Free UK construction calculators Metric and imperial 2026 UK prices
Work out how many paving blocks you need for a driveway, patio or path, with the sharp sand, Type 1 sub-base, kiln-dried jointing sand, edging and cost. Pick the block size, thickness and pattern, enter the size of the area and press Calculate.
Blocks Needed
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Check the measurements above. The result updates once they look right.
| Item | Cost |
|---|
Typical 2026 UK prices including VAT. Delivery and skip hire are extra.
| Pattern | Extra | Blocks |
|---|
For your area and block size. Your pattern is highlighted.
The result gives the number of blocks and the m² to order, the weight for delivery, the bulk bags of sharp sand and Type 1, the bags of kiln-dried sand, the edging kerbs, how deep to dig and the cost. A plan shows your pattern and a cross-section shows each layer.
Divide one square metre by the face of one block. A standard 200 × 100 mm block covers 0.02 m², so you need 50 per m². Merchants quote coverage this way, ignoring the 2–5 mm joints, so the extra you add for cuts also covers the joint gaps.
| Block size | Face area | Blocks per m² | Blocks for 10 m², no extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 × 100 mm | 0.020 m² | 50 | 500 |
| 210 × 105 mm | 0.022 m² | 45.4 | 454 |
| 200 × 200 mm | 0.040 m² | 25 | 250 |
| 240 × 160 mm | 0.038 m² | 26 | 260 |
| 300 × 200 mm | 0.060 m² | 16.7 | 167 |
Some ranges, such as tumbled or "cobble" blocks, come in packs of mixed sizes sold by the m². For those, choose Known Area in the result and order the m² figure rather than a block count.
| Pattern | Extra for cuts | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stretcher bond | 5% | Paths and patios; quick to lay with few cuts |
| Basketweave | 5% | Patios and courtyards; decorative, not for cars |
| Herringbone 90° | 7% | Driveways; the blocks interlock under turning tyres |
| Herringbone 45° | 10% | Driveways; strongest, but every edge block is cut |
Herringbone is the standard choice for driveways because each block is held on all four sides by blocks running the other way, so car tyres cannot push rows along. Laid at 45°, every block against an edge needs a cut, so allow about 10%. Keep the spare blocks: a few matching blocks make repairs invisible years later.
| Thickness | Use | Weight per m² | Kiln-dried sand per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mm | Paths, patios, light garden use | About 115 kg | About 3.3 kg |
| 60 mm | Car driveways | About 138 kg | About 4.5 kg |
| 80 mm | Vans, heavy vehicles, shared access | About 184 kg | About 5.7 kg |
Thicker blocks spread a wheel load over more of the bed and are less likely to rock or crack, so do not use 50 mm blocks where cars will drive. The weights matter when ordering: 40 m² of 60 mm blocks is about 5.9 tonnes, which comes on a lorry with a crane offload. Check the drop-off spot can take a pallet.
Block paving is a flexible pavement: the blocks sit on a bed of damp sharp sand, over a compacted granular sub-base, held in by firm edges. Marshalls, the UK's biggest paving maker, asks for a 50 mm layer of damp sharp sand under the blocks, and most domestic drives use 150 mm of compacted Type 1.
| Layer | Patio or path | Car driveway |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 50 mm | 60 mm |
| Sharp sand laying course | 50 mm loose (30–40 mm packed) | 50 mm loose (30–40 mm packed) |
| Type 1 sub-base, compacted | 100 mm | 150 mm (200 mm on soft clay) |
| Total dig below finished level | About 200 mm | About 260 mm |
The sand bed is not a levelling layer: form the falls in the sub-base and keep the sand an even thickness, or the blocks will settle unevenly. Dug soil bulks up by about a quarter, so a 40 m² drive dug 260 mm deep gives about 13 m³ of spoil: three 8-yard skips, or one grab lorry. Our MOT Type 1 calculator and skip hire cost calculator go into more detail.
| Job | Blocks | Sharp sand | Type 1 | Kiln-dried sand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m² path, 50 mm, stretcher | 525 | 0.88 t (2 bulk bags) | 2.31 t | 2 bags |
| 20 m² patio, 50 mm, stretcher | 1,050 | 1.76 t (3 bulk bags) | 4.62 t | 3 bags |
| 15 m² single drive, 60 mm, herringbone | 803 | 1.32 t (2 bulk bags) | 5.2 t | 3 bags |
| 40 m² double drive, 60 mm, herringbone | 2,140 | 3.52 t (5 bulk bags) | 13.86 t | 8 bags |
| 60 m² large drive, 60 mm, herringbone | 3,210 | 5.28 t (7 bulk bags) | 20.79 t | 11 bags |
These use 200 × 100 mm blocks, a 50 mm sand bed, 100 mm of Type 1 for paths and patios and 150 mm for drives, with 5% extra blocks for stretcher bond and 7% for herringbone. For Type 1 in loose bulk bags, divide the tonnes by 0.85.
After the blocks are laid, fine kiln-dried sand is brushed into the joints and vibrated down with a plate compactor. It locks the blocks together, so it is not optional. Use about 3.3 kg per m² for 50 mm blocks, 4.5 kg for 60 mm and 5.7 kg for 80 mm, which merchants quote from their coverage guides. One 25 kg bag does about 5–7 m² of 60 mm block paving.
Brush in sand, compact, then brush in more. The joints settle over the first few weeks, so keep a spare bag and top them up after heavy rain. Only sweep sand in when the blocks are bone dry, or it sticks to the surface instead of falling into the joints.
| Item | Typical 2026 UK price |
|---|---|
| Concrete blocks, 50 mm | £15–£22 per m² |
| Concrete blocks, 60 mm | £18–£28 per m² |
| Concrete blocks, 80 mm | £25–£35 per m² |
| Clay pavers | £40–£70 per m² |
| Sharp sand, bulk bag | £55–£75 |
| Type 1, per tonne | £35–£50 |
| Kiln-dried sand, 25 kg | £5–£8 |
| Edging kerb, 915 mm | £3–£6 each |
| Fully laid, concrete blocks | £70–£120 per m² |
Across 2026 UK cost guides, a concrete block paving driveway costs about £70–£120 per m² fully laid, including digging out, the sub-base and edging. Clay and permeable blocks cost more. Labour is roughly half the bill, so a DIY patio can cost under £40 per m² in materials. Removing an old concrete drive, poor ground or a long way to barrow the spoil all add to the price, so get at least three written quotes.
In England, you need planning permission to pave more than 5 m² of a front garden with a surface that lets rainwater run onto the road. You do not need it if the paving is permeable, or if water drains from it onto a lawn, border or soakaway on your own land. The government's guidance on permeable surfacing of front gardens shows the options.
Standard block paving on sand counts as impermeable, because the joints soon seal with dirt. Either lay a fall to a planted area or a soakaway, use a permeable block system with wider joints and a clean stone sub-base, or ask a builder about a channel drain. A new dropped kerb always needs council approval. The rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with your council.
Blocks = area × (1,000,000 ÷ (block length × block width in mm)) × (1 + extra %), rounded up
Sharp sand (t) = area × bed depth (m) × 1.6 t/m³ × 1.1
Type 1 (t) = area × sub-base depth (m) × 2.1 t/m³ × 1.1
Jointing sand = area × 3.3, 4.5 or 5.7 kg per m² · Edging kerbs = edge length ÷ 0.915 m
The 10% on sand and Type 1 allows for compaction and uneven ground. Sand and Type 1 bulk bags are taken as 850 kg. Block weight uses concrete at about 2,300 kg per m³. The cost is the m² of blocks you order, the bulk bags, bags and kerbs at your prices, plus labour per m² of area. We use the same densities as our sand calculator and concrete driveway calculator, so results match across the site.
50 blocks per m² for standard 200 × 100 mm blocks, before adding extra for cuts. Allow 5% more for stretcher bond and 7–10% for herringbone.
About 88 kg of sharp sand per m² for a 50 mm bed, including 10% for compaction, so one 850 kg bulk bag covers about 9.6 m². You also need about 3.3–5.7 kg of kiln-dried sand per m² for the joints.
100 mm of compacted Type 1 for patios and paths, and 150 mm for car driveways, or 200 mm on soft clay ground.
About 260 mm below the finished level: 60 mm blocks, a 50 mm sand bed and 150 mm of Type 1. A patio with 50 mm blocks needs about 200 mm.
Use 60 mm blocks anywhere a car will drive. 50 mm blocks are fine for patios and paths, and 80 mm suits vans and heavy vehicles.
Herringbone, at 90° or 45°. The blocks interlock so turning tyres cannot push them out of line. Stretcher bond and basketweave suit paths and patios.
In 2026 a concrete block paving driveway costs about £70–£120 per m² fully laid. The materials alone are about £30–£45 per m² for a DIY job.
In England, yes if you pave more than 5 m² of a front garden and the water runs onto the road. No if you use permeable paving or drain it onto your own garden.
Laying course depth from Marshalls' block paving guide. Jointing sand rates from UK merchant coverage guides. Sharp sand at 1.6 t/m³ and compacted Type 1 at 2.1 t/m³, as across ConstructionMath. Default prices are typical 2026 UK merchant prices including VAT, and fitted costs come from 2026 UK cost guides; prices vary by region and supplier. Reviewed November 2026.