Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Umar Farooq
Irregular pavers are paving units with random, non-rectangular outlines, laid to look like a flagstone patio. They come in two very different forms: real irregular flagstone, which is split from rock and varies in thickness, and irregular concrete pavers, which are molded to a uniform thickness in a small set of shapes that fit together. Pick concrete if you want to dry-lay on sand and gravel like any paver patio. Pick real stone if you want every piece to be different and are prepared to set each one by hand. The black mold on pavers guide covers this in more depth.
Two products sold as irregular pavers
| Irregular flagstone (natural) | Irregular concrete pavers (flagstone look) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Sandstone, bluestone, limestone, quartzite | Molded concrete |
| Thickness | Varies piece to piece, sold as "nominal" | Uniform, typically 2 3/8 in |
| Shapes | Every piece unique | A set of a few shapes that repeat |
| Color | Through the stone | Through the concrete, often blended on the face |
| Laid on | Sand and gravel (thick stone) or mortar on a slab (thin stone) | Sand and gravel, like any paver |
| Repair | Find a stone that fits the hole | Lift and relay the same unit |
The natural version is covered properly in our flagstones guide. The rest of this article is about the fakes, because that is where most of the buying mistakes happen.
How pavers that look like flagstone fake it
Concrete flagstone pavers borrow three tricks from the real thing:
- Multiple shapes per pallet. Instead of one rectangle, you get a small family of angular shapes that interlock in several orientations.
- False joints. Grooves molded into the face make one large unit look like two or three smaller stones. Belgard describes its Mega-Arbel paver as giving "the look of natural flagstone with irregular shapes and false joints."
- Face texture and color blends. Cleft-style texture molded into the top, and two or three tones mixed so no two units look quite alike.
Stamped concrete and flagstone-print porcelain chase the same look, but only the molded concrete version installs like a paver.
Irregular concrete pavers vs real flagstone on cost and install
On price, the cost guides I read agree on the direction, not the exact numbers. Designing Idea's pavers vs flagstone comparison quotes flagstone at about $15 to $22 per square foot installed and pavers at $10 to $25. Core Outdoor's paver or flagstone patio note says a paver patio costs about 40 percent less. Most of the saving is labour: flagstone gets fitted, trimmed and levelled one stone at a time.
The bigger difference is thickness. Here is my opinion on it: for a dry-laid patio, flagstone-look concrete is the safer choice than thin real flagstone. A screed rail can only make a flat bed of sand. Uniform 2 3/8-inch units sit on that bed at one height and get compacted together. Natural flagging that runs 1 to 2 inches thick has to be propped up or dug down stone by stone, and thin pieces on sand crack when a corner is unsupported. Real flagstone is lovely, but it either wants to be thick or wants a concrete slab under it. We have a separate page on pavers vs flagstone patio if you need the specifics.
Laying irregular pavers without an obvious repeat
The base is the same as any patio: at least 4 inches of compacted crushed stone for foot traffic on well-drained soil, then an inch of loose, screeded concrete sand (ICPI Tech Spec 2). What changes is the laying.
- Mix from several pallets and from every shape in the set, the way the manufacturer's pattern sheet shows. Pulling all of one shape, then all of the next, prints a stripe.
- Rotate the units. Most irregular sets fit in more than one orientation. Turning every third or fourth piece stops the eye from finding the module.
- Stand back every few rows. A repeat you can't see from your knees jumps out from the back door. If three identical units line up, pull one and rotate it.
- Expect wider, uneven joints. Check that your joint sand or polymeric sand covers the widest gap, not the typical one.
- Plan the perimeter cuts. Irregular edges mean more cuts than a rectangle. Edge restraint goes tight against the cut edge, spiked into the base.
Driveway use depends on the product. Some flagstone-look units are rated for cars and many aren't; Mega-Arbel, for example, isn't listed for driveways. Check the manufacturer's page before you buy.
Where fake flagstone gives itself away
- The repeat, if it was laid carelessly.
- Cut edges, which show the concrete's grey core on some cheaper units.
- Tumbled or rounded arrises. Real split flagging has crisp edges; molded units have softer ones.
From a standing height, a well-laid set of imitation flagstone pavers fools most visitors. From a kneeling height, nothing fools a stone mason.
If you're choosing between flagstone-look and other formats, our paver shapes guide lays out the rest of the family.
Buy uniform thickness, lay it random
For most dry-laid patios and walks, irregular concrete pavers give the flagstone look with the build method and repairs of an ordinary paver patio, at a lower installed cost. Choose real irregular flagstone when you want genuine stone and either buy it thick or set it on a slab. Either way, the pattern only works if you lay it to look random, which, oddly enough, takes a plan.
FAQ
What are irregular pavers?
Paving units with random, angular outlines that imitate flagstone. They are either natural irregular flagstone split from rock or molded concrete pavers made in a set of shapes that fit together.
Are irregular concrete pavers cheaper than flagstone?
Usually. Cost guides put installed flagstone in the mid-teens to low twenties per square foot, and one says a paver patio costs about 40 percent less. Most of the saving is in labour, because concrete units are uniform and quicker to set.
Can irregular pavers be laid on sand?
Concrete irregular pavers, yes, on a compacted gravel base with 1 inch of screeded sand. Natural flagstone can be laid on sand only if it is thick; thin flagstone belongs on a concrete slab with mortar.
Can you use flagstone-look pavers on a driveway?
Only if the manufacturer rates that product for vehicles. Many flagstone-look units are patio products. Check the spec page for driveway or vehicular use before buying.
