Paver Patio Calculator
Calculate how many pavers you need for a patio or walkway.
Estimates total pavers, sand, gravel base, and cost with waste factor.
Paver patio calculation determines how many pavers, how much sand, and how much gravel base material you need for a patio, walkway, or driveway project. Getting these numbers right before purchasing saves multiple trips to the store and prevents costly over-ordering or shortages.
The basic formula:
Number of pavers = Patio area / Paver area × (1 + waste factor)
Step-by-step process:
- Calculate the total patio area (length × width).
- Calculate the area of one paver.
- Divide patio area by paver area.
- Add a waste factor (typically 5–10%) for cuts and breakage.
Standard paver sizes (imperial):
- 4" × 8" (brick pattern): the most common size
- 6" × 6": square pavers
- 6" × 9": rectangular pavers
- 12" × 12": large square pavers
- 16" × 16": extra large pavers
Standard paver sizes (metric):
- 100mm × 200mm (same as 4" × 8")
- 200mm × 200mm
- 300mm × 300mm
- 400mm × 400mm
Base materials needed:
A proper paver installation requires layers:
- Gravel base: 4–6 inches (100–150 mm) of compacted gravel. Calculated as: area × depth × 1.3 (compaction factor).
- Sand bedding: 1 inch (25 mm) of leveling sand on top of gravel. About 1 cubic foot of sand per 12 square feet of patio.
- Polymeric sand (joint sand): Used to fill gaps between pavers. About 1 bag per 25–30 sq ft for standard joints.
Waste factor explained: Straight patterns (running bond, stack bond) waste less material (5%). Diagonal or herringbone patterns require more cuts and waste 10% or more. Always round up — it is far better to have a few extra pavers than to come up short.
Cost estimation: Concrete pavers cost $3–$6 per square foot for materials. Natural stone pavers range from $8–$20 per square foot. Gravel base costs about $1–$2 per square foot at 4" depth. This calculator provides material estimates so you can multiply by your local prices.