Paver Calculator.ORGHow paver weight is worked out
Concrete pavers are solid concrete, which weighs about 135 to 145 lb per cubic foot. Weight per square foot is just thickness × density:
total lb = sq ft × lb per sq ft
A 2⅜ in paver: 2.375 ÷ 12 × 140 = 27.7 lb per sq ft. The 12 × 12 ft patio in the calculator, with 151.2 sq ft ordered, weighs about 151.2 × 27.7 = 4,190 lb, a little over 2 tons.
Weight per square foot by thickness
| Paver thickness | Typical use | Weight per sq ft (about) |
|---|---|---|
| 1¾ in (45 mm) | Thin pavers, slabs, overlays | 20 lb |
| 2⅜ in (60 mm) | Patios, walks, pool decks | 27–29 lb |
| 3⅛ in (80 mm) | Driveways | 35–38 lb |
| Clay brick paver, 2¼ in | Patios, walks | about 22–24 lb |
Weight of a single paver
At about 140 lb per cubic foot:
| Paver size | 1¾ in thick | 2⅜ in thick | 3⅛ in thick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 4.5 lb | 6.2 lb | 8.1 lb |
| 6 × 6 in | 5.1 lb | 6.9 lb | 9.1 lb |
| 6 × 9 in | 7.7 lb | 10.4 lb | 13.7 lb |
| 12 × 12 in | 20 lb | 28 lb | 36 lb |
| 16 × 16 in | 36 lb | 49 lb | 65 lb |
| 24 × 24 in | 82 lb | 111 lb | 146 lb |
Large slabs get heavy fast. A 24 × 24 in slab is a two-person lift at any thickness. Pavers with spacer nibs, beveled edges or a textured face weigh a little less than a solid block of the same nominal size, so these figures run slightly high, which is the safe side for planning loads.
Pallets of pavers
Pavers are sold by the pallet (also called a cube), and every product has its own pallet size. The spec sheet or the yard will tell you the square feet per pallet, and often the weight. From that:
pavers per pallet = sq ft per pallet × pavers per sq ft
pallet weight ≈ sq ft per pallet × lb per sq ft + the pallet
Example: if the sheet says a pallet holds 110 sq ft of 4 × 8 in pavers, 2⅜ in thick:
- Pavers per pallet: 110 × 4.5 = 495 pavers
- Weight: 110 × 27.7 = about 3,050 lb, plus the wooden pallet
- Pallets for the 12 × 12 ft patio (151.2 sq ft): 151.2 ÷ 110 = 1.37, so one full pallet and a partial, or two full pallets
Many yards charge more per square foot for a broken pallet than a full one, so it can be worth comparing the cost of two full pallets against one and a partial. Leftover pavers are useful for repairs later.
Planning delivery and handling
- Delivery trucks with a forklift or boom set pallets at the curb or on the driveway. Ask where they can place them; pallets left on a lawn or a thin slab can sink or crack it.
- Pickups and trailers: check the payload rating on the door-jamb sticker and the trailer’s rating before loading. A full pallet of standard pavers can exceed a half-ton pickup’s payload.
- Moving pavers by hand: a wheelbarrow of 4 × 8 in pavers adds up quickly. At about 6 lb each, 40 pavers is around 250 lb.
- On site: stage pallets as close to the work as possible and pull pavers from several pallets at once to blend any slight color differences.
Driveway pavers weigh more
A driveway uses 3⅛ in pavers at about 36 lb per square foot, a third heavier than patio pavers. A 12 × 40 ft driveway with 15% extra for a 45° herringbone is 552 sq ft, or about 10 tons of pavers, before any base or sand. See the paver driveway calculator.
These weights are typical for solid concrete pavers. Clay, natural stone and porcelain pavers weigh differently, and every manufacturer lists the actual weight per square foot and per pallet on the product's spec sheet. Use those figures for anything load-critical.
Questions people ask
- How much does a paver weigh?
- A standard 4 x 8 in concrete paver 2 3/8 in thick weighs about 6 lb. A 6 x 9 in paver of the same thickness is about 10 lb, a 12 x 12 in about 28 lb and a 24 x 24 in about 110 lb. Thin 1 3/4 in slabs weigh about a quarter less.
- How much does a pallet of pavers weigh?
- Multiply the square feet on the pallet by the weight per square foot. Standard 2 3/8 in pavers weigh about 27 to 29 lb per square foot, so a pallet holding 110 sq ft weighs about 3,000 lb plus the pallet. The maker's spec sheet lists the exact square feet and weight.
- How many pavers are on a pallet?
- Square feet per pallet times pavers per square foot. A pallet with 110 sq ft of 4 x 8 in pavers holds about 495 pavers. Pallet sizes vary by product, so check the spec sheet.
- How much do concrete pavers weigh per square foot?
- About 20 lb for 1 3/4 in thick pavers, 27 to 29 lb for 2 3/8 in (60 mm) and 35 to 38 lb for 3 1/8 in (80 mm), based on concrete at about 135 to 145 lb per cubic foot.
- Can I carry a pallet of pavers in a pickup?
- Check the payload on the sticker in the driver's door jamb. A full pallet of standard pavers can weigh more than many half-ton pickups are rated to carry, and it is usually safer to have it delivered.