How to calculate how many pavers you need
A paver estimate compares two areas: the area you want to cover and the face area of a single paver. Measure the patio, work out the area of one paver in square feet, and divide.
Patio area (sq ft) = length (ft) × width (ft)
Paver area (sq ft) = paver length (in) × paver width (in) ÷ 144
Pavers = patio area × (1 + waste %) ÷ paver area
The 144 converts square inches to square feet (12 × 12). A standard 4 × 8 inch paver covers 32 square inches, or 0.222 sq ft, so it takes 4.5 of them to cover one square foot.
Always add a waste allowance. Pavers are cut along the edges and around obstacles, and a few break in transport. Use 5% to 10% for a simple rectangle laid in a running bond, and 10% to 15% for herringbone, diagonal patterns or curved borders. The calculator rounds the result up to a whole paver. It ignores the narrow joints between pavers, which slightly overestimates the count.
Worked example: a 10 × 20 ft patio
Say you are building a 10 ft by 20 ft patio with 6 × 9 inch pavers, a 4 inch gravel base and a 1 inch layer of bedding sand.
- Patio area: 10 × 20 = 200 sq ft
- Paver area: 6 × 9 ÷ 144 = 0.375 sq ft (2.67 pavers per sq ft)
- Exact count: 200 ÷ 0.375 = 533.3 pavers
- With 10% waste: 220 ÷ 0.375 = 586.7, so order 587 pavers
- Gravel base: 200 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.7 cubic feet = 2.47 cubic yards, about 3.46 tons
- Bedding sand: 200 × (1 ÷ 12) = 16.7 cubic feet = 0.62 cubic yards, about 0.83 tons or 34 half-cubic-foot bags
Base gravel compacts when you run a plate compactor over it, so many installers order about 10% more than the loose volume. For a closer look at either layer, use the gravel calculator and the sand calculator.
Pavers per square foot by size
Paver sizes are nominal, and some brands vary slightly, so check the exact dimensions or the coverage printed on the pallet. These figures are calculated from the face size alone.
| Paver size | Sq ft per paver | Pavers per sq ft | Pavers per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 0.222 | 4.5 | 450 |
| 6 × 6 in | 0.25 | 4 | 400 |
| 6 × 9 in | 0.375 | 2.67 | 267 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1 | 1 | 100 |
| 16 × 16 in | 1.778 | 0.56 | 56.3 |
| 12 × 24 in | 2 | 0.5 | 50 |
| 24 × 24 in | 4 | 0.25 | 25 |
Base and bedding sand under pavers
Pavers sit on two layers. The first is a compacted base of crushed gravel, commonly around 4 inches for patios and walkways and 6 to 8 inches or more for driveways. On top of it goes a screeded layer of coarse bedding sand, usually about 1 inch. Follow the recommendations of your paver manufacturer and your local conditions; clay soils and cold climates often call for a deeper base.
The calculator turns both depths into cubic yards and tons, using planning densities of 1.4 tons per cubic yard for gravel and 1.35 for sand. Set either depth to 0 to leave it out. The fine joint sand swept in at the end is a separate, small purchase; its coverage depends on the joint width, so follow the bag label.
Measuring an L-shaped or curved patio? Split it into simple shapes with the square footage calculator. Considering a poured slab instead? Try the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10 × 10 patio?
With standard 4 × 8 inch pavers, a 100 sq ft patio takes 450 pavers. Adding 10% for cuts and breakage brings the order to 495 pavers.
How many 4 × 8 pavers are in a square foot?
Four and a half. A 4 × 8 inch paver covers 32 square inches, and a square foot is 144 square inches, so 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5.
How much extra should I order for paver waste?
Plan for 5% to 10% on simple rectangular layouts and 10% to 15% for herringbone, diagonal patterns or curves, which need more cuts. Keeping a few spares also helps with future repairs.
How much gravel base do I need under pavers?
A compacted base of about 4 inches is common for patios and walkways, and 6 to 8 inches for driveways. A 100 sq ft patio with a 4 inch base needs 33.3 cubic feet, or 1.23 cubic yards of gravel, before compaction.
How much sand goes under pavers?
Usually a 1 inch layer of coarse bedding sand. That is 8.33 cubic feet, or about 0.31 cubic yards, per 100 sq ft, which is roughly 17 bags of half a cubic foot.
More free calculators
These calculators give estimates for planning only. Densities, bag sizes and coverage vary by supplier, so confirm quantities before you order.