Granite Paving & Setts: The Complete UK Guide
Granite is the hardest natural stone you can lay outdoors — dense, frost-proof and good for 50+ years with almost no maintenance. It comes in two formats: large-format paving slabs (900×600, 20mm) from £27/m², best for patios and paths; and setts and cobbles (50–100mm thick) from around £55/m², best for driveways, edging and borders. Both are silver-grey with a flamed finish that gives natural grip in the wet. Slabs for the field, setts for the traffic — many projects use both.
Granite is the long-term choice: harder than sandstone, denser than limestone, and built to shrug off decades of traffic, frost and weather without losing its colour or grip. This guide covers both formats — paving slabs and setts — what each is for, live pricing, and how they work together on a project.
What is granite paving?
Granite is an igneous stone — formed under heat and pressure — which makes it exceptionally hard and non-porous. That density is why it resists staining, cracking and frost better than any other natural paving, and why it's the go-to for driveways and high-traffic areas. Our granite paving is a cool silver-grey with subtle mineral flecks that catch the light.
Every slab has a flamed finish — a heat treatment that opens the stone's surface texture to create natural slip resistance in wet weather, without the stone ever needing a coating. The 20mm, 900×600 large format lays fast with minimal jointing and suits both modern and traditional gardens.
Granite paving slabs vs granite setts
Granite comes in two formats, and most projects use one or both:
| Feature | Paving slabs | Setts & cobbles |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 900×600, 20mm large format | 200×100 setts / 100×100 cobbles, 50–100mm |
| Best for | Patios, paths, pool surrounds | Driveways, edging, borders |
| Finish | Flamed | Flamed or handcut |
| Lifespan | 50+ years | 50+ years |
| From | £27/m² | £55/m² |
The quick rule: use granite paving slabs for the patio field (from £27/m²), and granite setts for driveways, borders and edging (from around £55/m²). A common, cost-effective combination is a porcelain or granite slab field with a granite sett border.
Why granite for driveways?
Granite's compressive strength takes the weight of vehicles without cracking. For standard car driveways, 50mm setts are sufficient; 100mm is used for heavier or commercial traffic. See the full driveway paving range.
Because granite is near-impermeable, it shrugs off the oil and fuel staining that would mark more porous sandstone on a driveway.
The flamed finish gives natural slip resistance — important on a sloped driveway or in a British winter.
Granite outlasts sandstone (typically 20+ years) roughly two-to-one, holds its colour, and needs little more than an occasional wash.
Granite pricing
All prices include VAT and free UK mainland delivery:
- Silver grey granite paving slabs, flamed 900×600 20mm — from £27/m²
- Silver grey granite cobbles (100×100mm) — from £55.45/m²
- Silver grey granite setts (200×100mm) — from £57.66/m²
- Black granite cobbles — from £61/m²
Granite setts sit at roughly double the slab price because each unit uses far more stone per square metre and takes more processing. Natural-split is the keenest finish; bush-hammered the dearest. For a full breakdown, see our granite setts price guide.
How to lay granite
Granite slabs go down like any other natural stone — a full mortar bed over a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, with the back of each slab primed and laid wet-to-wet. Setts on a driveway need a deeper base (200–250mm compacted MOT Type 1), a full mortar bed, edge restraints installed first, and rigid mortared joints for vehicle areas.
Driveways live or die by the base and the edges. Granite itself won't fail under a car — shallow sub-base, spot-bedding, or missing edge restraints will. Lay to a fall of at least 1:60 away from the house for drainage. For the step-by-step, see our guide on how to lay granite setts.
Explore granite paving & setts
Silver-grey flamed granite — slabs from £27/m², setts from £55/m². VAT included and free UK delivery.
Browse Granite Paving Order SamplesFrequently asked questions
Is granite good for driveways?
Yes — granite is one of the best materials for driveways. It handles heavy vehicle loading without cracking, resists oil and fuel staining, and lasts 50+ years. 50mm-thick setts suit standard car driveways; 100mm is used for heavier or commercial traffic.
How much does granite paving cost?
Granite paving slabs start from £27/m² (silver grey flamed 900×600). Granite setts and cobbles are priced separately, from around £55/m² for silver grey, up to £61/m² for black. All prices include VAT and free UK delivery.
Is granite better than sandstone?
Granite is harder, denser and longer-lasting — a 50+ year lifespan against sandstone's typical 20+ — and better suited to driveways and high-traffic areas. Sandstone offers warmer, more varied colours at a lower price. Granite is the choice when durability matters most.
Does granite paving need sealing?
Rarely. Granite's very low porosity means it resists staining and moisture without sealing, unlike sandstone and limestone. An occasional wash is all most granite paving needs.
Is flamed granite slippery when wet?
No — the flamed finish is specifically a slip-resistant surface treatment that opens the stone's texture for grip, making it well suited to driveways, steps and wet British weather.
