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Paver calculator

Pavers = area × the maker's pavers per m² × (1 + wastage). Under them: about 30 mm of bedding sand on compacted road base, at least 75 mm for paths and 100 to 150 mm for driveways.

Your job

Area

Sides against the house or a slab need no edge restraint.

It's for

Pavers

Pavers per m² is the maker's figure for that size.

Pattern

Wastage allowance10%

Up to 5% for cuts on straight patterns, up to 10% for herringbone and breakages.

Colour

What goes underneath

30 mm of bedding sand screeded over the base. Road base at least 75 mm for paths, 100 to 150 mm for driveways, compacted in 50 mm layers; ordered as depth ÷ 0.9 to allow for compaction.

Optional

Ask your paving supplier. The greyed numbers are examples only and are never used in your result.

Sample patch: 488 pavers drawn of 8326.00 m3.50 m720 full, 112 cut13.0 m edge restraint50 mm pavers30 mm bedding sand75 mm compacted road base

Striped pavers are cut. The grey border is edge restraint; the hatched side is the wall. Below, the layers to scale.

Pavers to buy

874pavers

230 × 115 mm, including 10% wastage

Area

21.00m²

37.80 pavers per m²

Bedding sand

0.63m³

About 0.95 t at 30 mm

Road base

1.75m³

About 2.63 t, 75 mm compacted

Jointing sand

120kg

6 × 20 kg bags

Edge concrete

0.65m³

13.0 m of edge restraint

The working, with your numbers

  1. 1. Pavers21.00 m² × 37.80 × 1.10, rounded up= 874
  2. 2. Bedding sand21.00 × 0.030= 0.63 m³
  3. 3. Road base21.00 × 0.075 ÷ 0.9= 1.75 m³
  4. 4. Tonnessand × 1.5, road base × 1.5= 0.95 t + 2.63 t
  5. 5. Edge concrete(perimeter − against wall) 13.00 × 0.05= 0.65 m³
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The formula, in plain words

  1. 1Pavers = area × pavers per m² × (1 + wastage), rounded up. Pavers per m² is the maker's figure for that size, or 1 ÷ ((length + joint) × (width + joint)).
  2. 2Bedding sand m³ = area × bedding depth (about 30 mm, screeded loose).
  3. 3Road base m³ = area × compacted depth ÷ 0.9, which allows for compaction. Tonnes = m³ × 1.5.
  4. 4Jointing sand: about 5.7 kg per m² for brick-size pavers at 3 mm joints, falling to about 1.7 kg for 400 mm squares.
  5. 5Edge restraint = perimeter minus the sides against a wall or slab; concrete haunch about 0.05 m³ per metre.

Worked example

A 6 × 3.5 m patio against the house on one 6 m side, 230 × 115 mm pavers in herringbone with 3 mm joints, 10% wastage, 30 mm bedding sand on 75 mm road base.

  1. 1.Area 21 m² × 37.8 pavers per m² = 793.8, × 1.1 = 873.2, so 874 pavers.
  2. 2.Bedding sand: 21 × 0.03 = 0.63 m³ (about 0.95 t). Road base: 21 × 0.075 ÷ 0.9 = 1.75 m³ (about 2.6 t).
  3. 3.Jointing sand: 21 × 5.7 = about 120 kg, six 20 kg bags.
  4. 4.Edge restraint: 19 m perimeter − 6 m against the house = 13 m, 0.65 m³ of concrete.

Answer: 874 pavers, 0.63 m³ of bedding sand and 1.75 m³ of road base.

How to measure it

  • Measure the length and width of the area to be paved. Split odd shapes into rectangles.
  • Note how much of the edge runs against the house or an existing slab.
  • Check the paver size, and the pavers per m² on the product page if it's listed.
  • Decide paths or driveway: driveways need a deeper base and thicker pavers.

Where the numbers come from

Every default in the calculator is a number a supplier or manufacturer publishes. We list the source next to it so you can check.

WhatValueSource
230 × 115 mm pavers per m²37.8 per m²Austral Masonry, Camino paver product page (checked 2026-10-01)
330 × 165 mm pavers per m²18.2 per m²Midland Brick, Flagstone Classic data sheet (checked 2026-10-01)
200 × 200 mm pavers per m²25 per m²Midland Brick, Masterpave Classic 50 data sheet (checked 2026-10-01)
300 × 300 mm pavers per m²11.1 per m²Midland Brick, Promenade Classic 40 data sheet (checked 2026-10-01)
400 × 400 mm pavers per m²6.25 per m²Austral Masonry, concrete pavers brochure (checked 2026-10-01)
500 × 500 mm pavers per m²4 per m²Austral Masonry, Plazastone product page (checked 2026-10-01)
600 × 400 mm pavers per m²4.17 per m²Austral Masonry, Broadway product page (checked 2026-10-01)
Joints between pavers: 3 to 5 mm3 mmAustral Masonry, Concrete Pavers Installation Guide (2024) (checked 2026-10-01)
Order up to 5% extra for wastage from cuts5 %Apex Masonry, How to pave (LeMode pattern) (checked 2026-10-01)
Allow up to 10% extra for cuts and breakages10 %Apex Masonry, How to Pave (checked 2026-10-01)
Bedding sand 30 mm thick, screeded loose30 mmMain Roads WA, Specification 505 Segmental Paving (2026) (checked 2026-10-01)
Compacted gravel road base: 75 to 100 mm, minimum 75 mm75 mmAustral Masonry, Concrete Pavers Installation Guide (2024) (checked 2026-10-01)
Driveway road base 100 to 150 mm, laid and compacted in 50 mm layers150 mmApex Masonry, How to Pave (checked 2026-10-01)
Road base to order = area × depth ÷ 0.90.9 ÷Apex Masonry, How to pave (LeMode pattern) (checked 2026-10-01)
Road base: 1 m³ = 1.5 tonne1.5 t per m³Australian Native Landscapes, Road Base product page (checked 2026-10-01)
Paver bedding and washed sands: 1.5 t per m³1.5 t per m³Nuway Landscape Supplies, retail price list (2026) (checked 2026-10-01)
Jointing sand: a 20 kg bag covers about 3.5 m² of brick-shaped pavers at 3 mm joints (about 12 m² of 400 mm squares)3.5 m² per 20 kg bagCement Australia, Gap Sand product data sheet (checked 2026-10-01)
Edge restraint: 1 m³ of concrete does about 20 metres0.05 m³ per metreApex Masonry, How to Pave (checked 2026-10-01)

Manufacturers named here are the source of the number, not a recommendation. Confirm quantities with your supplier.

Frequently asked questions

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