How the paver count is worked out
The area is length times width in square feet. One square foot is 144 square inches, so 144 divided by the paver face area gives the pavers per square foot.
A 4 by 8 inch paver covers 32 square inches, which is 4.5 pavers per square foot, or 450 per 100 square feet. That is the standard figure for a 4 by 8 paver whatever its thickness.
The waste allowance covers cuts at edges, corners and around drains. Five per cent is normal for a simple rectangle.
Worked example
A driveway 16 feet by 10 feet is 160 square feet. At 4.5 pavers per square foot that is 720 pavers, and adding 5 per cent gives 756 pavers.
A walkway 3 feet wide and 40 feet long is 120 square feet, which is 567 pavers after the same allowance.
What the paver count does not include
Pavers sit on a compacted base of crushed stone and a 1 inch bedding layer of concrete sand. Neither is included here, and the base is the part that decides whether the driveway lasts.
An edge restraint is not optional. Without one, the outer pavers spread under vehicle load however well they are laid.
Cuts around drains, curves and a 45 degree herringbone pattern add waste. Use 10 per cent where there are several penetrations or a curved border.
Limits of this calculator
It counts pavers from a nominal face size. Joints are 1/8 to 1/4 inch, so a very large area will be a few pavers out, which the waste allowance absorbs.
It does not calculate base stone, bedding sand, polymeric joint sand or the edge restraint.
It does not check the base depth for vehicle loading, the slope for drainage or the compaction method.
For metric block sizes and square metres, use the UK block paving calculator.
Inputs for the US block paving calculator
Paved length
Length of the driveway, walkway or patio in feet.
Paved width
Width of the same area in feet.
Block length
Long face of the paver in inches. A standard paver is 8 in.
Block width
Short face of the paver in inches. A standard paver is 4 in.
Waste allowance
Extra for edge cuts and drains. Five per cent for a simple rectangle.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
US block paving calculator questions
How many pavers are in a square foot?
Four and a half for a 4 by 8 inch paver, which is 450 per 100 square feet.
How many pavers come on a pallet?
It varies by manufacturer, commonly 400 to 500 for a 4 by 8 paver. Divide the total by the pallet count.
Do I need more for a curved border?
Yes. Curves and 45 degree herringbone patterns need more cutting, so use 10 per cent waste.
Is base stone included?
No. The crushed stone base and the bedding sand are separate quantities, and the base is usually 4 to 6 inches compacted.