Both concrete pavers and patio tiles can transform a tired patio for a fraction of a full rebuild. But "cheaper" depends on your square footage, who lays it, and whether your winters freeze — and the honest answer flips depending on those three things.
Use the calculator below to price your exact patio both ways, then read on for when each one genuinely wins.
What You're Actually Choosing Between
These two get lumped together because they both go over a tired patio, but they solve the problem differently. Concrete pavers are individual units set into a compacted gravel-and-sand base — a permanent, ground-up surface. Patio tiles sit on top of an existing slab or a lighter base, and range from snap-together composite deck tiles to porcelain and natural stone.
Concrete Pavers
A ground-up permanent surfacePatio Tiles
A surface layer, often over a slabCost, Honestly
Which One Is Actually Cheaper?
This is the whole reason most people land here, and the honest answer is it depends on who lays it. The gap between DIY and hired labour is bigger than the gap between the two materials.
For a DIY project, snap-together composite deck tiles are usually the cheapest way to cover a slab, because they skip the base prep entirely — you're laying them straight over existing concrete. Pavers pull ahead only when you factor in decades of no-crack durability. Once you hire a pro, the two converge: pavers are labour-heavy but so is setting porcelain properly, and the installed prices land close.
The calculator above prices your exact square footage both ways. As a rule of thumb, on a 200 sq ft patio you're looking at roughly $600–$1,400 for DIY deck tiles, $800–$1,600 for DIY pavers, and $2,000–$3,600 for either done professionally. The $200 slab makeover route sits below all of these if you're not ready to re-surface at all.
Head to Head
How They Score on What Matters
| Factor | Concrete Pavers | Patio Tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest DIY cost | Good | Best |
| Long-term durability | Best | Varies |
| Freeze-thaw resistance | Best | Material-dependent |
| Ease of DIY install | Hard | Easy |
| Rental / removable | No | Deck tiles: yes |
| Repairability | Simple | Deck tiles only |
| Design range | Good | Widest |
| Resale value add | Highest | Moderate |
The Decision
Which Should You Pick?
- You want a permanent surface that adds resale value
- Your winters freeze and thaw — pavers won't crack from it
- You're comfortable with base prep, or hiring it out
- You want a repair to mean lifting one unit, not re-doing a slab
- You already have a sound concrete slab to cover
- You want a weekend DIY with no digging or compacting
- You rent, or might want to take it up later (deck tiles)
- You want the widest range of looks — stone, porcelain, wood-tone
Common Questions
Pavers vs Tiles, Answered
Are pavers or tiles cheaper for a patio?
Can you lay patio tiles over a concrete slab?
Do pavers crack like concrete?
Which lasts longer, pavers or tiles?
Are deck tiles good in cold climates?
Which adds more value to my home?
More Free Tools
Keep Planning Your Patio
Daniel Carter covers the practical side of home improvement at The Dailey House — drainage fixes, DIY yard projects, patio makeovers, and the kind of weekend builds that actually get finished. If there's a smarter or cheaper way to do it, he's tested it.