How to calculate what pavers and pebbles to buy?

julian27845

Hi, I'm planning to lay some pavers in the backyard, just trying to get an idea for the amount of materials I need and also if I'm taking the best approach:

1. I'm thinking of following the way in the video linked below, basically digging out the dirt / soil, then back filling it with roadbase, stamping it down and then putting some sand over the top, then the pavers and the pebbles, is this the best way to do it?

2. The overall area is 17.6 sqm, I need some help calculating how much roadbase / sand and pebbles to buy

Cheers, Julian

DIY How To Install A Paver Walkway For Beginners!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jutE0tx3ps8

Layout

MitchellMc

Hi @julian27845,

Your plan and the method you’re following look spot on. Digging out the area, laying a compacted roadbase, topping it with bedding sand, then laying the pavers and finishing with pebbles is a proven and widely used approach. The exact quantities of material you'll need will depend on how thick each layer is, but I can give you a general guide based on standard depths.

For the roadbase, a 100mm layer is typical for foot traffic, which means you’ll need around 1.76 cubic metres for your 17.6 square metre area. The bedding sand that goes on top is usually around 30–50mm thick—if we go with 40mm, that works out to about 0.7 cubic metres of sand. If you’re adding decorative pebbles over or between the pavers, and you want a 50mm layer, you’d be looking at around 0.88 cubic metres if covering the whole area, though you’ll need less if the pebbles are just going in gaps or borders.

Compacting the base properly will help prevent movement over time, and some form of edge restraint is a good idea to keep everything in place, especially the pebbles. Let me know if you want a hand working out how many pavers you’ll need based on their size. 

For bulk quantities, it would be best to discuss with our Special Orders team in-store to see if we can have them delivered directly to your home.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell