How Many Pavers Do I Need?
Pavers = area in square feet ÷ the area of one paver in square feet, plus waste, rounded up. A paver that measures 4 by 8 inches covers 32 square inches, which is 0.222 sq ft, so 144 ÷ 32 gives 4.5 pavers per square foot. The table gives the same figure for every size in the calculator. Suppliers list a nominal size, and the real dimensions can differ slightly: Rochester Concrete Products’ 6 x 8 Lamont paver measures 8.18 by 6.12 inches, and its cut sheet lists 2.81 pieces per square foot. If your supplier gives pieces per square foot, choose Custom size and enter dimensions that match it.
| Paver size | Sq ft per paver | Pavers per sq ft | Pavers per 100 sq ft (no waste) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 8 in | 0.222 | 4.50 | 450 |
| 6 x 6 in | 0.250 | 4.00 | 400 |
| 6 x 9 in | 0.375 | 2.67 | 267 |
| 12 x 12 in | 1.000 | 1.00 | 100 |
| 12 x 24 in | 2.000 | 0.50 | 50 |
| 16 x 16 in | 1.778 | 0.56 | 57 |
How to Calculate Pavers
- Find the area. Multiply length × width in feet for a rectangle. For a circle, use 3.14 × radius × radius. For a triangle, multiply base × height and halve it. Split an irregular patio into rectangles and add them up, or use the Area setting if you already know the square footage.
- Find the area of one paver. Multiply its length by its width in inches and divide by 144 to get square feet.
- Divide and add waste. Area ÷ area of one paver, times 1.05 for 5 percent waste or 1.10 for 10 percent, then round up to a whole paver.
- Size the layers. Cubic yards of base or sand = area × depth in inches ÷ 324. Multiply by the weight per cubic yard to get tons.
The calculator above does all four steps. It also gives the dig depth, bags of joint sand and, for a rectangle or circle, the length of edge restraint.
Paver Count Chart
This chart shows pavers to buy, including 5 percent waste, for common areas and sizes. Use 10 percent for a diagonal, herringbone or curved layout, which means more cut pavers.
| Area | 4 x 8 in | 6 x 6 in | 6 x 9 in | 12 x 12 in | 12 x 24 in | 16 x 16 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 237 | 210 | 140 | 53 | 27 | 30 |
| 100 sq ft | 473 | 420 | 280 | 105 | 53 | 60 |
| 150 sq ft | 709 | 630 | 420 | 158 | 79 | 89 |
| 200 sq ft | 945 | 840 | 560 | 210 | 105 | 119 |
| 300 sq ft | 1,418 | 1,260 | 840 | 315 | 158 | 178 |
| 500 sq ft | 2,363 | 2,100 | 1,400 | 525 | 263 | 296 |
Paver Base Calculator
The compacted stone base is what keeps the patio flat, and published guides do not agree on one depth. The table lists what each source says, and the calculator takes whatever depth you enter. The base weighs 1.78 to 1.98 tons per cubic yard compacted in place (Wisconsin DOT, report WHRP G22-05, Table E2), and the calculator uses the 1.88 ton midpoint for tons and shows the range.
| Source | Walks and patios | Driveways |
|---|---|---|
| ICPI Tech Spec 10 | 4 to 6 in | 6 to 8 in |
| Oregon State Extension | 4 to 6 in | Thicker for vehicle traffic, no figure given |
| Belgard | 4 to 6 in | Not given |
| Unilock, established areas | 6 to 8 in | About 10 in |
| Unilock, newer developments or poor soil | 8 to 10 in | 12 to 14 in |
The three base buttons in the calculator, 4, 6 and 8 inches, are round numbers inside those ranges, not a recommendation for your site. Soft or clay soil, poor drainage, frost and traffic all call for more. ICPI Tech Spec 10 says to compact the base in lifts of no more than 6 inches, and Oregon State Extension places it in three layers, compacting each. This table gives the compacted volume and typical weight for common areas.
| Area | 4 in base | 6 in base | 8 in base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 1.23 cu yd (2.32 tons) | 1.85 cu yd (3.48 tons) | 2.47 cu yd (4.64 tons) |
| 200 sq ft | 2.47 cu yd (4.64 tons) | 3.70 cu yd (6.96 tons) | 4.94 cu yd (9.28 tons) |
| 300 sq ft | 3.70 cu yd (6.96 tons) | 5.56 cu yd (10.44 tons) | 7.41 cu yd (13.93 tons) |
| 500 sq ft | 6.17 cu yd (11.60 tons) | 9.26 cu yd (17.41 tons) | 12.35 cu yd (23.21 tons) |
For a stone order with bags and a cost, the Gravel Calculator has a compacted base option that uses the same weights.
Bedding Sand and Joint Sand
Two different sands go into a paver project. The bedding layer sits on the base and is screeded flat; the Iowa DOT’s special provision for PCC pavers (SP-150900) says a nominal 1 inch and not more than 1 1/2 inches, the UC Pavement Research Center guide specification says a nominal 1 inch, and Oregon State Extension says about 1 inch. The table shows both depths at the typical dry weight of about 2,700 lb per cubic yard.
| Area | 1 in of sand | 1 1/2 in of sand |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.31 cu yd (0.42 tons) | 0.46 cu yd (0.63 tons) |
| 200 sq ft | 0.62 cu yd (0.83 tons) | 0.93 cu yd (1.25 tons) |
| 300 sq ft | 0.93 cu yd (1.25 tons) | 1.39 cu yd (1.88 tons) |
| 500 sq ft | 1.54 cu yd (2.08 tons) | 2.31 cu yd (3.13 tons) |
Joint sand is swept into the gaps afterward and is bought in bags. Techniseal’s data sheets for RG+ and SMARTSAND say a 50 lb bag of polymeric sand covers 60 to 120 sq ft with narrow joints or 25 to 40 sq ft with wide joints, and the calculator shows the resulting range of bags. Iowa DOT sets paver joints at 1/16 to 3/16 inch.
| Paver area | Bags, narrow joints | Bags, wide joints |
|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 1 | 2 |
| 100 sq ft | 1 to 2 | 3 to 4 |
| 200 sq ft | 2 to 4 | 5 to 8 |
| 400 sq ft | 4 to 7 | 10 to 16 |
Paver Patio Cost Calculator
The calculator turns the quantities on this page into a cost when you type in prices. Open Optional under the results and enter the price per paver or per square foot, the base stone and bedding sand per US ton, polymeric sand per 50 lb bag and, if you are hiring someone, a quoted price per square foot. Nothing is pre-filled, because prices change with region, supplier and delivery distance, and a blank price adds nothing. For the 12 × 10 ft example below, each line multiplies like this.
| Line | Quantity in the example | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Pavers | 567 pavers (126 sq ft) | Your price per paver, or per sq ft |
| Base stone | 2.79 US tons | Your price per ton |
| Bedding sand | 0.50 US tons | Your price per ton |
| Joint sand | 2 bags (the high end) | Your price per bag |
| Installer | 120 sq ft | Your quoted price per sq ft |
Delivery fees, edge restraint, fabric, tool rental and hauling away the soil you dig out are not included, so add them from your quotes. The installer line is shown on its own and is not added to the materials total, because some contractors quote labor only and others quote the whole job: read the quote before you compare the two.
How Deep to Dig
Excavation depth is the compacted base plus the bedding sand plus the paver thickness, less 1/4 inch for uncompacted bedding (Unilock’s formula). ICPI Tech Spec 10 gives paver thickness as about 2 3/8 inches (60 mm) for pedestrian areas and residential driveways, and 3 1/8 inches (80 mm) for vehicular pavements. With 1 inch of sand, the dig depth works out as follows.
| Base depth | With 2 3/8 in (60 mm) pavers | With 3 1/8 in (80 mm) pavers |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 7.125 in | 7.875 in |
| 6 in | 9.125 in | 9.875 in |
| 8 in | 11.125 in | 11.875 in |
The soil you dig out is a separate load to haul away. Area times dig depth in inches, divided by 324, gives cubic yards, and the Cubic Yard Calculator converts yards to tons.
Edge Restraint
Pavers need a restraint along the edges or they spread apart. Oregon State Extension lists plastic, pre-cast concrete, metal or wood. Unilock’s technical guide says to run the restraint along the full perimeter except where the pavers meet a fixed edge such as a building, wall, curb or planter, to extend the base beyond the restraint by the base thickness, and never to rest the restraint on the bedding sand. For spike-in restraints it specifies 10 or 12 inch spikes, typically spaced 24 inches apart. For a rectangle or circle the calculator gives the full perimeter and the spikes at 24 inch spacing, so subtract any side that meets a wall.
How Much Extra to Order
Oregon State Extension says to add 5 percent to the area and 10 percent if you expect many cuts. A straight layout in a square patio needs fewer cuts than a diagonal layout, a curve or a small awkward shape. The Iowa DOT specification also says cut pavers on show must be no smaller than one third of a whole paver.
Pavers Per Pallet
Pavers are sold by the pallet, and the coverage of a pallet is set by the manufacturer for each product. There is no standard, which is why the calculator leaves the pallet field blank. Two examples from one manufacturer show the spread.
| Paver (Rochester Concrete Products) | Size | Pieces per pallet | Sq ft per pallet | Weight per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamont 6 x 8 | 8.18 x 6.12 x 2 3/8 in | 250 | 89 | 2,410 lb |
| Holland | 8.5 x 4.25 x 2 3/8 in | 400 | 98 | 2,841 lb |
Divide the square feet you are buying by the square feet on the pallet and round up. Both pallets weigh more than a ton, so plan how the delivery will be unloaded.
Worked Example
Say you are laying a 12 × 10 ft patio in 4 × 8 inch pavers over a 4 inch base and 1 inch of sand.
- Area: 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft.
- Pavers: 120 × 4.5 = 540, or 567 with 5 percent waste (594 with 10 percent).
- Base: 120 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.48 cubic yards, about 2.79 tons (2.64 to 2.93).
- Bedding sand: 120 × 1 ÷ 324 = 0.37 cubic yards, about 0.50 tons.
- Dig depth: 4 + 1 + 2.375 − 0.25 = 7.125 inches.
- Joint sand: 1 to 2 bags with narrow joints.
- Edge restraint: 2 × (12 + 10) = 44 ft and about 23 spikes, less any side against the house.
If the pallet covers 98 sq ft, the 567 pavers cover about 126 sq ft, which is 2 pallets. For the beds around the patio, the Mulch Calculator sizes the cover.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping the waste allowance. Oregon State Extension says to always add 5 percent. An exact count leaves no spare pavers for cut edges or breakage.
- Treating the base depth as fixed. The published ranges run from 4 inches to more than 12 for a driveway on poor soil. Check the soil and the traffic before you pick a depth.
- Using bedding sand to level the base. The UC Pavement Research Center specification says not to use bedding sand to fill depressions. Fix the base and keep the sand near 1 inch.
- Forgetting the dig depth. If the excavation is too shallow, the finished pavers sit proud of the surrounding grade. Add base, sand and paver thickness before you dig.
- Resting edge restraint on the sand. Unilock says the restraint sits on the base, not the bedding layer, and the base extends past it by the base thickness.
- Pricing only the pavers. A price per paver or per square foot covers the stones. Base, sand, edge restraint and delivery are separate lines, which is why the cost section above prices each one.
- Ordering by piece count and paying by pallet. Pallet coverage differs by product, so check how many square feet your supplier puts on one before you order.
Paver Calculator FAQ
How many pavers do I need for a 10 by 10 or 12 by 12 patio?
A 10 by 10 ft patio is 100 sq ft and a 12 by 12 ft patio is 144 sq ft. In 12 by 12 inch pavers, which cover 1 sq ft each, that is 100 pavers or 144, and 105 or 152 with 5 percent waste. In 4 by 8 inch pavers it is 450 or 648, and 473 or 681 with waste. Pick your paver size in the calculator and it does the rounding for you.
How many pavers do I need for 1,000 square feet?
It depends on the paver size. For 1,000 sq ft with no waste, 12 by 12 inch pavers take 1,000, 6 by 9 inch pavers take 2,667, and 4 by 8 inch pavers take 4,500. Add 5 percent for cuts and breakage and those become 1,050, 2,800 and 4,725. The chart above covers smaller areas.
How much extra should I order for cuts and breakage?
Oregon State University Extension says to add 5 percent to the area, and 10 percent if you expect many cuts, such as a diagonal or curved layout. The calculator offers both as buttons and a field for your own number.
How deep should paver base be?
Published guides give a range, not one number. ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) Tech Spec 10 lists 4 to 6 inches of compacted aggregate base for walks and 6 to 8 inches for driveways, Oregon State Extension and Belgard both say 4 to 6 inches, and Unilock calls for 6 to 8 inches under patios and walkways in established areas and more in poor soil. Clay, poor drainage and vehicle traffic all push the number up, so check local practice before you dig.
Can I use this as a patio paver calculator for a walkway or driveway?
Yes. The math is the same for a patio, a walkway or a driveway: area, paver size, waste and layer depths. What changes is the build. ICPI Tech Spec 10 lists pavers about 2.375 inches (60 mm) thick for walks and residential driveways and 3.125 inches (80 mm) for vehicular pavements, and a deeper base for driveways, so set the paver thickness and the Driveway 8 in base button in the calculator.
Do I need a separate sand calculator as well?
Not for the usual job. This page already returns the bedding sand under the pavers, at the nominal 1 inch the Iowa DOT and the UC Pavement Research Center specify (0.31 cubic yards, about 0.42 tons, per 100 sq ft), and the bags of polymeric sand for the joints. For sand at other depths, dry or wet, or for a sandbox or play area, the Sand Calculator is built for that.
How much does a paver patio cost?
The calculator prices it from your own numbers, because costs change with region, paver type and delivery. Enter a price per paver or per sq ft, base and bedding sand per ton, joint sand per bag and an installer's quote per sq ft. For a 12 by 10 ft patio in 4 by 8 inch pavers that means 567 pavers, about 2.79 tons of base, 0.50 tons of bedding sand and up to 2 bags of joint sand to price.
How far apart should pavers be?
Very close. The Iowa DOT sets paver joints at 1/16 to 3/16 inch, which is about the thickness of a few coins. Joint width changes how much polymeric sand you need, because Techniseal rates a bag at 60 to 120 sq ft with narrow joints and only 25 to 40 sq ft with wide ones, so the calculator has a narrow or wide joint option.
How many pavers come on a pallet?
It depends on the paver, because pallets are not standardized. Rochester Concrete Products lists 89 sq ft and 250 pieces on a pallet of its 6 x 8 Lamont paver, and 98 sq ft and 400 pieces on a pallet of its Holland paver. Enter the square feet per pallet from your supplier under Optional and the calculator divides the area you are buying by it, rounding up.
Sources & further reading
Waste allowances and the 4 to 6 inch base, 1 inch sand and edge restraint types are from Oregon State University Extension’s 10-Step Guide to Installing Pavers. Base depths for walks and driveways, bedding sand of 1 to 1 1/2 inches, paver thickness and the 6 inch lift limit are from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute’s Tech Spec 10 (a copy hosted by The Home Depot). The dig depth formula, base depths by soil, edge restraint rules and spike spacing are from Unilock’s Advanced Technical Guide and its page How much base is required for paving stone installation?. Belgard gives 4 to 6 inches of base in its installation guidelines. Bedding sand thickness, joint width and the minimum cut size are from the Iowa DOT’s Special Provisions for PCC Pavers (SP-150900) and the UC Pavement Research Center’s Interlocking Concrete Pavement Guide Specification. The compacted base weight is from the Wisconsin DOT report WHRP G22-05, Table E2, and the dry sand weights are from the Engineering Toolbox page Dirt and Mud: Densities and the Minnesota Stormwater Manual. Polymeric sand coverage is from the Techniseal RG+ data sheet and SMARTSAND guide. Pallet examples are from the Rochester Concrete Products cut sheets for the Lamont and Holland pavers. For how we source and check the numbers on every calculator, see our methodology page, and for the full topic see the complete guide to lawn and landscaping.
