Counting method
Convert paver length and width to feet, divide total square footage by one paver’s area, then ceil to whole units. Add 5–10% waste for cuts (more for diagonal herringbone). Always buy a few extras for future repairs with the same dye lot when possible.
Worked example
A 10×10 patio with 12×12 inch pavers needs 100 pavers exactly, about 110 with 10% waste. Plan ~1" sand bed and several inches of compacted gravel base—this calculator estimates those volumes too.
Base checklist
- Excavate to design depth including base and sand.
- Compact crushed stone in lifts.
- Screed bedding sand; do not use sand to correct a bad base.
- Install edge restraints before vibrating the surface.
See also the sand calculator and gravel calculator.
| Paver face | Pavers / sq ft |
|---|---|
| 4×8 in | 4.5 |
| 6×9 in | ~2.7 |
| 12×12 in | 1.0 |
Assumptions and limits
The paver calculator results are planning estimates for rectangular or cylindrical shapes with uniform depth. Real sites have slopes, voids, and product variation. Always confirm coverage with the manufacturer label and local building practices before you buy large quantities.
Unit toggles switch input labels between US imperial and metric. Shareable URLs store your inputs in the query string for convenience, while the canonical tag stays on the clean page URL so search engines do not index every parameter combination.
Shopping checklist
- Write down the calculator outputs (volume, bags, or piece counts) and round up for waste.
- Call your supplier for density, dye lot, or delivery minimums when ordering bulk material.
- Check access for trucks, wheelbarrows, and staging space before delivery day.
- Photograph existing conditions so you can revisit dimensions if a helper measures differently.
Dry-lay a few rows to confirm the bond pattern before cutting edge pieces so your waste percentage stays realistic.
Measure the patio twice, mark square corners with a 3-4-5 triangle, and confirm slope for drainage away from the house before you excavate for the gravel base and bedding sand layers.
FAQ
How much waste for paver patterns?
Straight stack patterns may need ~5–10%. Diagonal herringbone often needs 10–15% extra for cuts.
Related guides
Sources
- ICPI – Industry guidance Used for: Segmental paver waste, bedding, and base practice overview. Checked .
Estimates only—confirm bag yields on the product label and check local building codes before you pour or order. Not affiliated with QUIKRETE, Sakrete, Sonoco, or any manufacturer named in the sources. Found an error? Tell me.
Calculator version 1.0 · Changelog