Paver count, polymeric sand, base rock & cost
This paver calculator tells you how many pavers you need for a patio, walkway, or driveway based on paver dimensions and project area. It also estimates the sand and gravel base quantities. All calculations happen locally in your browser.
Paver estimating comes down to one fact: pavers are sold by individual size, and each size covers a known fraction of a square foot. Once you know the coverage per piece, the rest is division.
A paver's face area in square feet is width in inches × length in inches ÷ 144. For example, the classic 4×8 inch brick paver covers 4 × 8 ÷ 144 = 0.2222 square feet, which means 4.5 pavers per square foot. A 12×12 paver covers exactly 1 square foot.
Total pavers = project area in square feet × pavers per square foot. Add a waste factor of 5 percent for simple rectangular layouts and 10 percent for diagonal (45-degree) patterns or curved borders, where cutting losses are higher. Base material follows a standard recipe: 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel plus 1 inch of bedding sand under the pavers.
This table converts common nominal paver sizes into coverage. The patio columns show the piece count for two popular project sizes after applying a 10 percent cutting-waste allowance — computed directly from each size's face area.
For instance, a 10×10 patio is 100 square feet; at 4.5 pieces per square foot that is 450 pavers of the 4×8 size including waste.
| Paver size (in) | Face area (sq ft) | Per sq ft | 10×10 patio (+10% waste) | 20×20 patio (+10% waste) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 | 0.2222 | 4.50 | 450 | 1,800 |
| 6 × 6 | 0.2500 | 4.00 | 400 | 1,600 |
| 6 × 9 | 0.3750 | 2.67 | 267 | 1,067 |
| 8 × 8 | 0.4444 | 2.25 | 225 | 900 |
| 12 × 12 | 1.0000 | 1.00 | 100 | 400 |
Base quantities come from volume: area × depth. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. A 100 square foot patio with 5 inches of gravel needs 100 × (5/12) = 41.7 cubic feet = 1.54 cubic yards of gravel, and 1 inch of bedding sand needs 100 × (1/12) = 8.3 cubic feet ≈ 0.31 cubic yards (about a third of a yard, or roughly 12 standard 0.75-cubic-foot bags).
For a 20×20 patio (400 square feet), the same 5-inch base requires 6.17 cubic yards of gravel and 1.23 cubic yards of sand. Compacting the gravel in 2-inch lifts with a plate compactor prevents settling later — loose estimates shrink about 20 percent when compacted, which the extra depth allowance absorbs.
['Pattern choice affects both appearance and piece count. Running bond and stack bond layouts waste the least, while herringbone and circles demand the most cutting at edges — that is exactly why the waste factor moves from 5 percent to 10 percent for those patterns. Buy edge pieces and soldier courses in the same purchase so dye lots match.', 'Every paved surface needs slope for drainage: industry guidance from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) recommends a minimum 2 percent (about 1/4 inch per foot) slope away from structures. Plan the finished height 1/8 to 1/4 inch below door thresholds and ledger boards, remembering that compacted base plus bedding sand plus paver thickness typically adds 7 to 9 inches of buildup over undisturbed soil.', 'Edge restraints are not optional. After screeding sand and setting pavers, compact the field with a plate compactor, sweep polymeric joint sand into the joints, and compact again. Rigid plastic or aluminum edge restraint, spiked every 12 inches, keeps the pattern from creeping apart — the most common failure point in DIY installations.']
How many 4x8 pavers are in a square foot?
A 4×8 inch paver covers 4×8÷144 = 0.2222 square feet, so it takes 4.5 pavers per square foot. For a 100 square foot patio that is 450 pieces, which already includes a 10 percent cutting-waste allowance.
How much base material do I need under pavers?
Plan on 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel plus 1 inch of bedding sand. Per 100 square feet at 5 inches of gravel, that is about 1.54 cubic yards of gravel and 0.31 cubic yards of sand, since one cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
What waste percentage should I add for pavers?
Use 5 percent for straight (90-degree) layouts and 10 percent for diagonal herringbone or 45-degree patterns and curved borders, where more edge pieces must be cut. Pavers are often sold in bundles, so rounding up to full bundles usually covers the difference.
How do I calculate the square footage of my patio?
Multiply length × width in feet for rectangles. For L-shapes, split the area into rectangles, calculate each, and add them together. Measure to the outer edge of any planned soldier course or border, since borders are usually counted at their own size.
Can I use this calculator for driveway pavers?
Yes. Enter the driveway area and your paver size the same way, but use a thicker base — 8 to 12 inches of compacted gravel is standard for vehicular traffic — and choose pavers rated at 8,000 psi or higher, such as 60mm or 80mm concrete pavers per ICPI guidance.