About the Paver Calculator
This paver calculator estimates everything that goes into a paver patio, walkway or driveway: the number of pavers including cuts and breakage, the crushed-stone base in cubic yards and tons, and the layer of bedding sand the pavers sit on. Enter the area, the paver size, any joint width, and the base and sand depths, and it prices the materials for you.
It is useful for homeowners planning a DIY patio, landscapers pricing a job, and anyone comparing paver sizes — larger pavers mean far fewer pieces to lay. The waste allowance covers cuts along edges and curves; use 5–10% for straight rectangular layouts and 10–15% for herringbone, circles or lots of edges.
A typical walkway or patio uses about 4 in of compacted gravel base and 1 in of concrete sand, while driveways often need 6–8 in of base. Base tonnage uses an approximate 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone; confirm with your supplier.
With the default inputs, the pavers needed (incl. waste) is 951. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the paver calculator
- 1Measure the length and width of the patio or path in feet.
- 2Enter the paver size and any joint gap.
- 3Choose a waste allowance for cuts and breakage.
- 4Set gravel base and sand depths for your project.
- 5Enter prices to see pavers, aggregate quantities and total cost.
Formula and method
Each paver covers its own face plus one joint in each direction, so pavers per square foot is 144 ÷ ((length + joint) × (width + joint)) with sizes in inches. Multiplying by the area and adding a waste allowance for cuts gives the order quantity. A standard 4 × 8 inch paver lays at exactly 4.5 per square foot.
The gravel base and sand bed are simple slabs: area × depth in inches ÷ 12 gives cubic feet, and ÷ 27 converts to cubic yards. Gravel tonnage multiplies cubic yards by roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone. Costs are pavers × price plus each aggregate’s cubic yards × its price per cubic yard.
- L, W
- Area length and width (ft)
- p, q
- Paver length and width (in)
- j
- Joint width (in)
- d
- Base or sand depth (in)
Worked examples
16 × 12 ft patio with 4 × 8 pavers
A 192 sq ft patio at 4.5 pavers per sq ft needs 864 pavers, or 951 with 10% waste. Four inches of base is 64 cu ft (2.37 cu yd, about 3.3 tons) and 1 in of sand is 0.59 cu yd; total materials come to about $850.
20 × 15 ft patio with 12 × 12 slabs
With a 1/8 in joint each 12 in slab covers 1.021 sq ft, so 300 sq ft needs 294 slabs, or 309 with 5% waste. A 6 in base is 5.56 cu yd (7.8 tons); with sand the materials total about $1,345.
30 ft × 3 ft garden path with 6 × 6 pavers
A 90 sq ft path of 6 × 6 pavers takes 4 per sq ft, or 360; the curves and edges justify 15% waste, giving 414 pavers. The base needs 1.11 cu yd of gravel and 0.28 cu yd of sand, for about $561 in total.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need per square foot?+
Divide 144 by the paver face area in square inches. Common 4 × 8 pavers need 4.5 per sq ft, 6 × 6 need 4, 6 × 9 need about 2.67 and 12 × 12 slabs need 1 per sq ft before waste.
How deep should a paver base be?+
Patios and walkways typically use about 4 inches of compacted crushed stone, while driveways use 6–8 inches or more. Poorly draining clay soils may need a deeper base. A 1-inch layer of bedding sand goes on top.
How much gravel do I need under pavers?+
Multiply area by base depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 200 sq ft patio with a 4-inch base needs about 2.5 cubic yards, or roughly 3.5 tons of crushed stone.
How much extra paver should I buy?+
Buy 5–10% extra for simple rectangular layouts and 10–15% for herringbone, circular patterns or areas with many curved edges. Spare pavers from the same batch are useful for future repairs.
What sand goes under pavers?+
Coarse, washed concrete sand is the standard bedding layer, screeded about 1 inch deep. Joints are then filled with fine or polymeric sand after the pavers are compacted.