How Many Pavers Do I Need?
Pavers are sold by the piece but the patio is measured by the square metre or square foot. Here is how to turn an area into a paver count - including the joints and a wastage allowance - for any paver size.
By the Calculate My Reno Team / Published
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Open the Paver Calculator
Pavers are priced per piece, but you measure the job by area, so the work is turning your square metres or square feet into a paver count - with the joints accounted for and a little extra for cuts.
The formula
Each laid paver takes up its own face plus one joint gap on each side, so the count uses the paver footprint, not the bare paver size:
paver footprint = (paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint)
pavers = ceil( area ÷ paver footprint × wastage )
The paver calculator does this for any paver size and pools several areas into one order - an offcut from one edge can start the next run. The two numbers that drive everything are the area and the paver size.
Pavers per square metre and per square foot
These are nominal counts for common sizes, before joints and wastage. Add 5-15% on top for cuts:
| Paver size | Per m² | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 200 × 100 mm (8 × 4 in) brick | ~50 | ~4.5 |
| 230 × 115 mm | ~38 | ~3.4 |
| 150 × 150 mm (6 × 6 in) | ~44 | ~4.0 |
| 300 × 300 mm (12 × 12 in) | ~11 | 1.0 |
| 400 × 400 mm (~16 × 16 in) | ~6.3 | ~0.56 |
| 600 × 600 mm slab | ~2.8 | ~0.25 |
Larger pavers cover faster with fewer joints; small bricks give more pattern options but more pieces to lay.
Measure the area first
For a simple rectangle the area is length × width. For an L-shape, a patio plus a path, or a circle:
- Split an L-shape or odd outline into rectangles and add each as its own area.
- A circle’s area is π × (diameter ÷ 2)² - the calculator has a circle shape for this.
- Add a patio and its path as separate areas; the pavers pool into one count.
Worked example
A 5 × 4 m patio in 200 × 100 mm pavers, 3 mm joint, 10% wastage:
- Area: 5 × 4 = 20 m².
- Footprint with joint: 0.203 × 0.103 = 0.0209 m².
- Pavers: 20 ÷ 0.0209 × 1.10 ≈ 1,053 pavers.
In imperial, a 16 × 13 ft patio in 8 × 4 in pavers with a ⅛ in joint and 10% wastage comes out at about 984 pavers.
A few tips
- Dry-lay a row first to check the pattern lands without thin slivers at the far edge, then adjust your start line.
- Buy all the pavers in one batch so the colour matches across the whole area.
- Order a handful of spares beyond the wastage for future repairs - colours get discontinued.
- Next, size the bedding and jointing sand with how much sand do I need for pavers, and price the job with the cost to install pavers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many pavers I need?
Divide the area you are paving by the area of one paver plus its joint, then add wastage for cuts. A 20 m² patio in 200 × 100 mm pavers with a 3 mm joint and 10% wastage needs about 1,053; a 215 sq ft patio in 8 × 4 in pavers works out near 990. The paver calculator does it for any size and pools multiple areas into one order.
How many pavers are in a square metre?
It depends on the paver size: about 50 standard 200 × 100 mm bricks, 38 of the 230 × 115 mm size, 11 of a 300 × 300 mm slab, or roughly 6 of a 400 × 400 mm slab per square metre. Those are nominal counts before joints and wastage, so add about 5-15% on top for cuts.
How many pavers do I need per square foot?
A 200 × 100 mm (8 × 4 in) brick paver is about 4.5 per square foot, a 12 × 12 in slab is exactly 1, and a 16 × 16 in slab is about 0.56. Multiply by your area in square feet and add wastage. For 215 sq ft of 8 × 4 in pavers that is roughly 215 × 4.5 = 968 before cuts.
How much extra should I buy for cuts?
Add about 5% for a straight running-bond layout, 10% for offset or basketweave, and 10-15% for herringbone or any 45-degree diagonal where the edge cuts are frequent. Circles and curves waste more again. The wastage is built into the count so you order once.