensive to purchase and really easy to get laid down. If you maintain them properly, they will last a long time as well.

Can I Choose My Own Shape?

Yes, to some extent. Most pavers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. You can pretty much customize your look any way that you want to and it turns out great every time!

Can You Lay Pavers on Dirt?

For the best results with pavers, they usually lay better if you place some type of foundational base underneath them. Many people use sand or similar material before they lay pavers down.