Building a paver walkway can add functionality to your outdoor space as well as beauty. When creating a simple garden path, or even more intricate design, determining the number of pavers you'll need is the important first step toward ensuring that you have enough material for completion without wasting material unnecessarily. This guide leads you through the process of determining how many pavers it will take to complete your walkway.
Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating Pavers
1. Measure the Area of the Walkway
Take the length and width of the walkway where you are going to install the pavers. If your walkway is not a perfect rectangle, divide it into smaller rectangular pieces and measure each one, then multiply by the other in getting the total square footage of the walkway.
2. Determine the Size of Your Pavers
Pavers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Measure the length of the paver you are going to use. For example, if you are using a 12-by-12 inch standard paver, then each paver covers 1 square foot. If the pavers are not square, multiply the length by the width of the paver to get the area that it covers.
3. Calculate the Number of Pavers Needed
How Many Pavers Will You Need? Divide the total square footage of the walkway by the area covered by one paver. For example, when using different sizes or patterns, the mathematical problem can be complicated and you do take gaps or overlap in your design into consideration.
4. Consider Extra Pavers for Cutting and Wastage
Always order extra pavers, since you will need some to be cut and break. You may also need to replace some pavers after a while. A 10 to 15 percent additional quantity is a good rule of thumb based on your calculation.
Paver Calculator
Conclusion
Determine the number of pavers you will need for a walkway not as intimidating as it sounds. Measure the walk area, know the size of your paver, and add extra for cuts and waste in your material. You can use the simple calculator above to give you an estimate and plan your beautiful new walkway today!