Figure My Build

Paver Calculator

One tool for the whole patio build-up: the pavers themselves, the compacted gravel base underneath, and the 1 in bedding sand layer, each in the units it's sold in.

Cross-section diagram of a paver patio: pavers on 1 inch of bedding sand on a compacted gravel base
A paver patio is layers: pavers on 1 in of bedding sand on a compacted base.

Your buy-list

Enter your measurements

How paver, base and sand quantities are calculated

Pavers are counted by the grid method (the same as our Tile Calculator): each paver takes its size plus one joint (standard pavers are laid with about a 1/8 in sand joint), and partial pavers at the edges count whole. Waste: 5% for a simple rectangle, 10% standard, 15% with curves and diagonal patterns.

Base gravel follows the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute's (ICPI) minimums: 4 in of compacted aggregate base for patios and walkways on decent soil (6 in on poor or clay soil), and 8 in for driveways. Tons = area × base depth, converted at 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone.

Bedding sand is the ICPI-standard 1 in layer of coarse concrete sand screeded over the base (never more than 1.5 in), converted at 1.35 tons per cubic yard. You'll also want a few bags of jointing/polymeric sand to sweep in at the end: roughly a 50 lb bag per 55–120 sq ft with narrow joints; wide joints can drop to 20–45 sq ft per bag, so check the bag's label for your joint width. Ordering the layers separately? The Gravel Calculator and Sand Calculator convert each layer to tons and bags.

Sources

The figures behind this calculator come from published manufacturer data and industry standards:

Worked examples

10 × 12 ft patio, 4 × 8 in pavers

Grid count 525, +10% waste; 4 in base, 1 in bedding.

Buy 578 pavers + 2.1 t gravel + 0.5 t sand

16 × 20 ft driveway, 6 × 6 in pavers

Grid count 1,280, +10% waste; 8 in driveway base.

Buy 1,408 pavers + 11.1 t gravel + 1.4 t sand

8 × 4 ft walkway, 4 × 8 in pavers

Grid count 144, +5% waste; 4 in base.

Buy 152 pavers + 0.6 t gravel + 0.2 t sand

Frequently asked questions

How many pavers do I need for a 10×12 patio?
With common 4 × 8 in pavers and a 1/8 in joint, the grid works out to 525 pavers, or 578 with a 10% cutting allowance, plus about 2.1 tons of base gravel and 0.5 tons of bedding sand underneath.
How deep should the base be under pavers?
ICPI minimums: 4 in of compacted crushed-stone base for patios and walkways (6 in on clay or poorly drained soil), 8 in for driveways, plus the 1 in bedding sand layer and the paver's own thickness when you plan excavation depth.
How much area does a ton of base gravel cover?
At 4 in deep, one ton of crushed stone (about 0.71 cu yd) covers roughly 58 sq ft. At driveway depth (8 in) it's about 29 sq ft per ton.
Can I lay pavers directly on sand or soil?
No. That's the classic cause of settling and weeds. The compacted gravel base does the structural work; the 1 in sand layer is only a levelling bed. Skipping the base saves a day and costs you the patio.
What about edge restraints and polymeric sand?
Both essential, neither counted here: edge restraint for the full perimeter (sold by the linear foot), and polymeric joint sand at roughly one 50 lb bag per 55–120 sq ft for narrow joints. Wide joints can need a bag per 20–45 sq ft. Check the bag label for your joint width.

Related calculators

Gravel Calculator

Tons and cubic yards for driveways and paths.

Mulch Calculator

Bags or cubic yards of mulch by bed area and depth.

Topsoil Calculator

Cubic yards and bags of topsoil for lawns, beds and levelling.

Sand Calculator

Tons of sand for paver base, pools and sandboxes.

Estimate disclaimer: results are planning estimates based on standard manufacturer yields and coverage figures. Site conditions, product choice and installation method change actual quantities. Verify before you buy, and follow local building code for structural work. This tool does not replace professional engineering advice.

Use this calculator on your own site

Free to embed. Paste this code where you want the calculator to appear. It carries a small "by Figure My Build" credit link, which is all we ask.