Paver, Paving & Pavement Calculator

Divide the area by one paver’s face area and add waste. A 20 × 13 ft driveway (258 sq ft / 24 m²) in standard 8 × 4 in (200 × 100 mm) brick pavers (about 4.6 per sq ft / 50 per m²) needs 1,200 pavers — order about 1,260 with 5% waste. Interlocking pavers lay tight, so no joint allowance is needed.

Pavers bed on a screeded layer of coarse sand, normally 1¼ in (30 mm) thick once compacted. Area × depth gives the volume: 258 sq ft × 0.1 ft ≈ 26 ft³, close to 1 cubic yard (0.72 m³) — order about 20% extra for screeding losses. Use plaster or jointing sand for the joints, not the bedding.

A compacted sub-base — typically 4 in (100 mm) of crusher run or similar for paths and patios, 6 in (150 mm) or more for driveways — over a leveled, compacted subgrade. The sub-base does the structural work; paving laid straight on soil settles and ruts. This calculator covers the pavers and sand; size the sub-base separately.

5% suits straight (stretcher/stack bond) layouts with simple edges. Herringbone at 45° and curved edges generate many cut halves — allow 10%. Keep the offcuts: half pavers get used at edges as you go.

Yes — edge restraints. Without a haunched concrete edge course or restraint the outer pavers creep, joints open and the surface unravels from the border inwards. Lay the edge course first, then screed and pave between the restraints, compact with a plate compactor, and sweep jointing sand in.