Paver Calculator
Calculate pavers plus the base gravel, bedding sand, and joint sand you need - for patios, walkways, and driveways.
For an L-shape or curves, split into rectangles and add the results.
How to Use
- Enter the area length and width - the calculator works out the square footage automatically.
- Pick the paver size - a 4 × 8 in brick paver takes about 4.5 per square foot; a 12 × 12 takes one.
- Set the base depth - choose the 4 or 6 inch planning depth that matches your takeoff. Actual base thickness depends on pavement use, subgrade, drainage, aggregate, and project design.
- Choose pattern waste - 8% for straight or running bond, up to 15% for herringbone and curves.
- Use the joint-sand label - open Advanced and enter the bag coverage from the exact product data if you want a joint-sand bag count; coverage changes with paver and joint geometry.
Pavers per square foot depend on size: a 4 x 8 brick is about 4.5 per sq ft, a 12 x 12 is 1, and a 24 x 24 is a quarter. So a 10 x 10 patio takes about 450 brick pavers, 100 12 x 12s, or 25 24 x 24s before waste. The calculator also estimates the selected gravel-base depth and a nominal 1 inch bedding layer. For joint sand, enter the coverage printed for the exact product instead of relying on a universal bags-per-area assumption.
How Many Pavers Do I Need?
The paver count is the easy part: divide the area by the size of one paver, add a waste factor for cuts, and round up. A 4 × 8 inch brick paver covers about 0.22 square feet, so you need roughly 4.5 of them per square foot; a 12 × 12 covers a full square foot, so one per square foot.
But pavers are only the top layer. A lasting installation is built in layers - compacted gravel base, bedding sand, the pavers, then polymeric sand swept into the joints - and skipping or under-ordering the buried layers is what makes DIY paver projects sink or shift within a few years. This calculator sizes all of it, so you order the base materials with the pavers instead of guessing at the supply yard. If the patio needs a terrace or edge wall, figure the block with the retaining wall calculator.
The Four Layers of a Paver Base
The Paver Base System
From the bottom up, an interlocking concrete-paver system includes the supporting base, bedding sand, pavers, and joint material. The calculator estimates the selected material depths rather than treating one base thickness as universal:
| Layer | Depth | Material | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel base | Selected 4 or 6 in planning depth | Project-specified aggregate base | Compacted support |
| Bedding sand | 1 in | Coarse / concrete sand | Level setting bed |
| Pavers | - | Concrete or clay pavers | The surface |
| Joint sand | Swept into joints | Polymeric sand | Locks pavers, blocks weeds |
CMHA specifies a nominal 1-inch bedding-sand layer for typical interlocking concrete pavement construction. Base preparation, compaction, joint material, and activation procedures must follow the project and product instructions.
Pavers per Square Foot by Size
| Paver size | Coverage | Pavers per ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 0.22 ft² | 4.5 |
| 6 × 6 in | 0.25 ft² | 4.0 |
| 8 × 8 in | 0.44 ft² | 2.25 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1.00 ft² | 1.0 |
| 12 × 24 in | 2.00 ft² | 0.5 |
| 16 × 16 in | 1.78 ft² | 0.56 |
| 24 × 24 in | 4.00 ft² | 0.25 |
Before waste. Add 8% for straight and running-bond layouts, 12-15% for diagonal, herringbone, and curved edges.
Pavers by Patio Size (exact coverage)
| Patio size | Area | 4x8 brick | 12x12 | 16x16 | 24x24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 450 | 100 | 57 | 25 |
| 12 x 12 ft | 144 sq ft | 648 | 144 | 81 | 36 |
| 12 x 16 ft | 192 sq ft | 864 | 192 | 108 | 48 |
| 20 x 20 ft | 400 sq ft | 1,800 | 400 | 225 | 100 |
Exact coverage, before waste. Add 8% for straight or running-bond layouts and 12-15% for diagonal, herringbone, or curved designs. So a 12 x 12 patio in 24 x 24 pavers is 36 before waste, about 39 with a herringbone allowance.
Paver Formulas
The pavers come from the top view; the base materials from the cross-section:
Gravel base = area × (base depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.1 = cubic yards (10% order allowance)
Bedding sand = area × (1 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = cubic yards (1 in deep)
Joint sand = area ÷ entered product coverage (ft² per bag), rounded up
The 10 percent base factor is an order allowance, not a universal compaction ratio. Joint-sand coverage varies with paver shape, joint width, joint depth, and product; use the exact bag or TDS coverage.
Worked Examples
Patio, brick pavers (12 x 16 ft). The area is 192 sq ft. In 4 x 8 brick at about 4.5 per sq ft that is 864 pavers, or about 935 with 8% waste. Under them, the calculator returns roughly 2.6 cubic yards of gravel for the selected 4-inch base and about 0.6 cubic yards of bedding sand. Joint-sand bags depend on the product coverage you enter.
Walkway, large format (3 x 20 ft). A 60 sq ft walkway in 12 x 24 pavers (0.5 per sq ft) is 30 pavers, plus waste. The base materials scale the same way: about 0.8 cubic yards of gravel and 0.2 cubic yards of sand.
Driveway, heavier base (20 x 20 ft). A 400 sq ft driveway uses a 6-inch base instead of 4. In 12 x 12 pavers that is 400 pavers before waste, with about 8.1 cubic yards of compacted gravel for the 6-inch base and 1.2 cubic yards of bedding sand.
Installation References
- CMHA construction guidance specifies a nominal 1 inch bedding-sand layer for interlocking concrete pavement and explains that base design depends on the pavement application and project conditions.CMHA PAV-TEC-002 - Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements
- Techniseal EZSAND technical data gives a coverage range rather than one fixed area and states that required quantity depends on paver shape and size plus joint width and depth. The calculator therefore uses the exact product label or TDS coverage entered by the user.Techniseal EZSAND - Technical Data Sheet
Order the Base Materials
A paver order is really three trips to the supply yard:
Related Calculators
See the full construction calculator collection for concrete, gravel, and masonry projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pavers do I need for a 12x16 patio?
A 12 × 16 patio is 192 square feet. With 4 × 8 inch brick pavers and 8% waste, that is about 935 pavers. With the calculator set to a 4-inch base, it also returns roughly 2.6 cubic yards of base aggregate and about 0.6 cubic yards of bedding sand. Joint-sand bags require the coverage from the exact product label or TDS.
Do I need both gravel base and bedding sand under pavers?
Yes, for almost every patio, walkway, and driveway. The compacted gravel carries the load and drains water; the one-inch sand layer on top is what you screed level to set the pavers. Laying pavers straight on sand or dirt without the gravel base is the main reason installations sink and heave, so this calculator keeps both in the list.
How deep should the gravel base be?
The calculator offers 4-inch and 6-inch planning depths, but the required base is project-specific. Pavement use, soil/subgrade, drainage, climate, aggregate, and local or manufacturer guidance can require a different section. The extra 10 percent in the calculator is an order allowance, not a guaranteed compaction ratio.
What is polymeric sand and how much do I need?
Polymeric joint sand contains binders activated according to the product instructions. Bag coverage is not a universal square-feet number: paver shape, joint width, joint depth, and product formulation all matter. Enter the coverage from the exact bag or technical data sheet to calculate the number of bags.
How many 24x24 pavers do I need for a 12x12 patio?
A 12 x 12 ft patio is 144 square feet, and a 24 x 24 paver covers 4 square feet, so you need 36 pavers at exact coverage. Add a waste allowance for cut edges - about 39 for a straight layout, or more for diagonal or herringbone. The same 144 sq ft would take 144 of the 12 x 12 size or about 648 of the 4 x 8 brick size.
How much extra should I add for cuts?
Add about 8% for straight and running-bond layouts, and 12-15% for diagonal, herringbone, or curved designs, which need many more edge cuts. Order a few extra in the same lot anyway - color can vary between batches, and you will want spares for future repairs.