Tiles & flooring· 3 min read
60 × 60 cm Outdoor Pavers: How Many for a 4.2 × 2.8 m Terrace
How many 60 × 60 cm pavers a 4.2 × 2.8 m terrace or balcony needs, where to put the cut pieces and how to size the terrace so no paver has to be cut at all.
A 4.2 × 2.8 m terrace is 11.76 m² (about 127 sq ft). A 60 × 60 cm paver (about 24 × 24 in) with its joint covers roughly 0.36 m², so the area estimate is 33 pavers. The calculator counts 35 — and shows where the cut pieces go, which on a terrace matters more than the count itself.
The example
- Terrace 4,200 × 2,800 mm.
- Paver 600 × 600 mm, 4 mm joint — MSI states its outdoor porcelain pavers must never be installed without the required 4 mm spacing. If your pedestal system has a different spacer tab, enter that value.
- 10 % reserve.
Result
| Start | Whole | Cut | Total | +10 % reserve | Cut strips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From a corner | 24 | 11 | 35 | 39 | 576 mm and 384 mm on two sides |
| From the centre | 15 | 20 | 35 | 39 | 588 mm and 492 mm on all sides |
The count is the same either way; only the cuts move. From a corner you get 24 whole pavers and cut pieces on just two sides. From the centre the terrace is symmetrical, but there are almost twice as many cut pieces — 20 instead of 11.
Why area alone is not enough
The area gives 33 pavers, the layout needs 35. The difference is the cut pieces: what is left of a paver after cutting a 384 mm strip is just under 216 mm (less the saw cut), not enough for another 384 mm strip. So each cut piece is one paver bought. With 60 × 60 cm pavers that adds up, because a single paver covers more than a third of a square metre.
Where to put the cut pieces
Starting from a corner, you choose which corner stays whole. On a terrace that is usually the visible outer edge or the corner by the door from the living room. The 576 and 384 mm strips then end up against the house wall or the railing, where planters or furniture cover them. Both strips are more than half a paver, so they are easy to cut and to support.
Tiles & flooringOpen the terrace example in the calculatorMeasuring a terrace or balcony
- Measure the area the pavers will actually cover — from the house wall to the outer edge or the edge trim, not to the edge of the slab.
- If the balcony railing is fixed into the floor, note where the fixings are; the pavers around them will be cut.
- Split an L-shaped terrace into two rectangles and enter each one separately.
A terrace with no cuts
If you are still designing the terrace, size it to the paver. 7 pavers with 6 joints make 4,224 mm, 4 pavers with 3 joints 2,412 mm. A 4,224 × 2,412 mm terrace is covered by 28 whole pavers without a single cut — 31 to buy with a 10 % reserve.
Laying on pedestals
- 1Chalk the paver layout on the base, following the plan from the calculator.
- 2As TileBar’s guide describes, place pedestals along the perimeter first and then at the points where paver corners meet.
- 3Lay the whole pavers from your chosen corner and level them by adjusting the pedestal height.
- 4Measure the cut pieces last, on site, one at a time.
Outdoors, keep in mind
- Slope — MSI requires outdoor pavers to slope in one direction away from the structure, towards grade or a linear drain. Build the fall into the base, not the joints.
- Pedestals — pedestal maker EnviroBuild states that every paver must be supported at each corner and that pieces cut to fit edges and corners must be supported properly too. A narrow piece at the wall often needs an extra pedestal.
- Cutting — cut porcelain pavers with a wet saw and a blade made for porcelain, and wear eye and dust protection.
On a balcony or a terrace over a living space, the waterproofing and drainage matter more than the pavers. Have the build-up and fall checked in the design or by a professional, and choose pedestals according to their manufacturer’s instructions.