A paving blocks business in Tanzania can start with about TSh 5 to 15 million (roughly USD 1,900 to 5,800) for a vibrating table, plastic or rubber moulds, a mixer and a curing yard, or TSh 20 to 80 million and more for a hydraulic machine that produces at scale. Using 2026 example prices, making one m² of 60 mm pavers costs about TSh 12,000 to 20,000, and pavers sell for TSh 18,000 to 30,000 per m², or more when you also lay them. The business pays best when you sell pavers and installation together, because most customers want a finished driveway, not a pile of blocks.
Where are pavers used?
- Driveways and parking at homes.
- Compounds of homes, hotels, schools and churches.
- Fuel stations, supermarkets and office car parks.
- Footpaths and estate roads for councils and developers.
Pavers are popular because water drains through the joints, damaged areas can be lifted and relaid, and they look good. For other surface options, read driveway and access road construction.
Two ways to produce pavers
| Method | Capital (example) | Output per day | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrating table and moulds | TSh 5 to 15 million | 30 to 80 m² | Very good if the mix is right, bright colours |
| Hydraulic or egg-laying machine | TSh 20 to 80 million or more | 150 to 600 m² | Strong, uniform dimensions, dry pressed concrete |
Most producers start with a vibrating table because the capital is low and the colour finish is excellent, then buy a press once they win larger contracts.
Mix and thickness
- Thickness: 60 mm for footpaths and home compounds; 80 mm for car parks and driveways; 100 mm for heavy vehicle areas.
- Mix: commonly 1 cement to 3 or 4 parts sand and fine aggregate, with little water. Pressed pavers use a drier mix.
- Colour: iron oxide pigments give red, brown, yellow and black, added at a small percentage of the cement weight. Good colour raises your selling price.
- Admixtures: some producers use a plasticiser to reduce water and raise strength.
- Curing: leave pavers in moulds for a day, then keep them wet or covered for at least 7 days. Do not sell pavers younger than 14 days. See curing concrete.
Cost to produce one m² (example, 60 mm)
| Item | Example per m² |
|---|---|
| Cement (about half to one bag) | TSh 8,000 to 12,000 |
| Sand and fine aggregate | TSh 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Pigment (if used) | TSh 500 to 2,000 |
| Labour | TSh 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Power, mould wear, breakages | TSh 500 to 1,500 |
| Total | TSh 12,000 to 20,000 |
An example only. Price it with your own mix and local material costs.
Installation: where the extra profit is
Most customers want a finished surface. Laying includes:
- Excavating and removing soft soil.
- Placing and compacting a base of murram or hardcore with a plate compactor.
- Fixing concrete kerbs along the edges.
- Screeding a sand bedding layer.
- Laying pavers in the chosen pattern.
- Compacting again and brushing fine sand into the joints.
- Setting falls so rainwater runs to a drain. See stormwater drainage for homes.
Laying alone often costs TSh 8,000 to 20,000 per m², depending on excavation and base material. The most common installer mistake is skipping proper base compaction; the pavers sink after the first heavy rain and the customer never calls you again.
Other concrete products to add
- Kerbs for driveways and estate roads.
- Septic and latrine rings.
- Concrete fence posts.
- Ventilation blocks and decorative wall units.
- Small drain covers.
They use the same mix and yard and sell to the same customers.
Finding customers
- Home and hotel contractors, landscapers and fundis.
- Homeowners finishing their houses: advertise in new residential areas.
- Council and institutional tenders for footpaths and car parks.
- Instagram, Facebook and TikTok: before-and-after laying videos perform very well.
Example month for a small paver yard
Picture a yard with two vibrating tables and a crew of five:
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Production | 1,000 m² a month |
| Production cost (TSh 16,000 per m²) | TSh 16 million |
| Sales (900 m² at TSh 24,000) | TSh 21.6 million |
| Laying jobs (500 m² at TSh 12,000) | TSh 6 million |
| Laying crew, transport, base material | TSh 3.5 to 4.5 million |
| Profit before tax (example) | TSh 6 to 8 million |
An example only. Unsold stock is cash sitting in the yard, so produce to orders and to the season.
How to grow the business
Most paver businesses grow in a similar way. They start with home driveways and compounds, where word of mouth travels fast. Then they win repeat work from two or three contractors and landscapers, which smooths out the slow months. With steady orders they invest in a hydraulic press, a second laying crew and a plate compactor of their own, and start bidding for estate roads, school compounds and car parks. At each step, keep separate records for production and installation, so you know which side of the business is actually making money.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers are in one m²?
For rectangular pavers of about 200 x 100 mm, roughly 50 per m². Other shapes differ.
Are 60 mm pavers strong enough for cars?
For family cars on a well-compacted base, they can be. For commercial car parks and heavier vehicles, use 80 mm or more.
Why do pavers lose their colour?
Too little or poor-quality pigment, or poor curing. All coloured pavers fade slowly in strong sun; good pigment fades much more slowly.
How much space does a paver yard need?
With vibrating tables, about 300 to 600 m² is enough to start, including shade for curing and space for stock.
Need a driveway or car park?
Vika Construction builds internal roads, driveways and car parks across Tanzania. Contact us. Kwa Kiswahili, soma biashara ya pavers.
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