How the paver calculation works
Pavers are counted by area. Work out how many pavers cover one square foot (or square meter), multiply by the area, and add extra for cuts. The base and sand are simple volumes: area × depth.
pavers = area × (1 + waste %) ÷ (paver length × width ÷ 144)
base (cu yd) = area (sq ft) × base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Paver joints are narrow, usually about 1/8 in, so the count ignores them. That leaves a tiny margin in your favor.
Worked example
A 200 sq ft patio in 4 × 8 in pavers: each paver covers 32 sq in, so there are 4.5 per sq ft. With 10 percent extra the area is 220 sq ft and you need 990 pavers. A 4 in compacted base is 2.47 cubic yards of gravel, roughly 3.5 tons. A 1 in sand bed is 0.62 cubic yards, or 16.7 cu ft, which is 34 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
In metric, 20 m² of 100 × 200 mm pavers (50 per m²) with 10 percent extra is 1,100 pavers. A 150 mm base is 3 m³ of gravel, about 5 tonnes, and a 30 mm sand bed is 0.6 m³.
Pavers per square foot
| Paver | Per sq ft | Metric paver | Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 4.5 | 100 × 200 mm | 50 |
| 6 × 6 in | 4 | 150 × 150 mm | 44.44 |
| 6 × 9 in | 2.67 | 200 × 200 mm | 25 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1 | 300 × 300 mm | 11.11 |
| 16 × 16 in | 0.56 | 400 × 400 mm | 6.25 |
| 24 × 24 in | 0.25 | 600 × 600 mm | 2.78 |
Many pavers are sold in mixed-size kits or by the square foot per pallet. In that case, divide your area with waste by the coverage per pallet instead.
How much extra to order
| Layout | Typical extra |
|---|---|
| Square area, running bond or stack bond | 5 to 10% |
| Herringbone, or curved edges | 10 to 15% |
| Circles, fans and many cuts | 15% or more |
Keep a few spare pavers after the job. Replacing a cracked or stained one later is easy if you have a matching unit.
The layers under a paver patio
- Subgrade: firm, compacted soil with topsoil and roots removed.
- Base: crushed angular stone with fines, laid and compacted in thin lifts. Typical depths are covered in the paver base depth guide.
- Bedding sand: coarse, washed concrete sand screeded to about 1 in (25 to 30 mm). It is a leveling layer, not a structural one, so do not use it to fill low spots.
- Pavers and joint sand: laid tight, compacted, then swept with joint sand or polymeric sand.
- Edge restraint: a plastic, metal or concrete edge stops the pavers from spreading.
Slope the finished surface away from buildings so water drains off; about 1/4 in per foot (2 percent) is a common target.
Joint sand and edging
After the pavers are laid and compacted, joints are filled with fine sand or polymeric sand, which hardens when wetted and resists weeds and washout. A bag of joint sand covers a widely varying area depending on joint width and paver shape, so read the coverage on the bag. Edge restraints go around every edge that is not held by a wall or curb; measure the perimeter to order them.
Tips and safety
- Call your local utility-locating service before you dig, even for a shallow patio.
- Rent a plate compactor for the base; hand tampers rarely get a base firm enough.
- Wear eye and hearing protection with a saw, and cut concrete pavers wet or with dust extraction to control silica dust.
Ordering the base by the ton? The gravel calculator handles other stone types and weights.
Frequently asked questions
How many 4 × 8 pavers are in a square foot?
4.5. Each 4 × 8 in paver covers 32 square inches, and a square foot is 144 square inches.
How many pavers do I need for a 12 × 16 patio?
The patio is 192 sq ft. With 6 × 9 in pavers (2.67 per sq ft) and 10 percent extra, you need 564 pavers.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
Plan on a 1 in bedding layer. For 200 sq ft that is 16.7 cu ft, or 0.62 cubic yards, of coarse concrete sand, plus joint sand on top.
How deep should the gravel base be?
About 4 to 6 in of compacted base is a common rule of thumb for patios and walkways. Driveways need more, often 8 to 12 in.