How many pavers do I need for a 16×20 patio?
A 16 × 20 ft patio is 320 square feet. In standard 4 × 8 in pavers that is 1,472 pavers with 7 percent waste, or 336 pavers if you use 12 × 12 in. Under them you need 4.35 cubic yards of gravel (6.5 tons) for a 4 in base, 1.09 cubic yards of bedding sand, 5 bags of polymeric sand, and 9 pieces of edge restraint.
Paver count for a 16×20 patio by paver size
| Paver | Pavers to buy (7% waste) | Pavers per sq ft | Polymeric sand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in Holland | 1,472 | 4.30 | 5 bags |
| 6 × 6 in | 1,315 | 3.84 | 5 bags |
| 6 × 9 in | 883 | 2.58 | 5 bags |
| 12 × 12 in | 336 | 0.98 | 5 bags |
| 16 × 16 in | 190 | 0.55 | 5 bags |
| 24 × 24 in slab | 85 | 0.25 | 5 bags |
Counts assume 1/8 in joints and 7 percent waste for edge cuts. Base gravel, bedding sand, and edging are the same whichever paver you pick.
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Base, sand, and edging for a 16×20 patio
- Gravel base: 4.35 cubic yards of 3/4 in minus crushed stone for a 4 in base, about 6.5 tons. On clay or a wet site, go 6 in deep: 6.52 cubic yards.
- Bedding sand: 1.09 cubic yards of coarse concrete sand, screeded exactly 1 in thick. That is about 59 bags of 50 lb if you buy bagged.
- Polymeric sand: 5 bags of 50 lb for 1/8 in joints with 4 × 8 pavers; large-format pavers need less because there is less joint.
- Edge restraint: 9 pieces of 8 ft plastic edging and about 36 10 in spikes. Skip the sides that butt against the house.
- Excavation: dig 7.4 in below finished grade for base, sand, and a 2-3/8 in paver, which is about 7.3 cubic yards of soil to haul away.
What a 16×20 paver patio costs
Materials for a 320 sq ft patio run roughly $1,117 to $1,952: basic concrete pavers at $2 to $4 per square foot, gravel at $45 to $65 a ton delivered, sand, polymeric sand, and edging. Natural stone or large porcelain slabs push the paver line to $8 to $15 per square foot. A contractor-built patio of this size typically prices at $3,840 to $7,040 installed. Renting a plate compactor and a wet saw for the weekend adds $100 to $200 to a DIY job.
Common questions
How many pavers do I need for a 16x20 patio?
1,472 of the 4 × 8 in Holland pavers, 883 of 6 × 9 in, 336 of 12 × 12 in, or 85 of 24 × 24 in slabs, each with 7 percent extra for cuts.
How much gravel goes under a 16x20 paver patio?
4.35 cubic yards, or about 6.5 tons, for a 4 in compacted base with 10 percent for compaction. Use 6 in (6.52 cubic yards) on clay soil or where water collects.
How much sand do I need for a 16x20 patio?
1.09 cubic yards of coarse concrete sand for the 1 in bedding layer, plus 5 bags of polymeric sand to sweep into the joints after the pavers are set.