How to use the paver calculator
- Measure the finished paved area. For a rectangle enter length and width; for an L-shape or a patio with a curved edge, work out the area first (split it into rectangles, or use the square footage calculator) and enter it directly.
- Choose the paver size. Use the nominal size the manufacturer lists. If your paver isn't in the list, pick "Custom" and enter its length and width in inches. Many pavers come in multi-size patterns sold by the square foot — in that case buy by area plus waste and use the paver count only as a cross-check.
- Set waste for your pattern. Straight running bond and stack bond with few cuts need 5–10%. Herringbone, diagonal layouts and curved edges create more cut pieces, so allow 15% or more.
- Set the base and sand depths. The defaults — 4 in of compacted gravel and 1 in of bedding sand — are typical for a patio or walkway with foot traffic only.
Paver formulas
Pavers = area × pavers per sq ft × (1 + waste %), rounded up
Base gravel (cu yd) = area × base depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + compaction %) ÷ 27
Bedding sand (cu yd) = area × sand depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
Manufacturers' nominal sizes include a little room for the joint (many pavers have small spacer bars cast into the sides), which is why the count is based on the nominal size rather than the measured size of a single paver. If the pallet or spec sheet lists "pieces per square foot", trust that number over the arithmetic.
Worked example: a 12 × 12 ft patio with 4 × 8 in pavers
The area is 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft. A 4 × 8 in paver covers 32 sq in, so there are 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5 pavers per square foot, and 144 × 4.5 = 648 pavers. Adding 10% waste gives 712.8, so buy 713 pavers.
The gravel base is 144 × 4 ÷ 12 = 48 cu ft. With 15% extra for compaction that's 55.2 cu ft, or 2.04 cubic yards — about 3.07 tons at 1.5 tons per yard. The bedding sand is 144 × 1 ÷ 12 = 12 cu ft, or 0.44 cubic yards, about 0.60 tons at 1.35 tons per yard.
Pavers per square foot by size
Coverage below is based on nominal dimensions. Actual sizes vary by manufacturer — a "4 × 8" may really be 100 × 200 mm — so check the product sheet.
| Nominal size | Area per paver | Pavers per sq ft | Pavers per 100 sq ft (no waste) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 32 sq in | 4.5 | 450 |
| 6 × 6 in | 36 sq in | 4 | 400 |
| 6 × 9 in | 54 sq in | 2.67 | 267 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1 sq ft | 1 | 100 |
| 16 × 16 in | 1.78 sq ft | 0.56 | 56 |
| 24 × 24 in | 4 sq ft | 0.25 | 25 |
Base gravel and bedding sand
A paver surface is only as good as what's under it. The usual build-up is excavated, compacted soil; a layer of crushed, angular stone with fines (often sold as "paver base", road base or dense-graded aggregate), compacted in lifts with a plate compactor; then a thin, screeded layer of coarse bedding sand that the pavers are set into.
| Use | Typical compacted base | Bedding sand |
|---|---|---|
| Patios and walkways (foot traffic) | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) | 1 in (2.5 cm) |
| Residential driveways | 6 in (15 cm) minimum on firm, well-drained soil; 8–12 in (20–30 cm) on clay, poorly drained or frost-prone soil | 1 in (2.5 cm) |
Base requirements depend on your soil, drainage and climate, and paver manufacturers publish their own installation guides — follow them where they differ from these typical figures.
Weights vary. Dense-graded paver base typically weighs around 1.5 tons per cubic yard (clean crushed stone is closer to 1.4) and bedding sand around 1.35, but the real figure depends on the stone, its gradation and moisture. Quarries usually sell by the ton, so ask for their conversion and enter it in the weight fields. Loose gravel also shrinks when compacted, which is why the calculator adds a compaction allowance to the base volume (15% by default — adjust it if your supplier recommends otherwise). No allowance is added to the bedding sand, which is screeded rather than compacted before the pavers go down.
Practical tips
- Extend the base past the edges. The base should run beyond the pavers so the edge restraint has firm support — installation guides commonly call for at least 6 in. Add that to your length and width if you want it included in the gravel estimate.
- Plan for edge restraint. Plastic, aluminum or concrete edging keeps the outer pavers from spreading. Measure the perimeter of the patio to know how much to buy.
- Joint sand is separate. After the pavers are compacted, joints are filled with fine sand or polymeric sand. Coverage depends heavily on joint width and paver shape, so use the coverage printed on the bag you buy.
- Buy all pavers at once. Color varies between production runs. Blend pavers from several pallets as you lay them so slight differences don't show up as patches.
- Driveways are different. For vehicle traffic use pavers rated for it (often thicker, 80 mm / 3⅛ in) and a deeper base — the gravel calculator can help size it.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need per square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver's length × width in inches. For 4 × 8 in pavers that's 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5 per square foot; for 6 × 9 in it's 2.67; for 12 × 12 in it's exactly 1.
How many pavers do I need for a 12×12 patio?
A 12 × 12 ft patio is 144 sq ft. With 4 × 8 in pavers that's 648 pavers, or 713 with 10% extra for cuts and breakage.
How much gravel do I need under pavers?
For a patio, about 4 in of compacted base: 144 sq ft × 4 in is 48 cu ft, or about 2.04 cubic yards once you add 15% for compaction. Driveways need at least 6 in on firm, well-drained soil and 8–12 in on clay, poorly drained or frost-prone soil.
How much sand goes under pavers?
A 1 in screeded layer of coarse bedding sand is standard. That's 1 cubic yard for every 324 sq ft of patio, before any allowance for waste.
How much extra should I order for waste?
Plan on 5–10% for simple running bond or stack bond layouts, and 15% or more for herringbone, diagonal patterns and curved edges, which need many more cut pieces.