A patio or walkway is mostly hidden work: the gravel base and sand underneath matter as much as the pavers on top. This paver quantity calculator counts the pavers for your area, including a waste allowance, and also estimates the gravel base and bedding sand so you can order everything at once.
How to use the paver quantity calculator
- Enter the patio or path area in square feet. Multiply length by width, and add up separate sections.
- Choose the paver size. The calculator works from the face size of one paver.
- Pick a waste allowance. Use 5 percent for a straight pattern, 10 percent typically, and 15 percent for curves or diagonal patterns, which need more cuts.
- Enter the gravel base depth. About 4 inches suits walkways and light foot traffic, and 6 inches or more suits patios and driveways.
The math behind it
Pavers = area ÷ (paver length × width in sq ft) × (1 + waste %)
Base (cu yd) = area × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Worked example: a 200 square foot patio
With 12 by 12 inch pavers, each covers 1 square foot, so 200 square feet needs 200 pavers, or 220 with 10 percent waste. A 4 inch gravel base is 200 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 2.5 cubic yards, and a 1 inch sand layer is 0.6 cubic yards.
Worked example: a brick walkway
A 3 foot wide, 30 foot long walkway is 90 square feet. A 4 by 8 inch brick paver covers 32 square inches, so there are 4.5 pavers per square foot. With 10 percent waste you need 90 × 4.5 × 1.1 = 446 pavers.
Why the base matters
Pavers sit on a compacted layer of crushed stone, topped with about an inch of coarse bedding sand. The base spreads the load and drains water, and is what keeps the surface from sinking or heaving. Skimping on it is the most common reason patios fail. Remove sod and soil so the finished surface sits where you want it, and compact the stone in layers.
Ordering tips
- Buy extra pavers from the same lot, because color varies between batches and you will want spares for repairs.
- Crushed stone weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, and suppliers often sell by the ton.
- Order a little extra base, since compacting packs it down.
- Joint sand or polymeric sand is separate, and a bag usually covers 25 to 50 square feet depending on the joint width.
- Edge restraints hold the whole patio together, so include them in your list.
Planning the garden around it
Hard surfaces change drainage. Slope the patio slightly away from buildings, and consider capturing runoff in a rain garden or a rain barrel. For the beds around it, our mulch calculator and soil calculator work out the quantities.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need per square foot?
It depends on the size. A 12 by 12 inch paver covers one square foot, a 6 by 9 inch paver is about 2.7 per square foot, and a 4 by 8 inch brick paver is 4.5 per square foot.
How much extra should I order?
About 5 to 10 percent for a simple layout, and up to 15 percent for curves or diagonal patterns.
How deep should the gravel base be?
Walkways and patios often use about 4 to 6 inches of compacted stone, and driveways use more. Cold climates and poor soils call for a deeper base, so check local guidance.
How much sand goes under pavers?
About 1 inch of coarse bedding sand, screeded level. Do not compact the sand before laying.