Paver Calculator: How Many Pavers Do I Need?

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To find how many pavers you need, divide the area in square feet by the area of one paver in square feet, then add about 10 percent for cuts and breakage, just as the paver calculator does. A 4 × 8 in paver covers 0.222 sq ft (4.5 pavers per sq ft), so a 12 × 10 ft patio (120 sq ft) needs 540 pavers, or 594 with 10 percent extra. Underneath, plan on a compacted gravel base, typically 4 to 6 inches for patios and walkways, and about 1 inch of bedding sand.

The calculator below handles all three: pavers, base gravel, and bedding sand.

How many pavers do you need?

Enter the patio or walkway size and your paver size. We also estimate the gravel base and bedding sand.

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Walkways and patios typically use a 4 to 6 in compacted base; driveways need more. Tons assume about 1.4 tons per cubic yard of crushed stone.

How to measure for a paver project

  1. Measure the finished paved area. Measure length and width in feet. For an L-shaped patio or a curved walkway, split it into rectangles, calculate each, and add them.
  2. Get the paver's size. Use the size on the product label. Many pavers are sold by a nominal size such as 4 × 8 in but are slightly smaller in reality. The Pavestone Holland paver, for example, measures 7.87 × 3.94 in. See the note on actual sizes below.
  3. Pick the base depth for your use. Patios and walkways need less base than driveways. See the depth table below.
  4. Size the base a little wider than the pavers. The Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA) guide specification calls for the base to extend beyond the edge restraint's spikes by at least the thickness of the base (the spec caps that minimum at 10 inches). More on that below.
  5. Plan the slope. Belgard recommends pitching the base away from the house at 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot. Measure the length of fall so you know how much lower the far edge will sit.

The paver formula

The calculator uses:

  • Area = length (ft) × width (ft)
  • Paver size (sq ft) = paver length (in) × paver width (in) ÷ 144
  • Pavers = area ÷ paver size × (1 + extra % ÷ 100), rounded up
  • Base (cu yd) = area × base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
  • Base (tons) = base cubic yards × 1.4
  • Bedding sand (cu ft) = area × sand depth (in) ÷ 12

The 144 converts square inches to square feet. The 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a typical weight for crushed stone; Select Sand & Gravel puts standard crushed stone at 1.35 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard and road base with fines at up to about 1.5.

Worked example (the calculator's default values)

A 12 × 10 ft patio with 8 × 4 in pavers, 10 percent extra, a 4 in gravel base, and 1 in of bedding sand:

  1. Area: 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft
  2. Paver size: 8 × 4 ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft (4.5 pavers per sq ft)
  3. Pavers: 120 × 4.5 = 540, plus 10 percent = 594 pavers
  4. Base: 120 × 4 ÷ 12 = 40 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 1.48 cubic yards, × 1.4 = about 2.07 tons
  5. Bedding sand: 120 × 1 ÷ 12 = 10.0 cu ft

The calculator shows: "You need 594 pavers for 120 sq ft. Base: 1.48 cu yd (about 2.07 tons) of crushed gravel at 4 in deep. Bedding sand: 10.0 cu ft at 1 in deep. Includes 10% extra pavers."

How many pavers fit in a 12 by 10 foot patioPlan of a 12 by 10 foot patio laid with 8 by 4 inch pavers in a running bond. The patio is 120 square feet, each paver covers 0.222 square feet (4.5 pavers per square foot), so it takes 540 pavers, or 594 with 10 percent extra for cuts.HOW MANY PAVERS FIT IN THE PATIOLength 12 ftWidth10 ft120 sq ft8 in4 inOne paver:8 × 4 in = 32 sq in32 ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ftor 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5 per sq ftArea: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ftPavers: 120 sq ft × 4.5 pavers per sq ft = 540Add 10% for cuts: 540 × 1.10 = 594 pavers
Each 8 × 4 in paver covers 0.222 sq ft, so a 120 sq ft patio takes 540 pavers, or 594 with 10% extra for cuts.

Pavers per square foot by size

Paver size (nominal)Pavers per sq ftPavers per 100 sq ft (no extra, rounded up)
4 × 8 in4.50450
6 × 6 in4.00400
6 × 9 in2.67267
6 × 12 in2.00200
12 × 12 in1.00100
16 × 16 in0.5657
12 × 24 in0.5050
24 × 24 in0.2525

These use nominal sizes. Always compare with the coverage printed on the pallet or product page.

Nominal vs. actual paver size

The Pavestone Holland paver is sold as a 4 × 8 but measures 7.87 × 3.94 in, and its pallet of 480 pieces is listed at 103 sq ft. That works out to about 4.66 pavers per sq ft, not 4.5. If you enter the actual size in the calculator, the example patio needs 614 pavers instead of 594. When the manufacturer lists coverage per pallet, trust that number: divide your area (plus extra) by it to get pallets.

Base and sand depth by use

UseCompacted gravel baseBedding sand
Patios and walkways4 to 6 inAbout 1 in
Residential driveways8 to 12 inAbout 1 in

Base depths are from Belgard's base installation guide; the 1 in bedding layer comes from the CMHA guide specification and Belgard. Site conditions can change these numbers. Belgard suggests checking with its local representative or a civil or geotechnical engineer for site-specific needs, and for a driveway it is worth having a pro confirm the base design.

For the example patio, bumping the base from 4 to 6 inches raises it to 2.22 cubic yards, about 3.11 tons.

Make the base wider than the pavers

Because the base should extend beyond the edge restraint by at least its own thickness, the base area is bigger than the paver area. For the example's 4 in base, add roughly 4 inches on every side: the base becomes about 12.67 × 10.67 ft, or 135.1 sq ft. That needs 1.67 cubic yards (about 2.34 tons) instead of 1.48. A quick way to get this from the calculator is to run it a second time with the larger length and width and read only the base line.

Paver patio layers: gravel base and bedding sandCross-section of a paver patio: pavers on 1 inch of bedding sand over a 4 inch compacted gravel base on compacted soil. For 120 square feet the base is 1.48 cubic yards, about 2.07 tons, and the sand is 10.0 cubic feet.WHAT GOES UNDER THE PAVERSPaversBedding sand · 1 inGravel base · 4 incrushed stone, compactedSubgradecompacted soilWalkways and patios typically use a 4 to 6 in compacted base; driveways need more.Base: 120 sq ft × (4 in ÷ 12) = 40 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.48 cu ydAt about 1.4 tons per cu yd: 1.48 × 1.4 = 2.07 tonsSand: 120 sq ft × (1 in ÷ 12) = 10.0 cu ft
For the 120 sq ft example, a 4 in gravel base is 1.48 cubic yards (about 2.07 tons) and 1 in of bedding sand is 10.0 cubic feet.

Installation tips that affect quantities

  • Compact in lifts. Belgard recommends compacting the base in layers (lifts) no thicker than 4 to 6 inches at a time. If you compact in 4 in lifts, a 6 in base goes down in two passes, and an 8 to 12 in driveway base takes two or three.
  • Buy the right sand. The CMHA specification calls for washed, clean bedding sand meeting the ASTM C33 grading, screeded to a nominal 1 inch.
  • Install edge restraints. CMHA calls for edge restraints around the full perimeter. Measure the perimeter and buy restraint to match: the example patio needs 2 × (12 + 10) = 44 linear feet, less any side that butts against the house.
  • Keep joints tight. The CMHA specification lists joints between 1/16 and 3/16 inch. Staying in that range keeps your count accurate.
  • Slope for drainage. At 1/8 inch per foot, a 12 ft patio drops 1.5 inches from the house to the far edge. Home Depot's patio guide states the same fall as about 1 inch every 8 feet.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using nominal size when the label says otherwise. Check actual dimensions or pallet coverage.
  • Too little extra for complex layouts. The 10 percent default suits straight layouts. Herringbone, diagonal patterns, and curved edges produce more cuts, so raise it.
  • Skimping on base. Stay within the depths above and compact every lift.
  • Forgetting the base overhang. The CMHA specification extends the base beyond the edge restraint, so size your gravel order for the wider footprint.
  • Ordering sand by the bag without checking volume. Bag sizes vary, so divide the cubic feet by the volume printed on the bag you're buying.

Frequently asked questions

How many pavers do I need per square foot?

For 4 × 8 in pavers, 4.5 per sq ft by nominal size. For 6 × 6 in, 4. For 12 × 12 in, 1. Actual sizes are often a little smaller, so check the manufacturer's coverage.

How much gravel base do I need for a paver patio?

Belgard calls for 4 to 6 inches of compacted aggregate for patios and walkways. For a 120 sq ft patio, that is 1.48 cubic yards at 4 inches or 2.22 cubic yards at 6 inches, before extending the base past the edges.

How much sand do I need under pavers?

Plan on about 1 inch of bedding sand. That is 1 cu ft for every 12 sq ft, so a 120 sq ft patio needs 10 cu ft. Joint sand is extra.

How many pavers do I need for a 12 × 12 patio?

With 4 × 8 in pavers and 10 percent extra, 713 pavers. The base at 4 inches is 1.78 cubic yards (about 2.49 tons), and the bedding sand is 12.0 cu ft.

How many pallets of pavers do I need?

Divide your total (area plus extra) by the pallet's listed coverage and round up. The Pavestone Holland pallet above covers 103 sq ft with 480 pieces. The example patio needs 120 sq ft plus 10 percent, or 132 sq ft, which is 1.28 pallets. Using the Holland's actual size (614 pavers), that is one full pallet plus 134 loose pieces if your supplier sells them singly, or two pallets if not.

Should I use 10 or 15 percent extra?

Start at 10 percent for a rectangle laid in a running bond or basketweave. Go higher for herringbone, diagonal layouts, curves, or lots of obstacles. Leftover pavers are handy for future repairs.