Calcnaut · calcnaut.com
Paver Calculator · https://calcnaut.com/paver-calculator/

Paver Calculator

Enter your patio or walkway size and your paver dimensions to get the number of pavers you need, plus the bedding sand. A waste allowance for cuts is built in, and the formula is shown so you can check the math.

Inputs

Enter your measurements

ft
in
ft
in
in
Long side of one paver. A common brick paver is 8 × 4 in.
in
Short side of one paver.
in
Compacted crushed-stone base under the sand. 4 in for patios, 6 in or more for driveways.
%
Extra for cuts. 5% for a straight lay, 10 to 15% for herringbone or diagonal patterns.
$
Optional. Enter the price of one paver to estimate the paver cost.
ft²
Coverage per 50 lb bag of polymeric joint sand. Narrow joints reach 75 to 100, wide joints 25 to 35 ft².

This is an estimate, not professional advice. Check your inputs and verify the result against your plans and local building code before you build or order. See terms and disclaimer.

How this calculator works

Area (ft²) = Length(ft) × Width(ft)Pavers per ft² = 144 ÷ (Paver length(in) × Paver width(in))Pavers = Area × pavers per ft² × (1 + Waste% ÷ 100)Bedding sand (ft³) = Area × (1 in ÷ 12)Gravel base (ft³) = Area × (Base depth(in) ÷ 12) yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27Polymeric joint sand (50 lb bags) = Area ÷ coverage per bag

Enter your dimensions and the result updates instantly. A waste allowance is included so you order slightly over rather than running short mid-pour, and ready-mix is rounded up to the nearest quarter yard, which is how it is sold.

Worked example

A 12 ft × 12 ft patio with 8 × 4 in brick pavers and a 10% waste allowance. Inputs: Area length 12 ft, Area width 12 ft, Paver length 8 in, Paver width 4 in, Waste allowance 10 %. Result: 713 .

Pavers for common patio sizes

Calculated for 8 × 4 in brick pavers with a 10% waste allowance. Tap a size to load it above.

Slab sizePavers neededBedding sand (1 in) (ft³)
8 × 10 ft3966.7Use →
10 × 10 ft4958.3Use →
12 × 12 ft71312Use →
16 × 16 ft1,26821.3Use →
20 × 20 ft1,98033.3Use →
12 × 20 ft1,18820Use →

Method & assumptions

One square foot is 144 square inches, so the number of pavers per square foot is 144 divided by the face area of a single paver. We multiply that by your total area, add the waste allowance for cuts, and round up to whole pavers. An 8 by 4 inch brick paver, for example, covers 32 square inches, which works out to 4.5 pavers per square foot.

Bedding sand is the leveling layer the pavers sit on. We size it for a 1 inch bed: your area in square feet times one twelfth of a foot gives the volume in cubic feet, then we divide by 0.5 cubic feet to estimate standard bags. This is the setting sand only. The compacted crushed-stone base underneath, usually 4 inches for a patio and 6 inches or more for a driveway, is sized separately from your base depth and shown in cubic yards, since gravel is ordered by the yard.

Waste matters more for pavers than most materials because every cut at a border, curve or obstacle wastes part of a unit. A straight running bond wastes little, so 5% is fine; herringbone and diagonal patterns cut more units, so plan for 10 to 15%. Order pavers from the same batch where you can, since color can shift between production runs.

Pro tips and common mistakes

  • Build the base first. Pavers are only as stable as what is under them. Compact 4 to 6 inches of road base before the 1 inch sand bed, or the field will rut and settle.
  • Order extra for patterns. Herringbone and diagonal layouts cut a lot of edge pieces. Bump the waste to 10 to 15%, and keep a few full pavers for future repairs.
  • Mix from multiple pallets. Color varies between batches. Pull pavers from several pallets as you lay so any shade difference blends instead of forming a patch.
  • Plan the edge restraint. Without edging, pavers creep outward and joints open up. Budget for plastic or concrete edge restraint around the whole perimeter.
  • Slope for drainage. Pitch the field about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from buildings so water sheds instead of pooling on the surface.
How we check this
Every formula is shown in full and verified with automated tests against manufacturer spec sheets and ASTM and ACI standards. We show our work so you can check it.

Frequently asked questions

How many pavers do I need for a 10x10 patio?
A 10 by 10 foot patio is 100 square feet. With 8 by 4 inch brick pavers (4.5 per square foot) and 10% waste, that is about 495 pavers.
How many pavers are in a square foot?
It depends on the paver size. An 8 by 4 inch paver gives 4.5 per square foot; a 6 by 6 inch gives 4; a 12 by 12 inch gives 1. The calculator works it out from the dimensions you enter.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
Plan a 1 inch bedding sand layer, which is your area in square feet divided by 12 to get cubic feet. A 100 square foot patio needs about 8.3 cubic feet of bedding sand, on top of a compacted gravel base.
How much extra should I buy for cuts?
Add 5% for a straight running bond, and 10 to 15% for herringbone, pinwheel or diagonal patterns, which waste more units at the edges.

References

Related calculators

Concrete Slab Calculator→Brick Calculator→Retaining Wall Calculator→Square Footage Calculator→

Cite or embed this calculator

Using this in an article or on your own site? Copy a citation, or embed the live calculator for free.

CitePaver Calculator. Calcnaut. https://calcnaut.com/paver-calculator/
Embed<iframe src="https://calcnaut.com/paver-calculator/embed/" width="100%" height="640" loading="lazy" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:14px" title="Paver Calculator"></iframe> <p style="font:13px/1.5 sans-serif;text-align:center;color:#555">Powered by <a href="https://calcnaut.com/paver-calculator/" rel="nofollow">Calcnaut</a></p>
Pavers needed
495
View details