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.
Your Paver Estimate
- 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 - 4 inches of gravel for patios and walkways, 6 inches for driveways.
- Choose pattern waste - 8% for straight or running bond, up to 15% for herringbone and curves.
- Review the full list - pavers, gravel base, bedding sand, and polymeric joint sand - everything to order.
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, a 24 x 24 is a quarter. So a 10 x 10 patio (100 sq ft) takes about 450 brick pavers, 100 12 x 12s, or 25 24 x 24s, before waste. But pavers are just the top layer - a lasting patio also needs a 4 to 6 inch compacted gravel base and a 1 inch bedding sand layer under them. Enter your area and paver size above for the full list: pavers, gravel, sand, and joint sand.
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.
The Four Layers of a Paver Base
The Paver Base System
From the bottom up, a standard installation has four layers - the calculator estimates the materials for each:
| Layer | Depth | Material | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel base | 4 in patio · 6 in driveway | Crushed stone (¾″ minus) | 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 |
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 (compaction) = cubic yards
Bedding sand = area × (1 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = cubic yards (1 in deep)
Joint sand = area ÷ ~80 ft² per bag (polymeric)
Gravel base is also sold by the ton - about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Joint-sand coverage varies with paver size and joint width, so treat the bag count as an estimate.
Worked Examples
Patio, brick pavers (12 x 16 ft). The area is 192 sq ft. In 4 x 8 brick at 4.5 per sq ft that is 864 pavers, or about 935 with 8% waste. Under them: roughly 2.6 cubic yards of gravel for a 4-inch base, about 0.6 cubic yards of bedding sand, and 2 to 3 bags of polymeric joint sand.
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.
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. You will also need roughly 2.6 cubic yards of gravel base (4 inches), about 0.6 cubic yards of bedding sand, and a few bags of polymeric joint sand.
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?
Use 4 inches of compacted crushed stone for patios and walkways, and 6 inches (8 in poor soil) for driveways and anything carrying vehicle weight. Compact in 2-inch lifts with a plate compactor - loose gravel shrinks roughly 10-20% when compacted, which this calculator accounts for.
What is polymeric sand and how much do I need?
Polymeric sand is a fine sand with a binder that hardens when misted with water, locking pavers in place and resisting weeds and ants in the joints. Coverage depends on paver size and joint width - wider joints and smaller pavers use more - but roughly one 50 lb bag per 80 square feet is a good planning figure.
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.