How Much Do Travertine Pavers Cost?

Average Costs to Install Travertine Pavers

The travertine pavers prices in this table include materials and labor for a 300-square-foot project.

Travertine Paver Material Prices

Travertine pavers cost $4 to $11 per square foot. These natural stone tile types are available in three grades ranging from most expensive to least expensive:

• Premium/first-grade: Low filler

• Second/second-grade: Some filler

• Commercial/third-grade: More filler

If installation requires a subbase, the price is approximately $12 per cubic foot. Adding concrete averages $75 per cubic foot. Without a level foundation, your travertine pavers could crack or become disjointed over time.

Travertine is a popular choice not only for pavers but also for indoor flooring (as tiles) and for countertops. These prices are notably different from the cost to lay travertine pavers outside:

• Cost to install travertine flooring: $600–$3,200 for a 100-square-foot section of flooring

• Price of travertine countertops: $270–$5,000

Travertine Paver Installation Costs

On average, you will pay $50 to $70 an hour for travertine paver installation if you hire a paving professional. Some contractors may quote you a price per square foot, generally $7 to $12 on top of the actual travertine pavers cost per square foot.

Depending on the project, you may need to hire the following contractors:

• Masons: $40–$75 per hour

• Project laborers: $10–$20 per hour

• Concrete contractors: $50–$100 per hour

• Landscape architects: $70–$150 per hour

Travertine Paver Installation Costs by Application

Travertine paver installation costs can vary depending on the project. Walkways are the most affordable application, while travertine driveways have significantly higher price points.

Walkway

Because walkways are much smaller than patios and pool decks in terms of total square footage, a travertine paver walkway can be more affordable than the average project. For a 3-by-15-foot travertine walkway, you’ll spend roughly $500 to $1,025.

Patio

The average cost of a stone patio is $3,900 to $15,000. For a 300-square-foot patio made of travertine pavers, expect to spend between $3,300 and $6,600, fully installed. The price can go up significantly if you want an intricate pattern for your patio or need to remove existing landscaping.

Travertine Pool Deck Cost

Adding pavers around a pool to create a pool deck can be costly, as the pool's unique shape might lead to more wasted materials. Expect to spend on the higher end of the spectrum for both materials (around $11 per square foot) and labor (around $12 per square foot) for a travertine pool deck.

Because pool decks often involve unique design work, you may want to budget an additional 20% in labor and material rates, for a final travertine pool deck cost of roughly $28+ per square foot.

Driveway

Installing driveway pavers costs from $6,100 to $30,400. Much of this cost depends on the size of your driveway, both in length and width. Because driveways must support the weight of multi-ton cars, it’s crucial that the foundation for the travertine pavers is level, or else it could lead to cracking over time.

Travertine Paver Installation Cost Factors

While the square footage of your travertine paver project is the largest cost factor, the overall price of your project can also vary depending on the design, terrain, pattern complexity, and existing landscape.

Terrain

If your yard isn't level, it may be necessary to regrade the area where the pavers will go. Yard leveling costs from $1,000 to $3,200. Leveling out an area for a patio or walkway using basic slab excavation to create uniform depth can add $200 to $300 to the project.

Pattern Complexity

While installing a standard linear walkway may not require complicated cuts, accommodating something like a swimming pool's unique shape can drive up the cost of a pool deck done in travertine. Not only do custom shapes and patterns require more labor from the contractor, but they also lead to more wasted material.

Existing Landscape

The cost of removing an existing patio to make way for a new travertine patio could go as high as $2,000, depending on the size and material of that existing space. However, you can have travertine pavers laid over existing concrete patios and walkways as long as the concrete is in good condition.

If the patio is going in an existing yard space with no patio, you may instead need to budget for other landscaping costs, like the price of removing a tree that stands in the way of your new outdoor patio.

Costs to Install Travertine Pavers Yourself

Travertine pavers prices run from just $4 to $11 per square foot, which might make a DIY installation attractive. However, you’ll have to budget for more than just the cost of travertine pavers. For example, you’ll likely need to add the following equipment rental and material costs to your DIY budget:

• Plate compactor rental: $75–$100 per day

• Masonry saw rental: $80 per day

• Polymeric sand: $30–$50 per bag

The typical 300-square-foot paver installation takes three full days, meaning you’ll need to take advantage of a long weekend or miss some work to get it done. Not considering the cost of lost wages, a DIY 300-square-foot travertine paver installation would cost about $1,755 to $3,720, compared to the $3,300 to $6,600 you’d pay a professional.

DIY vs. Hire a Travertine Paver Pro

Homeowners can install travertine pavers as long as they have the appropriate tools, all of which are available to rent. But the benefit of hiring a local mason or a local paver installer is they have the skills to create a lifelong fit that’s also aesthetically balanced; plus, the work is difficult and can take several days. It’s still helpful to bring in a landscaping expert when doing a DIY travertine paver project to get tips on designing your patio or walkway.

FAQs

How do you install travertine pavers?

The basic steps for installing travertine pavers on your own include:

1. Clearing, cleaning, and compacting the soil where the pavers will go.

2. Creating a directional border using pavers.

3. Adding crushed limestone.

4. Laying the travertine.

5. Filling in the joints with polymeric sand.

What’s the best grade of travertine pavers?

Premium/first-grade is the most expensive grade of travertine pavers. This grade contains almost no filler and offers a perfect cut with uniform thickness. First-grade travertine pavers are the most versatile because they come available in a wide assortment of colors. In addition, they never contain fillable holes like you commonly see with second- or third-grade travertine pavers.

Is travertine stone better than concrete?

People praise travertine for its beauty and durability as a natural-stone option. It's considered a high-end option that can add value to a property. In addition to creating aesthetic appeal, travertine pavers stand up nicely against the weather. Concrete pavers come in various styles and finishes and cost much less than travertine pavers.

While concrete pavers can offer a budget-friendly alternative to travertine, they may not be as resilient against rain, snow, sleet, freezing, and other extreme weather conditions. It's wise to talk to a masonry professional to see which option is better based on your local climate.

Does travertine crack easily?

Travertine is a very durable material that does not crack easily. As both a paver and a tile, travertine is an ideal solution for outdoor and indoor flooring. Travertine pavers are thicker than travertine tiles and are thus even more resistant to cracking. Natural stone tile repair costs $300 to $850, so choosing a durable stone-like travertine is a wise investment.