Paver Calculator
Enter your patio or walkway size and paver dimensions to get the number of pavers you need — plus the base gravel, bedding sand, and edge restraint to build it right.
Free · no sign-up ·
You need · incl. +5% waste
- Patio area
- 100 ft²
- Pavers / ft²
- 4
- Base gravel
- 1.23 yd³
- Bedding sand
- 0.31 yd³
Order base gravel and bedding sand by the ton (use the Gravel, Crushed Stone, or Sand calculators for subtype densities), pavers by the piece, and sweep polymeric sand into the joints to finish.
Compact the gravel base in 2–3 in lifts over firm subgrade, then screed a thin, level 1 in sand bed. Driveways need 6 in or more of base. Buy a few extra pavers from the same batch for repairs.
The formula
Pavers = Area ÷ paver coverage, where coverage = (paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint). Base gravel and bedding sand come from the area × their depths; edge restraint = the perimeter.
How to estimate a paver patio
The paver count is the easy part — it is your area divided by how much one paver covers, including the thin joint between pavers. A 6-inch paver with a 1/8-inch joint covers about 0.26 square feet, so a 100-square-foot patio needs roughly 384 pavers before waste. The bigger the paver, the fewer you need; the wider the joint, the fewer too. Add 5% for straight patterns and cuts, 10% for herringbone, and up to 15% for a circular or fan layout, because the angled cuts waste more.
A paver patio is only as good as what is under it, which is why this calculator also sizes the base and bedding. Under the pavers you want a compacted gravel base — about 4 inches for a patio or walkway, 6 or more for a driveway — placed over a firm, well-drained subgrade and tamped in lifts. On top of the base goes a thin, screeded layer of sharp bedding sand, about 1 inch, that the pavers set into. Too deep or uneven and the pavers rock and settle; keep it thin and level.
Finish the edges and the joints. An edge restraint around the perimeter (the calculator gives you the linear feet) keeps the pavers from spreading and the pattern from creeping apart over time. After the pavers are down, sweep polymeric sand into the joints and mist it to lock everything together. Order the base by the ton, the bedding sand by the ton or bag, and the pavers by the piece — and always buy a few extra pavers from the same batch for future repairs.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need?+
Divide your patio area in square feet by the coverage of one paver, including the joint: coverage = (paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint), in square feet. For a 100 sq ft patio with 6×6-inch pavers and a 1/8-inch joint, that is about 384 pavers before waste. Enter your size and paver dimensions above and the calculator adds the waste for you.
How many pavers are in a square foot?+
It depends on paver size: about 4 of the 6×6-inch pavers per square foot, 4.5 of the 4×8 brick pavers, or 1 of the 12×12 pavers. The calculator computes it exactly from your paver dimensions and joint width.
How much gravel base do I need under pavers?+
Use about 4 inches of compacted gravel base for a patio or walkway, and 6 or more inches for a driveway, over a firm subgrade. For 100 square feet at 4 inches that is roughly 1.2 cubic yards (about 1.7 tons). The calculator sizes the base from your area and depth.
How much sand do I need for a paver base?+
Screed a thin 1-inch layer of sharp bedding sand over the compacted gravel base — about 0.3 cubic yards for a 100-square-foot patio. Keep it thin and level; a thick or uneven sand bed is the most common reason pavers sink unevenly.
What is the difference between bedding sand and polymeric sand?+
Bedding sand is the sharp sand layer the pavers set into. Polymeric sand is swept into the joints between pavers after they are laid and, once misted, hardens to lock them together and resist weeds and washout. You need both, for different steps.
How deep should a paver base be?+
Plan about 4 inches of compacted gravel plus 1 inch of bedding sand for a patio or walkway, so roughly 5 inches of base total beneath the pavers. Driveways need a deeper gravel base of 6 inches or more. Compact the gravel in 2–3 inch lifts.
How much extra should I order for paver cuts and waste?+
Add about 5% for a straight pattern (running, stack, or basketweave), 10% for a 45-degree herringbone, and up to 15% for a circular or fan layout, because angled cuts waste more. Always buy a few extra from the same batch for future repairs.
How do I figure pavers for a circular or irregular patio?+
Break the area into rectangles and add them up, or use the area of a circle (π × radius²) and enter that as a square patio of the same area. Then bump the waste allowance to 15% for the extra cuts a curved or circular layout needs.
Do I need edge restraint around pavers?+
Yes. Without an edge restraint around the perimeter, pavers spread and the pattern creeps apart over time, especially on a patio edge or a driveway. The calculator gives you the linear feet of edging from your patio perimeter.
Is this paver calculator free?+
Yes — it is completely free, needs no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.