π« Paver Calculator
Calculate pavers, sand, and gravel for your patio or walkway.
Pavers Needed (incl. waste)
How to Use This Calculator
Enter the project area length and width in feet. Choose a preset paver size or enter custom dimensions. Set the joint gap and waste percentage, then optionally add the paver price for a cost estimate. The calculator also gives you the sand and gravel base volumes you will need.
Measure your patio or walkway area in feet. For irregular shapes, break it into rectangles and add them together, or measure the overall bounding rectangle and expect some excess pavers from the cuts.
Choose your paver size. A standard 4x8 inch brick paver is the most affordable. Large format 12x12 or 16x16 inch pavers install faster and create a modern look but have a higher per-unit cost.
Set the joint gap. A 1/4-inch gap is standard for most patio pavers. Tight 1/8-inch gaps work for very smooth, precision-cut pavers.
Set waste to at least 10%. Cuts at edges and corners generate significant scrap, especially for angled or curved edges. Go to 15% for complex patterns.
Paver Count Formula
A 12x12 inch paver with a 1/4-inch gap covers about 1 square foot each, meaning you need about 1 paver per square foot plus waste. A 4x8 inch paver covers 0.22 square feet, so you need about 4.5 pavers per square foot of area. For a 200 square foot patio, that is about 990 brick pavers with 10% waste.
Example Projects
Tips for Your Project
The base is the most important part of any paver installation. A compacted gravel base 4 inches deep for patios and 6 to 8 inches for driveways prevents settling and shifting. Use a plate compactor to compact the gravel in 2-inch lifts. Skipping proper base preparation is the number one reason paver projects fail within 5 years. The pavers themselves are just the final layer on top of good base work.
Fill joints with polymeric sand, not regular sand. Polymeric sand contains a binder that hardens when wetted, locking the joints and preventing ant hills, weed growth, and joint erosion from rain. Sweep it in dry, compact it with a plate compactor, then mist with water to activate the binder. One 50-pound bag typically covers 30 to 50 square feet depending on joint width and depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pavers per square foot?
Divide 144 (square inches in a sq ft) by paver area in square inches. E.g., a 12Γ12" paver: 144/144 = 1 paver/sq ft. A 4Γ8" paver: 144/32 = 4.5 pavers/sq ft.
How deep should a paver base be?
Compacted gravel base: 4 inches for patios, 6β8 inches for driveways. Bedding sand: 1 inch. Pavers: 2β3 inches thick. Total depth: 7β12 inches.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1-inch sand bed requires ~0.083 ftΒ³ per sq ft of area = ~1/3 cubic yard per 100 sq ft. Use coarse concrete sand (not play sand).
What are common paver sizes?
4Γ8" (standard), 12Γ12" (large), 6Γ9", 8Γ8", 6Γ6", 16Γ16". Pattern mixes (like Flemish bond) use multiple sizes.
How do I prevent pavers from shifting?
Install proper compacted gravel base, edge restraints on all sides, and fill joints with polymeric sand. Re-compact after installation.