Paver Calculator
Calculate how many pavers you need for a patio or walkway, plus cubic yards of compacted gravel base and bedding sand.
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How to Calculate
Pavers = area in square inches ÷ (paver length × paver width), plus waste. A 4 × 8 in paver covers 32 in², so it takes 4.5 of them per square foot. Sand joints are thin enough to ignore.
Base gravel and bedding sand are area × depth in feet ÷ 27. A 4 in compacted base of crushed stone suits patios and walks on decent soil; driveways and clay soil need 6 to 8 in.
Use 10% waste for straight patterns and 15% for herringbone or anything laid at 45 degrees, where every edge paver gets cut.
See our methodology for how every calculator on this site is built.
Worked Example: A 10 × 14 ft Patio
A patio 10 ft by 14 ft laid in 6 × 9 in concrete pavers, 10% waste, on a 4 in compacted gravel base with 1 in of bedding sand.
- Area: 10 × 14 = 140 ft²
- Area in square inches: 140 × 144 = 20,160 in²
- One paver: 6 × 9 = 54 in²
- Pavers: 20,160 ÷ 54 = 373.3
- With 10% waste: 373.3 × 1.10 = 410.7, so 411 pavers
- Gravel base: 140 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 1.73 yd³
- Bedding sand: 140 × (1 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 0.43 yd³
Pavers are sold by the pallet or by the square foot, so you may be buying 154 ft² of product rather than counting pieces. The base is where people cut corners. 1.73 yd³ of crushed stone is about 2.5 tons, enough to fill a pickup bed twice. Order it delivered.
Base Depth by Use
| Project | Compacted gravel base | Bedding sand | Base per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkway, light foot traffic | 4 in | 1 in | 1.23 yd³ |
| Patio on well-drained soil | 4–6 in | 1 in | 1.23–1.85 yd³ |
| Patio on clay | 6–8 in | 1 in | 1.85–2.47 yd³ |
| Driveway, cars | 8–12 in | 1 in | 2.47–3.70 yd³ |
Mistakes to Avoid
Skimping on excavation
Total dig depth is base + sand + paver thickness. For a 4 in base, 1 in sand and a 2-3/8 in paver, you are digging about 7.5 in. Dig 6 in to save time and your patio ends up sitting proud of the lawn, or worse, with a thin base that heaves.
Thick sand to fix a bad base
Sand is a setting bed, not a leveling layer. If the gravel is an inch low in one corner, fix the gravel. Thick sand moves under load and you get dips.
Pattern waste
Running bond and basket weave patios cut only at the edges, so 10% is plenty. Herringbone at 45° cuts nearly every border paver. Use 15%.
Not compacting
Compact the gravel in 2 in lifts with a plate compactor, dampening it as you go. Then compact again after the pavers are down and the joint sand is swept in.
Practical Tips
- Slope the patio away from the house about 1/4 in per foot.
- Extend the base 6 in past the paver edge on all sides so the edge restraint has something to sit on.
- Use polymeric sand in the joints to cut down on weeds and ants. Keep it off the face of the pavers.
- Rent a wet saw with a diamond blade for cuts. A chisel works on a few pieces, not on a herringbone border.
Rough Cost
Concrete pavers typically cost $3 to $6 per square foot for material, natural stone more. Crushed stone base runs roughly $30 to $60 per ton delivered and concrete sand about $30 to $50 per ton. A professionally installed paver patio usually lands around $15 to $30 per square foot.
Sources
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pavers are in a square foot?
4.5 pavers of 4 × 8 in, about 2.67 of 6 × 9 in and 1 of 12 × 12 in. Divide 144 by the paver face area in square inches.
How thick should the gravel base be under pavers?
4 in of compacted crushed stone for patios and walkways, 6 to 8 in for driveways or poorly draining clay. Compact in 2 in lifts.
Can I use pea gravel as a paver base?
No. Round stone does not lock together and the pavers will shift. Use angular crushed stone with fines, sold as crusher run, 3/4 in minus or road base.
How much sand goes under pavers?
A 1 in screeded layer of coarse concrete sand. More than about 1.5 in lets pavers rock and settle unevenly.
Do I need edge restraint for a paver patio?
Yes. Without plastic or aluminum edging spiked into the base, the outer rows creep outward and the joints open up across the whole patio.