A paved area is ordered from its size and the size of one paver. The layers under the pavers follow from their thicknesses. This guide counts quantities; the pavement build-up for its traffic, the falls and the drainage are the engineer’s.
1. Pavers with their joints
One paver with its joint covers (length + joint) times (width + joint). Divide the area by that, add the waste for cuts and breakage, and round up to whole pavers.
2. Sand, base and excavation
Each layer is the area times its thickness. Sand and base lose volume when compacted, so the order is increased by a compaction allowance. The excavation goes down to the full build-up: paver thickness plus sand bed plus base.
Worked example: 6 × 4 m area
Pavers 20 × 10 × 8 cm with 3 mm joints, 4 cm of sand, 15 cm of base, 15 % compaction, 5 % waste, kerbs 1 m long all round:
Area 24 m²; one paver with its joint covers 20.3 × 10.3 cm, so 47.83 pavers per m².
The count does not design the pavement: its build-up for the traffic, the falls, the drainage and the kerb foundations come from the engineer. The compaction allowance is a starting value; take the real one from your supplier.
General information, checked at the date shown. It does not replace advice from a professional for your situation.
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