How Much Does Interlock Cost in Hamilton? (2026)

What does interlock cost per square foot?

Interlock is almost always priced by the square foot of finished paved surface. That single number bundles a lot of work most homeowners never see: excavation, hauling away soil, geotextile where the ground needs it, the compacted granular base, the screeded bedding layer, the pavers themselves, cuts, borders, edge restraint, joint sand, final compaction and cleanup. The table below shows the market ranges we use for planning conversations. They describe Ontario installed work in general, not a price list from Antoine Landscape Contractors.

Driveways and patios share the same range, but for different reasons. A driveway needs a deeper base and thicker pavers to carry vehicles, while a patio often carries more design: larger slabs, borders, inlays, curves and transitions to steps or a deck. Walkways sit lower because they are narrower pedestrian surfaces with a shallower base. Natural stone and porcelain sit higher because the material costs more and takes more careful cutting and setting.

Typical Ontario installed ranges (2026); your exact price comes from an on-site quote.

What would a 400, 600 or 800 sq ft project cost?

The arithmetic is deliberately simple so you can repeat it for your own measurements. For a driveway: 400 sq ft works out to 400 × $25 = $10,000 up to 400 × $45 = $18,000. At 600 sq ft it is 600 × $25 = $15,000 up to 600 × $45 = $27,000. At 800 sq ft it is 800 × $25 = $20,000 up to 800 × $45 = $36,000.

A walkway at the same sizes would be 400 × $20 = $8,000 up to 400 × $35 = $14,000, and so on up the table. A natural stone or porcelain patio of 600 sq ft is 600 × $35 = $21,000 up to 600 × $55 = $33,000. For reference, a typical two-car driveway is often somewhere in the 400–800 sq ft band, while a front walk is usually far smaller, which is why walkway totals rarely look like the larger rows below.

These totals are a starting bracket for the paved surface only. They are not a quote and they do not include the items that we price after seeing the site, such as removing an old asphalt or concrete surface, building steps, retaining walls, lighting, or correcting a drainage problem.

Typical Ontario installed ranges (2026); your exact price comes from an on-site quote.

How can I estimate my own interlock budget?

Measure the length and width of each area you want paved, multiply them, and add the pieces together. Enter the total below and pick the project type. The planner applies the same ranges as the tables, so it gives you a planning bracket you can bring to a site visit, not a final number.

What moves an interlock price up or down?

Two driveways with the same footprint can land at opposite ends of the range. The biggest swings come from what is underneath, what has to be removed first and how hard it is to get material in and out.

• Area: more square footage means more material, but fixed costs like mobilization are spread over more surface
• Pattern and borders: herringbone, borders, inlays and curves add cutting time compared with a straight running bond
• Paver line: a basic tumbled paver and a premium large-format or textured slab can sit at opposite ends of the range
• Base depth: vehicle areas typically need 8–12 in of compacted base; pedestrian areas typically need 6–8 in
• Removal of an old surface: tearing out and disposing of asphalt, concrete or failed pavers is quoted on site
• Access: narrow side yards, no machine access or long carries slow excavation and base installation
• Slopes: grade changes can call for steps, landings or a low retaining wall to hold the surface level
• Drainage: downspouts, low spots or water heading toward the house need to be solved before paving
• Steps and walls: priced as their own scope because they involve different materials and structure

Are there Hamilton-specific factors?

Hamilton has a wide mix of housing. Older lower-city homes often have narrow lots and tight side yards, which can mean smaller machines and more hand work. Parts of the city sit on clay soils, which hold water and move with frost, so we pay close attention to excavation depth, geotextile and slope. Homes near the Niagara Escarpment can have real grade changes that turn a flat patio idea into a stepped design.

If your project widens a driveway or changes the approach at the street, approval requirements apply before any work starts. That is covered in detail in our driveway widening guide. Confirm current requirements with your municipality.

How should I compare interlock quotes?

A low number on one line can hide a thin base or missing steps that show up a few winters later as sinking and heaving. The best way to compare is to put each quote side by side and check whether the same scope is written down. If a detail is missing, ask for it in writing before you sign.

• Base depth in writing, separately for driveway and pedestrian areas
• Compaction in lifts, rather than one thick layer compacted only at the top
• Geotextile fabric where the soil calls for it, especially on clay
• Edge restraint type and where it will be installed
• Polymeric sand or the specified joint material, and who handles haze cleanup
• Excavation depth, soil disposal and removal of any existing surface
• Slope and drainage plan, including where downspouts will discharge
• Ontario One Call locates before digging and responsibility for any required approvals
• Final cleanup and a walkthrough at the end

Where does the money actually go?

It is tempting to think of an interlock quote as mostly pavers. In practice, the parts you never see after the job — digging out, hauling soil, placing and compacting the base, and grading for water — take a large share of the effort. That is also where shortcuts are easiest to hide. A contractor who excavates less, installs a thinner base or skips compaction in lifts can quote less, but the difference usually shows up as ruts in the tire tracks or a low spot by the garage door.

Surface choices are where you can steer the budget with the least risk. A simpler pattern, a single border instead of a double, or a standard paver line instead of a premium slab can move the number without touching the structure underneath. We would rather adjust the look than the base.

Does timing affect interlock cost?

Interlock is built in the frost-free part of the year, which in Hamilton and Halton usually means spring through late fall. Booking early gives more flexibility on scheduling, and it leaves time for any approvals a driveway widening needs. We do not use seasonal discounts or inflated urgency pricing; the quote reflects the scope and the site.

Frequently asked questions

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