Paving Calculator

The number of pavers per m² depends on the format. A 10×10 cm block gives 100 pcs/m², a 20×10 cm block gives 50 pcs/m², and a 6×9 cm cobble gives about 185 pcs/m². The calculator works in m² because suppliers sell paving by the square metre or in pallets quoted in m². Enter your area, add a cutting allowance, and you have your order quantity.

A 5% allowance is sufficient for straightforward stretcher-bond or 45-degree patterns. For herringbone or irregular-shaped areas, use 10%. The allowance covers cuts at edges and kerbs as well as any pieces damaged during installation. Keep leftover slabs for future repairs — they will be from the same production batch.

Standard bedding depth is 3–5 cm, most commonly 4 cm. Use 2–3 cm for light pedestrian paths and 4–5 cm for driveways and parking areas. The bedding mix is typically 1:5 or 1:8 cement to sand. A bed that is too thick can cause the surface to sink over time.

The calculator gives the bedding weight in tonnes using a density of 1.6 t/m³. For a 4 cm bed under 50 m² you need about 2 m³ (3.2 t) of mix. In a 1:8 mix that is roughly 360 kg of cement (about 14–15 × 25 kg bags) and 2,840 kg of sand. Exact quantities depend on your mix ratio and moisture content of the materials.

Measure the driveway length and width in metres, multiply to get the area, then add a 10% cutting allowance (driveways need more cuts at the garage edge and entrance). For 30 m² add 10% and order 33 m². In the calculator enter 30 m² and set allowance to 10%. Also remember to include concrete or plastic edging around the perimeter.

For driveways choose 8 cm thick concrete block paving rated BC 4 or higher (e.g. Behaton or Holland 8 cm). For pedestrian paths, 6 cm blocks are sufficient (Holland 6 cm, hexagonal sets). For terraces and garden paths, large-format slabs or natural stone are popular choices. Colour and texture are aesthetic choices and do not affect load-bearing capacity.

No. The calculator covers the paved area including a cutting allowance. Concrete or plastic edging is ordered separately in linear metres equal to the perimeter of the paved area. For example, a 6×5 m driveway has a perimeter of 22 m, so you need about 22–25 linear metres of kerb (add a little extra for corners). Edging is not needed where the paving butts against a wall or post.

Labour for laying paving runs PLN 50–100/m² depending on region, pattern and complexity. The paving material itself costs PLN 40–120/m² depending on manufacturer and style. Total cost for a path is roughly PLN 90–220/m². A driveway including groundworks (excavation, sub-base, bedding) is typically PLN 150–300/m².

Steps: 1) Excavate to 25–40 cm depth (depending on use). 2) Compact the subgrade or replace with load-bearing fill. 3) Lay a granular sub-base of crushed aggregate 0–31.5 mm, 15–25 cm thick, compacted with a plate compactor. 4) Spread the cement-sand bedding layer 3–5 cm thick, screeded level. 5) Lay paving, fill joints with dry sand, compact with a plate compactor over a rubber mat.

Alternatives include: concrete slabs (faster to lay, larger format), granite or sandstone paving (natural look, higher cost), decorative gravel with edging (cheapest but needs topping up), granite or basalt chippings, and grass-reinforcement grids. Timber decking is popular for terraces. Compare with the concrete calculator if you are considering a poured slab instead of paving.