Driveway & Hard Paving
Interlock Paver Calculator
Calculates interlocking pavers and base material by area
Updated June 26, 2026 · Live
What this tool does
Calculates the number of interlocking pavers and the base material needed for a patio, walkway or driveway, from the area and paver size.
Formula Used
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How the block paving / brick paver calculator works
Divides the driveway area by the face area of one block to get the bare count, then adds a wastage allowance for cuts at the perimeter and breakages, and rounds up to whole blocks. The cost is the driveway area multiplied by the price per square metre (the rate suppliers typically quote, including the blocks themselves). Sand bedding and edging are sized separately — use the sub-base and edging tools for those.
Typical Canadian driveway and hard paving wastage
Block paving wastage is 5–7% on a rectangular drive, 10–15% on curves and circles. Gravel settles 10–15% with traffic. Our defaults reflect common Canadian trade allowances, and can be adjusted upwards for non-standard geometry or downwards where experience supports a lower figure.
What this tool does not do
It does not replace a professional quote, factor regional pricing, assess structural adequacy, or confirm National Building Code (NBC) compliance. Those remain the responsibility of a suitably qualified designer, surveyor, or your building inspector.
On-site considerations for block paving / brick paver
Permeable paving does not need planning permission on front gardens; impermeable surfaces over 5 m² do (or need an approved SUDS solution under the 2008 regulation change).
the National Building Code (NBC) and compliance
Surface water from a drive must not run onto the public highway. the National Building Code and local bylaws require drainage to dry well, permeable joints, or attenuation. When in doubt, a pre-application enquiry to the municipality can give early clarity, which tends to be less costly than retrospective correction.
Before you order
Keeping about 10% more blocks than the calculator result as spares helps with later repairs — colour batches drift year-on-year, and a new batch will be visible. Cross-checking the calculator’s output against a supplier quote helps catch differences in pricing assumptions — ask for exact product specifications (grade, finish, batch number) and confirm delivery timescales against your programme.
Adjusting the defaults
Every input in this calculator is editable. Enter your own dimensions, supplier prices, and wastage allowance — the output recalculates instantly. If the defaults feel off for your region or project type, your own numbers always override them.
Using this block paving / brick paver calculator alongside other BuildMetricLab tools
This calculator works best as part of a planning workflow. Pair the quantity with our project contingency, labour-hours, and material-cost calculators to build a complete estimate before you pick up the phone to a supplier. All BuildMetricLab tools run entirely in your browser — no sign-up, no data sent anywhere, and every formula is shown on-page so you can audit the maths.
Sources & methodology
Blocks = ⌈(Driveway area ÷ Face area of one block) × (1 + Wastage)⌉. Face area is derived from the block length × width in millimetres. Indicative cost = driveway area × supplier rate per m² (suppliers quote a $/m² for blocks plus laying-course allowance combined). Sand bedding and edging are not computed here; size them with the dedicated sub-base and edging tools.
Frequently asked questions
Are block paving / brick paver calculator results accurate enough to order materials?
Use them as a starting estimate only. Verifying the final quantity with your supplier or contractor before ordering is good practice — site conditions, wastage and cut-offs all affect the true figure.
What wastage percentage should I use?
The calculator defaults to the typical Canadian trade allowance for driveway & hard paving. Increase it for complex cuts, awkward shapes, or first-time DIY. The default wastage allowance reflects common trade practice; values lower than the default may underestimate offcuts.
Does this replace professional advice?
No. This tool is a planning estimator. For works that affect structure, the National Building Code (NBC), property-line or shared-wall, gas, electrics, drainage to a sewer, or similar, consult a suitably qualified professional.
Can I change the unit prices?
Yes — every price field is editable. Plug in your supplier's quote to get a total that matches your project.
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