Landscaping
Paver Calculator
Calculate how many pavers you need for a patio, walkway or driveway. Enter the area, paver size and joint gap, and this paver calculator gives pavers per square foot, the total with pattern waste, pallets and cost, plus the gravel base and bedding sand underneath.
Result
Enter your measurements and press Calculate. What to buy, the working and the cost will appear here.
How to use the paver calculator
- Measure each area as a rectangle, a circle or a known area. Add rows for steps, landings or paths.
- Choose the paver size, or enter a custom size from the manufacturer, and the joint gap.
- Set the waste for your pattern: about 5% for straight patterns, 10% for herringbone, 15% for curves.
- Leave base materials on to estimate the gravel base and bedding sand, and add a price per paver or per square foot.
- Press Calculate.
How many pavers do I need?
pavers per ft² = 144 ÷ ((paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint))
pavers = area × pavers per ft² × (1 + waste)
For 6 × 9 in pavers with 1/8 in joints: 144 ÷ (9.125 × 6.125) = 2.58 pavers per ft². A 200 ft² patio needs 516 pavers, or 567 with 10% waste.
Worked example: a 16 × 12 ft patio
A 16 ft × 12 ft patio is laid in a herringbone pattern with 6 × 9 in pavers at $0.95 each, over 4 in of compacted road base and a 1 in sand bed:
- Area 1: 16 ft × 12 ft = 192 ft²
- Pavers per ft²: 1 ft² ÷ (9.125 in × 6.125 in) = 2.576
- Pavers: 192 ft² × 2.576 = 494.7 × 1.1 → 545
Pavers to buy: 545; Gravel base: 4.09 tons; Bedding sand: 0.91 tons; Paver cost: $517.75. Open this example in the calculator.
Pavers per square foot
| Paver | Per ft² (1/8 in joint) | Per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in (brick paver) | 4.3 | 430 |
| 6 × 6 in | 3.84 | 384 |
| 6 × 9 in | 2.58 | 258 |
| 12 × 12 in | 0.98 | 98 |
| 16 × 16 in | 0.55 | 56 |
| 24 × 24 in | 0.25 | 25 |
Manufacturers often list “pieces per square foot” on the pallet tag; if it differs, enter the paver’s actual size as a custom size.
Waste by laying pattern
| Pattern | Typical waste |
|---|---|
| Running bond or stack bond, square area | 5% |
| Herringbone or basketweave | 10% |
| Curved edges, circles, lots of corners | 15% or more |
What goes under pavers
- Excavate deep enough for the base, sand and paver thickness, with a slight slope away from buildings.
- Gravel base: 4–6 in of compacted road base for patios and walkways, 8–12 in for driveways, compacted in layers.
- Bedding sand: a 1 in screeded layer of coarse concrete sand; never compact it before laying.
- Edge restraint keeps the pavers from spreading, and joint sand (often polymeric) locks them together.
For bigger base orders, the gravel and sand calculators give more detail.
Assumptions and limitations
- Paver sizes are nominal laying sizes; some “imperial” pavers are metric. Use the actual size for accuracy.
- Border and soldier courses using a different paver should be calculated separately.
- Base and sand estimates cover the paved area only.
Paver questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10 × 10 patio?
With 6 × 9 in pavers and 1/8 in joints, about 258 pavers for 100 ft², or 284 with 10% waste.
How many 12 × 12 pavers in a square foot?
Just under one: with a 1/8 in joint each paver covers slightly more than 1 ft², so 100 ft² needs about 98 pavers before waste.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1 in bed takes about 0.31 cubic yards (roughly 0.4 tons) per 100 ft², plus joint sand.
Formulas, unit conversions and default values are explained on our methodology page. Results are estimates; check manufacturer data and local codes before you buy or build.