How do you measure paving, edging and retaining walls in a landscape takeoff?

What should you read before measuring hardscape?

Before measuring hardscape, read the finishes plan, the construction details, the levels plan and the specification together. The plan tells you where each item goes, but the details and specification tell you what it is made of and what sits underneath, which is usually where the cost is.

Levels matter more for hardscape than for planting. Spot levels, contours and top-of-wall and bottom-of-wall levels tell you how high a wall really is, how many steps a change in level needs and whether paving falls to a drain. A wall drawn as a single line on plan can vary a lot in height along its length.

Raise anything that does not agree as a tender query. Our guide to reading a landscape tender scope covers how to find and flag these gaps.

How do you measure paving?

Paving is measured in square metres as a net area from the drawings, with a separate line item for each paving type. A type is any combination of material, unit size, thickness, finish and laying pattern that the specification distinguishes, because each one is supplied and laid differently.

Deduct areas the paving does not cover, such as tree pits, planter openings and large pits or grates, unless the bill of quantities says otherwise. Measure feature bands, borders and inlays as their own items, since they take more cutting and setting out.

Record where the paving sits as well as how much there is. Paving on a structural slab, on a podium or around a building edge often has different requirements from paving on grade, and the pricing needs to know which is which.

How do you measure the layers under paving?

The layers under paving are measured as separate line items, each in the unit that suits it. Read the paving detail from the bottom up: subgrade preparation, base course, any concrete slab, bedding layer, then the paving itself and the jointing.

1. Subgrade preparation. Measure by area, usually matching the paved area plus any extension the detail shows beyond the edge.
2. Base course. Measure by volume: area x specified depth in metres, using the depth and material from the detail.
3. Concrete slab. Measure by volume or area as the bill asks, and note any reinforcement and joints shown.
4. Bedding. Measure by area or volume depending on whether it is sand, mortar or adhesive.
5. Jointing and sealing. Measure by area of paving where the specification calls for a particular product.

Layers often extend past the paving edge to support the edge restraint, so measure them to the extent shown on the detail, not just the paved area. Our guide to calculating topsoil, mulch and turf quantities sets out the area x depth method in more detail.

How do you measure edging?

Edging is measured by the linear metre along its centreline, with a separate line item for each edging type. Steel, aluminium, timber, concrete and brick or paver edging are different products with different fixing, so they never share a line.

Measure curved runs separately from straight runs where the product needs bending, extra pins or cutting to follow a curve. Count corners, joiners and end pieces as separate items if the product or the bill treats them that way.

Check what the edging is restraining. An edge restraint to paving may sit on a concrete haunch shown on the detail, which is its own item, while a garden edge between a lawn and a bed may only need pins or stakes.

How do you measure retaining walls?

Retaining walls are measured either by face area, which is length multiplied by exposed height, or by linear metre within height bands. Use whichever method the bill of quantities asks for, and if there is no bill, use the one that matches how you price.

Face area suits segmental block and sleeper walls priced per square metre. Because wall height usually changes along the run, split the wall into segments between known levels and measure each one. As a made-up example figure, a segment 12 m long with an exposed height averaging 0.8 m is 12 x 0.8 = 9.6 m2 of face.

Height bands suit walls whose cost per metre changes with height, such as when taller sections need a different block, deeper footing or reinforcement. Measure the length of wall falling within each band shown on the levels, and list each band as its own line.

Measure the exposed height to the finished levels on both sides, and note any embedded courses below finished ground, which are built and paid for even though nobody sees them.

What else goes with a retaining wall?

A retaining wall comes with several associated items that must be measured separately, and they are the items most often missed.

• Excavation and spoil disposal, by volume, to the extent shown on the detail.
• Footing or levelling pad, by volume or linear metre, from the detail for each height band.
• Drainage pipe behind the wall, by linear metre, plus its connection to a pit or outlet.
• Drainage aggregate and geotextile, by volume and area respectively.
• Backfill, by volume, in the material the specification names.
• Geogrid or reinforcement, where the engineer's design shows it.
• Capping, by linear metre.

If the documents call for engineer design, certification or a permit, check who is responsible for it under the contract before pricing it. When the answer is unclear, ask, and get advice if it matters.

How do you measure steps and kerbs?

Steps are counted by number, with the tread width, riser height and material recorded for each flight. Landings are measured as paving. Read the detail for what sits beneath the steps, and measure footings, nosings and handrails as separate items where they apply.

Kerbs are measured by the linear metre for each kerb type, like edging. Count kerb ramps, transitions and laybacks separately, because they take more work than a straight run.

How do you allow for cuts and waste?

Allow for cuts and waste using figures from your own records of similar jobs, not a rule of thumb. Waste depends on unit size, laying pattern, how irregular the area is and how many edges and penetrations it has, so one figure does not suit every job.

Keep the net measured quantity and the waste allowance as separate figures. The bill shows what the drawings contain, and the allowance sits in your ordering quantity or your rate, so anyone checking the takeoff can see both. Our list of common landscape takeoff mistakes covers how a hidden allowance gets counted twice.

Summary table

The table below sets out how each common hardscape item is measured and what to check before it goes into the bill.

Frequently asked questions

What unit is paving measured in?

Paving is measured in square metres as a net area from the drawings, with a separate line item for each paving type, size, finish and laying pattern. Base course, bedding and any concrete slab beneath are measured as their own items, not hidden in the paving rate.

How is landscape edging measured?

Edging is measured by the linear metre along its centreline, with a separate line for each edging type and profile. Note curved runs separately from straight ones, and count corners, joiners and end pieces where the product or the bill of quantities treats them as separate items.

Should retaining walls be measured by square metre or linear metre?

Either can work, so follow the bill of quantities if one is provided. Face area, length multiplied by exposed height, suits block walls priced per square metre. Linear metre per height band suits walls whose cost changes with height. Never mix the two for one wall.

What else needs measuring with a retaining wall?

Measure the footing, the drainage behind the wall, the drainage aggregate, any geotextile, the backfill and any capping, each as its own item. Also check for excavation, disposal of spoil, geogrid reinforcement and engineering requirements shown on the details or in the specification.

How much should you allow for cutting and waste on paving?

Take the cut and waste allowance from your own records of similar jobs, because it depends on the unit size, the laying pattern and how irregular the area is. Keep it separate from the measured net area so the bill shows what the drawings actually contain.

How do you measure steps in a landscape takeoff?

Count steps by number and record the tread width, riser height and material, then measure any landings as paving. Where steps are built from blocks, sleepers or concrete, read the detail to see what sits beneath them, and measure footings and nosings separately if the bill requires it.

Key takeaways

• Read the finishes plan, details, levels and specification together before measuring any hardscape.
• Measure paving in square metres, one line per type, size, finish and pattern.
• Measure base course, slab, bedding and jointing as separate items to the extent shown on the detail.
• Measure edging and kerbs by the linear metre per type, with curves and special pieces noted.
• Measure retaining walls by face area or by height band, using levels on both sides, never both methods for one wall.
• Measure wall footings, drainage, aggregate, backfill and capping separately, and take waste from your own records.