Paver Calculator
Plan a patio, walkway or driveway: get how many pavers to buy for your area, including joints and a waste allowance, plus how much gravel base and bedding sand to order. Works in feet and inches or meters and centimeters.
1/8 in = 0.125 in (about 3 mm) is typical.
5–10% for straight layouts, 15% or more for curves and diagonal patterns.
About 4–6 in (10–15 cm) for patios and walkways, 8–12 in for driveways.
Usually 1 in (2.5–3 cm) of screeded sand.
How to use the Paver Calculator
- Choose units and enter the patio length and width, or the total area.
- Enter the paver size and the joint gap between pavers.
- Set a waste allowance: 5–10% for simple layouts, more for curves or herringbone.
- Enter the gravel base and sand depths for the base materials.
- Read the paver count and base quantities, and compare other paver sizes in the table.
Paver formulas
- Area = length × width
- Paver footprint = (paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint)
- Pavers = area ÷ footprint × (1 + waste %), rounded up
- Gravel = area × base depth × (1 + compaction %); cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- Sand = area × bedding depth
Weights use an approximate bulk density of 1.6 t/m³ (about 1.35 US tons per cubic yard) for crushed stone and sand. Your supplier's figure may differ.
Pavers per square foot and per m²
| Paver size | Per sq ft (no joint) | Per sq ft (1/8 in joint) | Per m² (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 4.50 | 4.30 | 46.2 |
| 6 × 6 in | 4.00 | 3.84 | 41.3 |
| 6 × 9 in | 2.67 | 2.58 | 27.7 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1.00 | 0.98 | 10.5 |
| 16 × 16 in | 0.56 | 0.55 | 6.0 |
| 24 × 24 in | 0.25 | 0.25 | 2.7 |
Typical base depths
| Project | Compacted gravel base | Bedding sand |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path, patio | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) | 1 in (2.5–3 cm) |
| Driveway (cars) | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) | 1 in (2.5–3 cm) |
| Poorly drained or clay soil | Add 2–4 in, consider geotextile | 1 in (2.5–3 cm) |
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many pavers I need?
Divide the area by the footprint of one paver including its joint, then add waste. For 4 × 8 in pavers with 1/8 in joints, each covers (4.125 × 8.125) ÷ 144 = 0.233 sq ft, so a 192 sq ft patio needs 192 ÷ 0.233 = 825 pavers, or 908 with 10% waste.
How many 4 × 8 pavers are in a square foot?
Exactly 4.5 without joints (144 ÷ 32). With 1/8 inch joints it is about 4.3 per square foot.
How deep should the gravel base be under pavers?
A common recommendation is about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of compacted crushed stone for patios and walkways, and 8–12 inches for driveways. Clay or poorly drained soils may need more. Check the paver manufacturer's guidance.
Why add extra gravel for compaction?
Loose crushed stone settles when it is compacted with a plate compactor, so you need more loose material than the finished depth. Many installers add about 10–20%; the default here is 15%.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
Bedding sand is usually screeded about 1 inch (2.5–3 cm) thick. Multiply the area by the depth: 192 sq ft × 1/12 ft = 16 cu ft, about 0.6 cubic yards. Joint sand is extra and usually comes in bags.
How much waste should I allow?
About 5–10% for straight running bond or stack bond patterns on a rectangle, 10–15% for herringbone or many cuts, and 15–20% for curved edges or circular designs.