Paver Calculator
Paver count plus gravel base and bedding sand for a patio.
5% for simple grids, 10% or more for herringbone and curves.
You need
594 pavers
Waste included. Buy the full amount at once so colors come from one batch.
- Patio area
- 120 sq ft
- Gravel base (4 in)
- 1.48 cu yd
- Bedding sand (1 in)
- 0.37 cu yd
Estimates only. Verify quantities before ordering.
How this is calculated
Pavers = patio area in sq in / paver area in sq in, plus your waste factor, rounded up. Gravel base = area x 4 in depth, bedding sand = area x 1 in depth, both converted to cubic yards (divide cubic feet by 27).
Pick your paver size, enter the patio dimensions, and this calculator counts the pavers plus the two base layers people forget to price: compacted gravel and bedding sand. The counts assume pavers laid tight; patterned layouts with border courses cut more pieces, which is what the waste factor covers.
The base is the actual structure of a paver patio. Plan on 4 inches of compacted crushed gravel for foot traffic and 6 inches or more where vehicles drive, topped with 1 inch of screeded concrete sand. This calculator includes the 4 inch base figure; scale it up proportionally for driveways.
Pavers for common patio sizes
Rows assume 4 x 8 in pavers with 10% waste, a 4 in gravel base, and 1 in of bedding sand.
| Patio size | Pavers | Base gravel | Sand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 495 pavers | 1.23 cu yd | 0.31 cu yd |
| 12 x 10 ft | 594 pavers | 1.48 cu yd | 0.37 cu yd |
| 12 x 12 ft | 713 pavers | 1.78 cu yd | 0.44 cu yd |
| 16 x 12 ft | 951 pavers | 2.37 cu yd | 0.59 cu yd |
| 20 x 16 ft | 1,584 pavers | 3.95 cu yd | 0.99 cu yd |
Common questions
How many 4 x 8 pavers per square foot?
A 4 x 8 inch paver covers 32 square inches, so it takes 4.5 of them per square foot before waste. A 100 square foot patio needs about 450 pavers plus 5 to 10% extra for cuts along the edges.
How deep should the base be under pavers?
Excavate about 7 inches for a patio: 4 inches of compacted crushed gravel, 1 inch of bedding sand, and the paver thickness (usually 2 3/8 inches). Driveways need 6 to 10 inches of gravel base instead, compacted in 2 to 3 inch layers.
Do I need edge restraints?
Yes. Without a restraint (plastic edging spiked into the base, concrete curb, or a building edge), pavers migrate outward and the joints open up. It is the most commonly skipped component and the most common reason a new patio spreads within a year.
What goes in the joints between pavers?
Polymeric sand is the standard: it is swept into the joints, misted, and hardens enough to resist weeds and washout. Plain sand also works but needs periodic topping up. Either way, the joints are filled after compacting the pavers into the bedding layer.