Paver calculator
A paver patio is three materials stacked up: a compacted gravel base, an inch of bedding sand, and the pavers themselves with sand swept into the joints. Enter the patio size and the paver you like, and the calculator counts all of it.
How the paver calculator works
The calculator divides the patio area by the footprint of one paver plus its joint gap to get the paver count, then adds waste for the cuts along edges. The base materials are figured as volumes: the gravel depth you choose over the full area, plus 1 inch of concrete sand for the bedding layer, each with 10 percent extra for compaction. Polymeric sand coverage depends on joint width, roughly 75 square feet per 50 lb bag with 1/8 inch joints.
Edge restraint is counted around the perimeter in 8 foot lengths. Skip it on sides that butt against a house wall or existing concrete.
Formula
pavers = area ÷ ((paver width + joint) × (paver length + joint) ÷ 144) × (1 + waste)
base cubic yards = area × depth in ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.1
Example: a 16 × 12 ft patio is 192 sq ft. A 4 × 8 in Holland paver with 1/8 in joints covers 0.233 sq ft, so the patio takes 825 pavers, or 883 with 7 percent waste. The 4 in gravel base is 2.6 cubic yards (about 3.9 tons), bedding sand 0.65 cubic yards, and polymeric sand 3 bags.
Installation layers
- Excavate to the total depth of base, sand, and paver, plus a slope of 1/4 in per foot away from buildings.
- Base: spread crusher run or 3/4 in minus gravel in 2 in lifts, compacting each with a plate compactor. The gravel calculator can price this by the ton.
- Bedding sand: screed exactly 1 in of coarse concrete sand over the base. Do not compact it and do not walk on it.
- Pavers: set them straight down, never slide, and keep a string line for straight rows. Cut edge pieces with a wet saw or splitter.
- Edge restraint spiked into the base, then sweep in polymeric sand, compact, and mist with water to lock the joints.
Pouring a slab instead? The concrete calculator uses the same patio dimensions.
Common questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10x10 patio?
About 460 of the 4 × 8 in Holland pavers with 7 percent waste, or 107 of the 12 × 12 in pavers. A 10 × 10 patio is 100 square feet, and a 4 × 8 paver covers about 0.23 square feet including a small joint.
How much gravel base do I need under pavers?
4 inches of compacted gravel for a patio or walkway on well-drained soil, 6 inches on clay or where water collects, and 8 to 12 inches for a driveway. A 200 sq ft patio with a 4 in base needs about 2.7 cubic yards, or 4 tons.
How much sand goes under pavers?
One inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat. Never use more; thick sand shifts and lets pavers sink. Play sand and masonry sand are too fine and should not be used for bedding.
How much does a paver patio cost in materials?
Roughly $5 to $12 per square foot for pavers, base, sand, and edging, with basic concrete pavers at the low end and natural stone or large-format slabs at the high end. Renting a plate compactor and wet saw adds $100 to $200 for a weekend.