Block Paving Driveway: Blocks, Sub-base and Sand Needed
A 6 × 5 m drive (30 m²) in 200 × 100 mm blocks needs 1,507 blocks, 10.4 tonnes of MOT Type 1 for a 150 mm sub-base, and 2.0 tonnes of sand for a 40 mm laying course. Here is the full list, and a chart for other sizes.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks, 200 × 100 mm | 1,507 blocks | Block paving calculator: 47.8 per m² with 3 mm joints, plus 5% for cuts |
| MOT Type 1 sub-base | 10.4 tonnes (13 bulk bags) | 150 mm compacted, at 2.2 tonnes per m³, with 5% extra |
| Grit or sharp sand | 2.0 tonnes | A 40 mm laying course screeded level, with 5% extra |
| Kiln-dried jointing sand | Check the pack | Swept into the joints after the first compaction. The coverage depends on the block and the joint |
| Edge restraint | Up to 22 m | The perimeter, 2 × (6 + 5), less any side against a wall. Kerbs or edging bedded in concrete on every free side |
| Geotextile membrane | 33 m² | Optional: laid under the sub-base on soft or clay ground to stop it sinking into the soil |
| Plate compactor | 1 (hire) | A heavy plate for the sub-base, and a plate with a rubber pad for the finished blocks |
Materials for other drive sizes
200 × 100 mm blocks, 3 mm joints, 5% for cuts, a 150 mm sub-base and a 40 mm laying course:
| Drive size | Area | Blocks | MOT Type 1 | Laying sand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 5 m | 15 m² | 754 | 5.2 tonnes | 1.0 tonnes |
| 3 × 10 m | 30 m² | 1,507 | 10.4 tonnes | 2.0 tonnes |
| 5 × 5 m | 25 m² | 1,256 | 8.7 tonnes | 1.7 tonnes |
| 6 × 5 m | 30 m² | 1,507 | 10.4 tonnes | 2.0 tonnes |
| 6 × 8 m | 48 m² | 2,411 | 16.6 tonnes | 3.2 tonnes |
How the pattern changes the number of blocks
The pattern decides how many blocks you cut. For the 6 × 5 m drive:
| Pattern | Blocks to buy |
|---|---|
| Stretcher bond or basket weave, a simple rectangle | 1,507 |
| Herringbone, or a drive with some curves | 1,579 |
| Herringbone on a curved drive, or a pattern with a border | 1,651 |
Before you order
- Check for buried services before you dig. The free LSBUD (LinesearchbeforeUdig) service shows the gas, water, electricity and telecoms assets near your address.
- Check the rules. In England, paving more than 5 m² of a front garden with an impermeable surface needs planning permission unless the rainwater drains to a lawn or border, or the paving is permeable. Block paving can be laid permeably, with a suitable sub-base and jointing.
- Choose the thickness. 60 mm blocks are for cars, 80 mm for heavier vehicles, and 50 mm for patios and paths only.
- Plan the drainage and the levels. A fall of about 1 in 60 away from the house, and the finished level at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course.
- Think about access. A loose load of stone and sand has to be dropped somewhere, and the lorry may not be able to reach a drive that is being dug up.
How the job goes
- Mark out the drive, dig down about 250 to 300 mm, and compact the soil.
- Fit the edge restraint on every free side, bedded in concrete.
- Lay and compact the MOT Type 1 in layers of about 100 mm, with a plate compactor.
- Spread and screed the laying course, then lay the blocks in your pattern from a straight edge, tapping each one down. Do not walk on the sand.
- Cut the edge blocks with a block splitter or a saw, then compact the surface, sweep in the jointing sand, and compact again.
Mistakes that cost people money
- A thin or uncompacted sub-base. It is the main reason a block paved drive sinks and ruts.
- No edge restraint, so that the blocks creep outwards.
- Using soft building sand for the laying course.
- Skipping the jointing sand, or sweeping in too little. The blocks need it to lock together.
Frequently asked questions
How many block paving bricks per square metre?
About 48 for the standard 200 × 100 mm block with 3 mm joints. Add 5 to 15% for cuts, depending on the pattern.
How many blocks do I need for a 6m x 5m drive?
About 1,507 blocks of 200 × 100 mm with 5% for cuts. That is 30 m² at 47.8 blocks per m².
How deep should the sub-base be for a block paved drive?
150 mm of compacted MOT Type 1 on firm ground for a drive that takes cars, with 100 mm for a patio or path. On soft clay, go deeper.
What sand do I use under block paving?
A laying course of grit or sharp sand 30 to 50 mm deep, screeded level. Do not use building sand, which holds water. The joints are filled with kiln-dried sand swept in after the first compaction.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.