Construction & trade New Zealand
Paver Calculator New Zealand
A paved area needs three things: the pavers, a layer of bedding sand and a compacted base. Enter the area, the paver size and the depths, and the calculator gives the number of pavers with an allowance for cuts, and the volume of sand and base to order.
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0 for butt-jointed pavers.
10% for a square layout, 15 to 20% for curves or a diagonal lay.
About 100 mm for foot traffic; more for vehicles.
Pavers to order
—Pavers before cuts
—
Pavers per m²
—
Bedding sand
—
Base course
—
Base course weight (at 1.8 t/m³)
—
The working
An estimate for ordering. General information and estimates only, not professional advice. Driveways and areas that carry vehicles need a designed base, so confirm the depths with a landscaper or the paver supplier.
How many pavers do I need?
Divide the area by the area of one paver including its joint, then add an allowance for cuts. A 30 m² patio with 400 × 400 mm pavers and 3 mm joints needs about 185 pavers, and 204 with 10% extra. The 30 mm sand bed needs 0.9 m³ and the 100 mm base 3.0 m³.
Planning the layout
Mark out the area, check the levels and plan falls so water runs away from buildings, usually about 1 in 100. Choose a pattern before you order, because it changes the waste. Dry-lay a few rows to check cuts at the edges, and plan to avoid slivers of paver less than a third of the width.
Base, sand and edging
Dig out enough for the base, sand and paver thickness together and compact the base in layers. Screed the sand to an even depth and do not walk on it. An edge restraint, such as concrete or a paver edge, keeps the pavers from spreading, and is the most common thing left out of a DIY job.
To order the base aggregate, use the gravel calculator.
How this is calculated
The rule, step by step, so you can check any figure by hand.
pavers per m² = 1,000,000 ÷ ((length + gap) × (width + gap)), in millimetrespavers to order = area × pavers per m² × (1 + cuts ÷ 100), rounded upbedding sand = area × sand depthbase course = area × base depthbase weight = volume × about 1.8 tonnes per cubic metre
Pavers come in many sizes and the joint changes the count slightly, so always use the actual size from the pack. A square layout on a regular area wastes about 5 to 10%, curved edges and diagonal patterns 15 to 20%, and herringbone more.
The layers matter as much as the pavers. A compacted base of aggregate stops the surface sinking, the sand bed of about 25 to 30 mm lets the pavers be levelled, and sand swept into the joints locks them together. Base depth depends on the load, with foot traffic needing less than driveways, and soft or wet ground needing more.
A worked example
A 30 m² patio, 400 × 400 mm pavers, 3 mm joints, 10% cuts, 30 mm sand and 100 mm base.
- Pavers per m²6.16
- Before cuts185
- To order204
- Bedding sand0.9 m³
- Base course3.0 m³
204 pavers, 0.9 m³ sand and 3 m³ base.
Allow extra sand for filling the joints.
Cutting and finishing
A wet saw or a brick splitter makes clean cuts. Sweep kiln-dried jointing sand into the joints and compact the pavers with a plate compactor and rubber pad. Sweep again after the first rain. Sealing is optional and depends on the paver.
What it leaves out
Edging, drainage, geotextile and the cost of waste disposal for excavated soil are not modelled. The quantities assume a flat, rectangular area.
What this calculator does not do
- Flat rectangular area
- Typical base weight
- Cut allowance is your choice
- An estimate for ordering
Common questions
How many pavers per square metre?
About 6.25 for 400 × 400 mm pavers with 3 mm joints.
How much extra should I order?
About 10% for square layouts and more for curves.
How deep should the base be?
About 100 mm for foot traffic, more for vehicles.
Why do I need bedding sand?
To level the pavers and lock them in place.
What do I need for the edges?
An edge restraint to stop the pavers spreading.
Where these numbers come from
- Wolfram MathWorld — area Fixed formulas for area and coverage; nothing to go out of date
- Building Performance — MBIE Guidance on building work and materials in New Zealand
Method last reviewed 2026-10-28 This calculator uses fixed rules rather than rates that change, and its method is re-checked against the sources above at least once a year. Out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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