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A curved paver walkway can be built with very little cutting if you choose the right pavers and the right pattern. Small units turned a few degrees per course, circle and fan kits, and random multi-size bundles all bend around a curve with only a handful of cuts at the edges. Large rectangles in a herringbone pattern do not; on a curve, herringbone means cutting nearly every edge piece.
So the honest answer to "can I build a curved paver walkway without cutting?" is: almost, with the right layout, and never with every layout. This guide explains which ones work, how curved brick walkway patterns differ, and how to lay out a curve that looks deliberate.
It comes from Gerrior Masonry & Landscape Construction Corp. in Woburn, MA, a family-owned masonry and hardscape company that builds curved walkways and pool surrounds across the area.
Which pavers curve without cutting?
- Small modular or tumbled units. Small squares and short rectangles can each be turned a few degrees, so a course follows the curve. The joints open slightly on the outside of the bend and close on the inside. The tighter the curve, the smaller the unit needs to be.
- Circle and fan kits. Many manufacturers sell tapered units made to form circles and fans. They curve with no cuts in the field, only where the pattern meets a straight edge.
- Random multi-size bundles. Patterns built from several sizes in a random layout hide small adjustments well, so the curve shows up only at the borders.
- A border that bends. A soldier course of small units, set end to end along the edge, turns with tapered joints. This one border often does all the curve work, and the field inside it gets ordinary edge cuts.
Keep joints within the manufacturer's range. A joint that opens too wide on a tight curve lets the joint sand wash out and the pavers shift.
Patterns: what bends and what does not
Running bond that follows the curve
Courses run parallel to the edge of the walk and turn with it. This is the most natural curved look and needs the fewest cuts on a gentle bend.
Fan and circle patterns
These are built to curve, so they suit tight bends, round landings and the spot where a walk opens onto a patio.
Herringbone
Herringbone locks very well, which is why it is popular on driveways, but its zigzag runs in two directions. On a curve, the edge cuts change angle all the way along. Choose it for strength, not to avoid cutting.
Basketweave
Basketweave is made of square blocks of paired units. It does not turn, so a curved basketweave walk is really a straight pattern cut to a curved edge.
Curved brick walkway patterns
Brick follows the same rules. For a curved brick walkway, a running bond that follows the curve is the classic choice. A soldier or sailor border of brick standing on end around the outside, with tapered joints, frames the curve and hides the edge cuts of the field. Mixing colors helps too: small color changes draw the eye away from slightly uneven joints.
For straight front walks and brick types, see our post on brick walkway patterns and ideas. For more walkway styles, see paver walkway ideas.
A North Reading customer described a curved walkway we built, in terracotta with grey brick mixed in:
"It turned out (with the grey bricks mixed on) to be exactly what we wanted; especially with the curves and look of it." Dan, North Reading, MA
How to lay out a curve that looks right
- Use a garden hose. Lay a hose along one edge and adjust it until the curve looks easy from the house and from the street. Wide, smooth arcs look intentional. Many small wiggles look accidental and are harder to build.
- Keep the width constant. Measure the walk's width out from the first edge every couple of feet and mark the second edge from those points.
- Paint the lines. Mark both edges with marking paint, then add a few inches outside each line for the excavation and edge restraint.
- Check the ends. Decide where the curve meets the steps, the driveway or the patio, and make that meeting square to the other surface.
That walkway is part of a larger pool project; the full set of photos is on the Lynnfield pool deck project page.
The base is the same as a straight walk
A curve changes the pattern, not the construction underneath. The walk still needs topsoil removed, compacted 3/4-inch crushed gravel placed in thin layers, a thin bedding layer and edge restraint. Unilock's installation guide calls for a 6 to 8 inch base under walkways, with deeper excavation in clay (Unilock Basic Tech Guide). Flexible plastic edge restraint bends to the curve and is spiked into the compacted base.
Two common mistakes: landscape fabric does not stop weeds in paver joints (weeds grow from seeds that land in the joint sand), and a curve does not need a thinner base because it "only" carries foot traffic. Our step-by-step post on installing a paver walkway covers excavation, bedding and compaction in full.
When to call a mason
A short, gently curved garden path is a fair DIY project. Tight curves, a front walk that meets steps or a driveway, and walks on a slope are where professional layout and cutting pay off. Gerrior Masonry is an authorized Unilock contractor; Brussels Block is our most popular walkway paver, and we also install Belgard and Pavestone. See finished work on our walkway projects page and learn more about our walkways and stairs.
Common questions
Can you make a curved walkway with rectangular pavers?
Yes, on a gentle curve. Small rectangles in a running bond can be fanned slightly, with cuts mostly at the edges. Long or large rectangles need more cutting.
What is the best pattern for a curved paver walkway?
For the fewest cuts, a running bond that follows the curve, a fan pattern, or a random multi-size pattern inside a bent soldier border.
How tight can a paver curve be?
It depends on the paver size and the maker's joint range. Smaller units handle tighter curves. If joints on the outside of the bend open past the recommended width, the curve is too tight for that paver.
How do you keep a curved walkway from shifting?
The same way as any walkway: a compacted gravel base, edge restraint along both curved edges, and joints filled and compacted.
Planning a curved front walk or garden path? Gerrior Masonry is family-owned, fully insured, and our work is guaranteed. Call (781) 933-4157 or request a free estimate.
A family-owned masonry and hardscape company at 245 Salem St, Woburn, MA, in business for over 30 years. See our hardscaping work.
