Paver Calculator
Calculate how many pavers you need for a patio, walkway or driveway — enter your area and paver size to get the paver count plus base gravel, bedding sand, polymeric sand and an estimated cost.
United States — national average · 2026 prices
Material only unless stated as installed. Excludes tax, permits and local labour. Verify with local suppliers — see how we calculate.
How this calculator works
Every figure above comes from the formula below, applied to the assumptions listed. Nothing is looked up from a hidden table — you can reproduce the result by hand.
Formula
pavers per sq ft = 144 ÷ (paver length × paver width, in inches)
pavers = area × pavers per sq ft × (1 + waste ÷ 100)
base gravel = area × base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 cubic yards
bedding sand = area × 1 in ÷ 12 cubic feet ÷ 0.5 per 50 lb bag
joint sand per sq ft (in³) = 144 × (PL·J + PW·J + J²) ÷ ((PL + J)(PW + J)) × joint depth
Assumptions & limits
- The joint-sand model is a real volume calculation, not a flat coverage rule: it derives the joint volume from paver size, joint width and joint depth. It reproduces published manufacturer coverage — about 88 sq ft per 50 lb bag for 4×8 pavers at 1/8 in joints, dropping toward 46 sq ft at 1/4 in.
- Polymeric sand is taken as 100 lb per cubic foot, so a 50 lb bag is about 0.5 cu ft (864 cubic inches).
- Bedding sand is a 1 inch screeded layer, per standard segmental-pavement practice.
- Base gravel defaults to 4 inches compacted, correct for a patio or walkway. Driveways need 6–8 inches, and cold-climate subgrades more.
- Costs assume $3 per paver, $45 per cubic yard of base gravel, $6 per 50 lb bag of bedding sand and $30 per bag of polymeric sand.
- Default waste is 10%. Use about 5% for a straight running bond and 10% or more for herringbone, diagonal or curved layouts, which produce more cut pieces.
- Edge restraint is not counted here — measure the perimeter separately. Without it the outer pavers spread and the whole field loosens.
Worked example
A 16 ft × 12 ft patio of 12×12 in pavers, 1/8 in joints, 4 in base, 10% waste
- Area = 192 sq ft · pavers per sq ft = 144 ÷ 144 = 1.0
- Pavers = 192 × 1.0 × 1.10 = 211.2 → 212 pavers
- Base gravel = 192 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 2.37 yd³
- Bedding sand = 192 ÷ 12 = 16 cu ft ÷ 0.5 = 32 × 50 lb bags
- Joint sand = 4.43 in³ per sq ft × 192 = 851 in³ = 49 lb → 1 bag (≈195 sq ft coverage at this paver size)
Result:212 pavers, 2.37 yd³ of base, 32 bags of bedding sand and 1 bag of polymeric sand — roughly $868 to $1,109.
Built and maintained by Christoph Ballmer, Honeygoat GmbH
Method and constants last checked against the calculator code on August 17, 2026. Independent trade review is not yet in place for this calculator — see how we handle review.
Read the site-wide calculation methodology · estimate vs. quote and safety limits
How many pavers do I need?
A paver patio is really four materials stacked together: the pavers you see, a compacted gravel base, a thin bedding-sand setting layer, and polymeric sand swept into the joints. Estimating a job means counting the pavers for your area and then sizing each layer beneath them. The calculator above does all of that at once — enter your area and paver size and it returns pavers, base gravel, bedding sand and joint sand, plus an estimated cost.
The paver formula
Start with the surface area, then divide by the footprint of one paver. Keep both in the same unit — the shortcut below converts the paver size from inches to square feet for you:
paver area (sq ft) = paver length (in) × paver width (in) ÷ 144
pavers = area (sq ft) ÷ paver area (sq ft) × (1 + waste %)
The 144 is the number of square inches in a square foot. Once you know how many pavers cover one square foot, the rest is multiplication. Always finish by adding a waste factor for cuts, breakage and color-matching — more on that below.
Worked example: a 16 × 12 ft patio
Say you are laying a 16 ft × 12 ft patio with standard 12×12 in pavers and a 10% waste allowance:
- Area = 16 ft × 12 ft = 192 sq ft
- Paver area = 12 × 12 ÷ 144 = 1 sq ft each
- Pavers = 192 ÷ 1 × 1.10 = ≈ 212 pavers
- Base gravel (4 in) = 192 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = ≈ 2.4 cubic yards
- Bedding sand (1 in) = 192 × (1 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = ≈ 0.6 cubic yards (≈ 32 × 50 lb bags)
- Polymeric sand for the joints = a few 50 lb bags (see the joint section)
Switch the paver size to 4×8 in and the same patio needs about 950 pavers instead — small pavers mean far more pieces and more joints, though the base and bedding stay the same.
Paver sizes & how many per square foot
Paver count is driven entirely by size. The table shows how many of each common paver cover a square foot, before waste:
| Paver size | Area each | Pavers / sq ft | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in (brick) | 0.22 sq ft | ≈ 4.5 | Walkways, herringbone driveways |
| 6 × 6 in | 0.25 sq ft | ≈ 4.0 | Borders, accents |
| 6 × 9 in | 0.38 sq ft | ≈ 2.7 | Patios, walkways |
| 8 × 8 in | 0.44 sq ft | ≈ 2.25 | Patios |
| 12 × 12 in | 1.0 sq ft | 1.0 | Patios, large-format |
| 12 × 24 in | 2.0 sq ft | 0.5 | Modern large-format patios |
The layers under a paver patio
What keeps a paver surface flat for years is the base, not the pavers. A standard walk-on patio is built up in layers; a driveway that carries vehicles needs a thicker base.
| Layer | Patio | Driveway | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compacted subgrade | — | — | Graded native soil |
| Crushed-stone base | 4–6 in | 6–8 in | Load spreading & drainage |
| Bedding sand | 1 in | 1 in | Setting bed — screeded flat |
| Pavers | — | — | The wearing surface |
| Polymeric joint sand | fills joints | fills joints | Locks pavers, sheds water |
Keep the bedding sand at a true 1 inch and screed it flat — piling extra sand to level a bad base just creates ruts later. Size the base gravel with the gravel calculator if you want to double-check the tonnage.
Polymeric sand for the joints
Polymeric sand is swept into the gaps between pavers and misted with water; it hardens to lock the pavers together and keep weeds and ants out. How much you need depends on paver size and joint width, not just area — a 50 lb bag covers about 75–100 sq ft of narrow 1/8 in joints but only 35–50 sq ft of 1/4 in joints. The calculator estimates the bags for you; for a joints-only estimate, use the dedicated polymeric sand calculator.
How much does a paver patio cost?
Paver cost has two parts: the materials (pavers, base, sand) and the installed job (labor and base prep). The figures below are typical 2026 US ranges and are estimates only.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 est.) |
|---|---|
| Concrete pavers (material) | $3–$8 / sq ft |
| Base gravel + bedding sand | $1–$3 / sq ft |
| Polymeric joint sand | $25–$40 / 50 lb bag |
| Installed paver patio | $10–$25 / sq ft |
| 200 sq ft patio, installed | ≈ $2,000–$5,000 |
Doing it yourself saves the labor, but base prep — excavation, grading, compaction — is the hard, make-or-break part. Price swings with paver type, pattern complexity, site access and region.
Waste & edge restraint: order a little extra
- Add 5% for a straight running-bond or stack pattern, and about 10% for herringbone, diagonal or curved layouts, which need more cut pieces.
- Buy the waste with the main order. Pavers vary slightly in color between production runs, so a later top-up may not match your field.
- Don't skip edge restraint. A spiked plastic or metal edge along the perimeter keeps the outer pavers from spreading. Measure the perimeter (2 × length + 2 × width) to size it.
Common mistakes
- Under-building the base. A thin or poorly compacted gravel base is the number-one reason paver patios settle and heave. Compact in lifts, not one deep layer.
- Too much bedding sand. The 1 inch setting layer is not there to level the base — keep it thin and even, and fix grade in the gravel.
- Skipping edge restraint. Without it the field loosens from the edges in and joints open up.
- Forgetting slope. A patio needs a slight pitch (about 1/4 in per foot) away from the house so water drains off the surface.
- Ignoring waste on cut-heavy patterns. Herringbone and circular kits generate a lot of offcuts — order the extra up front.
When to hire a pro
A small, square, flat patio is a realistic DIY weekend if you can excavate, compact and screed carefully. Bring in a hardscape pro for a driveway that carries vehicles, a large or sloped area, a complex pattern, or anywhere drainage and grading are tricky — the base work is where DIY paver jobs most often fail, and a crew with a plate compactor and screed rails will get it flat and stay-flat. Use this calculator to understand the material counts and get accurate bids. For related estimates, see the polymeric sand calculator for the joints, the gravel calculator for the base, the sand calculator for bedding sand, and the concrete calculator if you're comparing a poured slab.
Figures here are estimates only and vary by region, paver type, pattern and supplier as of 2026 — verify quantities and pricing with a local supplier or hardscape contractor before you order.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need?
Divide your project area (in square feet) by the area of one paver in square feet, then add 5–10% for cuts and breakage. A 12×12 in paver covers 1 sq ft, so a 200 sq ft patio needs about 200 pavers plus waste; a 4×8 in brick paver takes about 4.5 per sq ft, so the same patio needs roughly 900. The calculator above does this for any paver size.
How many 4×8 pavers are in a square foot?
A 4×8 in (32 sq in) paver covers 32 ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft, so you need about 4.5 of them per square foot. For a 100 sq ft area that is roughly 450 pavers before waste. Larger 6×9 in pavers take about 2.7 per sq ft and 12×12 in pavers just 1 per sq ft.
How much base and sand do I need under pavers?
A standard patio needs a 4–6 inch compacted gravel base and a 1 inch layer of bedding sand; driveways use 6–8 inches of gravel. For 100 sq ft, a 4-inch base is about 1.25 cubic yards of gravel and the 1-inch sand layer is about 0.31 cubic yards (roughly 8 bags of 50 lb sand). The calculator sizes all three layers for you.
How much polymeric sand do I need for pavers?
Polymeric sand fills the joints. A 50 lb bag covers about 75–100 sq ft with narrow 1/8 in joints, but only 35–50 sq ft with wider 1/4 in joints, because wider joints hold much more sand. The calculator estimates bags from your paver size and joint width — always round up, since opened bags cannot be stored.
How much does a paver patio cost?
Pavers themselves run about $2–$6 each (roughly $3–$8 per sq ft for the pavers alone). Installed, a paver patio typically costs $10–$25 per square foot including base, sand, edging and labor — so a 200 sq ft patio often runs $2,000–$5,000. DIY saves the labor but the base prep is the hard part.
How much extra should I order for cuts and waste?
Add about 5% for a simple square or rectangular layout and 10% for diagonal, herringbone or curved patterns, which need more cut pieces. Order the waste up front from the same batch — pavers vary slightly in color between production runs, so a later top-up may not match.
Do I need edge restraint for a paver patio?
Yes. Without a plastic or metal edge restraint spiked into the base, the outer pavers spread and the whole field loosens over time. Edge restraint runs along the perimeter of the patio, so measure the perimeter (2 × length + 2 × width) to size it. It is inexpensive and is what keeps the installation tight.
How many pavers do I need for a 20x20 patio?
A 20x20 patio is 400 square feet. In 12x12 in pavers that is 440 pavers with 10% waste; in 4x8 in brick pavers about 1,980; in large 16x16 in pavers about 250. The base scales with the same area: a 4 inch compacted gravel base is 4.94 cubic yards, and the 1 inch bedding-sand layer about 67 bags of 50 lb sand. Enter your paver size above for the full list.
How many pavers for a 16x16 area?
A 16x16 area is 256 square feet: about 282 pavers in 12x12 in units with 10% waste, or roughly 1,270 of the 4x8 in brick size. Waste matters more on smaller pads because edge cuts are a bigger share of the field - use 5% only for a straight run with few cuts, 10% or more for diagonal or curved layouts.