{"title":"How to Make Concrete Pavers in Any Size","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/crafts/how-to-make-concrete-pavers","category":{"slug":"crafts","name":"Crafts"},"creator":{"name":"Jesse does DIY","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ8iRt0Uy7q0IIDRDMjWIA","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHYwypgzDjo"},"tldr":"How to make concrete pavers with a simple wood form. Sizing, how much concrete to buy, edging and a non-slip broom finish for custom patio blocks.","quickAnswer":"How to make concrete pavers with a simple wood form. A medium project: about 1 hour 30 minutes, plus 24 hours to dry or set. Materials cost about $15 to $30. You need 15 things, including pine 1x3 boards, 1-1/2 inch deck screws and concrete mix. The 10 steps start with cut 1x3 Boards to Size for the Concrete Paver Form, screw the Corners of the Paver Form Together and set the Paver Forms on a Plastic Sheet.","totalDurationSeconds":510,"videoDurationSeconds":510,"difficulty":"medium","project":{"difficulty":"medium","projectMinutes":90,"waitMinutes":1440,"totalMinutes":1530,"estimatedCost":{"currency":"USD","min":15,"max":30},"yield":"2 patio pavers"},"tools":["miter saw or hand saw","drill","mixing tub","hoe or shovel","wooden float or 2x4","concrete edging tool","steel trowel","stiff concrete brush","gloves and eye protection"],"materials":["pine 1x3 boards","1-1/2 inch deck screws","concrete mix","water","plastic sheeting","cooking oil spray"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Cut 1x3 Boards to Size for the Concrete Paver Form","text":"Measure the spot where your paver will go and decide on its final size. Cut four pieces of pine 1x3 to make a rectangle that size on the inside. Two pieces are the full length, and two are the width plus the thickness of both boards. Use 1x3 or 2x3 for anything people will walk on. Thinner 1x2 is only fine for decorative stones."},{"number":2,"title":"Screw the Corners of the Paver Form Together","text":"Butt the boards together at each corner and drive one 1-1/2 inch deck screw through the long side into the end of the short side. Do not overtighten, or the wood can split. A single screw per corner is enough. It holds the shape while you pour and comes out easily when you take the form apart."},{"number":3,"title":"Set the Paver Forms on a Plastic Sheet","text":"Pick a flat, level spot such as a patio or garage floor. Lay down a sheet of plastic or an opened garbage bag to catch spills and stop the concrete sticking to the ground. Place the forms on top. The plastic also gives the bottom of each paver a smooth face. Spray the inside of the forms with cooking oil if you plan to reuse them."},{"number":4,"title":"Mix the Concrete for the Pavers in a Tub","text":"Pour one bag of concrete mix into a mixing tub and add water a little at a time, following the bag. Mix with a hoe or shovel until it is about the thickness of pancake batter. Scrape the sides and corners of the tub so no dry pockets are left. Then add the second bag and repeat. Wear gloves."},{"number":5,"title":"Shovel the Concrete Into the Paver Form","text":"Shovel the wet concrete into the form. Start at one end and work toward the other, piling it slightly higher than the top of the boards. Do not worry about the surface yet. The goal is to get enough concrete in to fill every corner, with a little extra on top to scrape off when you level it."},{"number":6,"title":"Level the Concrete Paver With a Float or 2x4","text":"Use a wooden float, a 2x4 or a trowel to push concrete into all the corners. Fill it as close to level with the form as you can, maybe a touch over. For longer stones, drag a straight 2x4 across the top edges of the form in a sawing motion. Push the extra off the end and drop some into any low spots."},{"number":7,"title":"Round the Paver Edges With an Edging Tool","text":"Wait about half an hour, until the shine has left the surface. Run an edging tool along the inside of the form all the way around. Make several passes, going a little deeper each time, and lift the leading edge of the tool so it does not dig in. Rounded edges are less likely to chip and feel nicer underfoot."},{"number":8,"title":"Smooth the Paver Face With a Steel Trowel","text":"After edging, sweep a steel trowel lightly across the face of the paver. You do not need much pressure. Hold the front edge of the trowel slightly raised and use long, overlapping strokes. This smooths out float marks and the ridges left by the edger. Go back over the edges once more if you want a crisper line."},{"number":9,"title":"Brush a Non-Slip Finish Onto the Concrete Paver","text":"A smooth paver gets slippery when wet. Drag a stiff concrete brush across the surface in long, straight lines for a broom finish. Timing is tricky. Brush when a fingertip leaves only the faintest print. Too soon and you tear up the surface. Too late and you get very little texture. Brush across or along the stone."},{"number":10,"title":"Cure, Demold and Lay the Concrete Pavers","text":"Cover the pavers with plastic and leave them overnight. After about 24 hours, unscrew the forms and lift them away. Set the pavers into place, tapping them level. Mist them with water every few hours for the first couple of days to help them cure strong. Full strength takes about four weeks, so go gently with heavy loads."}],"commonProblems":[],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-10-23T14:29:05.671Z","published":"2026-10-23T14:29:05.358Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit Show Me Step by Step with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure. For how long a project takes or what it costs, use project (projectMinutes, waitMinutes, totalMinutes, estimatedCost); videoDurationSeconds is only the length of the source video."}