CloudCalcAppPaver Calculator
Estimate how many pavers you need for a patio, walkway, or driveway - enter the area and your paver size to get the paver count with a waste allowance you control, plus planning estimates for the compacted gravel base and bedding sand underneath.
A paver calculator works out how many paving units a patio, walkway, or driveway needs. Divide the area you are covering (in square feet) by the area of one paver — its length times its width in inches, divided by 144 — then add a waste percentage for cut and broken pieces and round up. Depth is not part of the count; pavers are laid one unit thick over a prepared base.
Waste depends on the laying pattern: about 10% for running bond or another straight layout, 15% for a 90° herringbone, and up to 20% for a 45° herringbone or a design with many curved cuts. These are guidance figures — enter the percentage that fits your pattern; the calculator does not apply one for you. Under the pavers, the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association recommends a compacted gravel base of at least 4 inches for walkways and patios and 6 inches for residential driveways, topped with a nominal 1 inch of bedding sand. Excavate 6–8 inches beyond any open edge so an edge restraint has something solid to anchor to. Measuring a curved or irregular patio? Use the Square Footage Calculator first, then choose “Known area” here — and use the Gravel Calculator for a full base-material estimate.
| Paver size | Pavers per sq ft |
|---|---|
| 4" x 8" (standard brick) | about 4.5 |
| 6" x 6" | about 4 |
| 6" x 9" | about 2.67 |
| 8" x 8" | about 2.25 |
| 12" x 12" | about 1 |
| 12" x 18" | about 0.67 |
Last updated September 2, 2026
Paver Calculator Examples
10 x 10 ft patio, brick-size pavers
- Area type:
- Rectangular area
- Length:
- 10 ft
- Width:
- 10 ft
- Paver size:
- 8 x 4 in
- Waste:
- 10%
10 x 10 = 100 sq ft. An 8 x 4 in paver covers 32 / 144 = 0.222 sq ft, so 100 / 0.222 = 450 pavers before waste. With 10% for a running-bond layout, order 495. Plan on about 1.23 cubic yards of gravel base at 4 in and 0.31 cubic yards of bedding sand at 1 in.
12 x 12 ft patio, herringbone pattern
- Area type:
- Rectangular area
- Length:
- 12 ft
- Width:
- 12 ft
- Paver size:
- 12 x 12 in
- Waste:
- 15%
12 x 12 = 144 sq ft. A 12 x 12 in paver covers exactly 1 sq ft, so 144 pavers before waste. A 90-degree herringbone needs more edge cuts, so at 15% order 166. Base estimate: about 1.78 cubic yards of gravel at 4 in and 0.44 cubic yards of bedding sand.
3 x 25 ft garden walkway
- Area type:
- Rectangular area
- Length:
- 3 ft
- Width:
- 25 ft
- Paver size:
- 6 x 9 in
- Waste:
- 10%
3 x 25 = 75 sq ft. A 6 x 9 in paver covers 54 / 144 = 0.375 sq ft, so 75 / 0.375 = 200 pavers before waste, or 220 with 10%. Under the path, plan on about 0.93 cubic yards of gravel base and 0.23 cubic yards of bedding sand.
Irregular patio measured as a known area
- Area type:
- Known area
- Area:
- 200 sq ft
- Paver size:
- 6 x 6 in
- Waste:
- 10%
Work out an odd-shaped patio with the Square Footage Calculator first - say 200 sq ft - then switch to 'Known area' here. A 6 x 6 in paver covers 0.25 sq ft, so 200 / 0.25 = 800 pavers before waste, or 880 with 10%. Base: about 2.47 cubic yards of gravel and 0.62 cubic yards of bedding sand.
20 x 30 ft driveway apron
- Area type:
- Rectangular area
- Length:
- 20 ft
- Width:
- 30 ft
- Paver size:
- 6 x 9 in
- Waste:
- 15%
20 x 30 = 600 sq ft. A 6 x 9 in paver covers 0.375 sq ft, so 1,600 pavers before waste, or 1,840 with 15%. The 4-inch base estimate is about 7.41 cubic yards - but a residential driveway needs a 6-inch base (about 11.1 cubic yards), so use the Gravel Calculator to size it properly.
FAQ
How many pavers do I need?
Find the area you are covering in square feet, then divide it by the area of a single paver in square feet - a paver's area is its length times its width in inches, divided by 144. Divide the project area by that number, add a waste percentage for cuts and breakage, and round up. Enter your numbers above and the calculator does this, and also estimates the gravel base and bedding sand underneath.
How many pavers are in a square foot?
It depends on the paver size. A 4 by 8 inch brick-size paver covers 32 square inches, so about 4.5 fit in a square foot. A 6 by 6 inch paver is 4 per square foot, an 8 by 8 inch paver is 2.25, and a 12 by 12 inch paver is exactly 1. Divide 144 by the paver's length times width in inches to get the figure for any size.
How many pavers do I need for a 10x10 patio?
A 10 by 10 foot patio is 100 square feet. With 4 by 8 inch pavers that is 450 before waste, or 495 once you add 10 percent for a straight layout. With 12 by 12 inch pavers it is 100, plus waste. The exact number always depends on the paver size and the laying pattern.
How many pavers do I need for a 12x12 patio?
A 12 by 12 foot patio is 144 square feet. With 12 by 12 inch pavers that is exactly 144 before waste. A running-bond layout adds about 10 percent (159), a 90-degree herringbone about 15 percent (166), and a 45-degree herringbone up to 20 percent (173), because diagonal patterns need more cut pieces around the edges.
How much waste should I add for pavers?
About 10 percent for a running bond or other straight layout, about 15 percent for a 90-degree herringbone, and up to 20 percent for a 45-degree herringbone or a design with many curves and angled cuts. These are guidance figures - the calculator does not apply them for you; enter the percentage that fits your pattern in the optional waste field.
How deep should a paver base be?
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association recommends a minimum compacted aggregate base of 4 inches for walkways, patios, and other pedestrian areas, and 6 inches for residential driveways, over a compacted soil subgrade. On weak or poorly drained soil, or in hard-freeze climates, go deeper. Build and compact the base in 2 to 3 inch lifts, then add a nominal 1 inch of bedding sand on top.
How much gravel and sand go under pavers?
For the gravel base, multiply the area by the base depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards - a 100 square foot patio at a 4 inch base is about 1.2 cubic yards. The bedding sand is a nominal 1 inch layer, so the same 100 square feet is about 0.3 cubic yards. This calculator shows both as planning estimates; use the Gravel Calculator for a full base-material calculation with weight and delivery figures.
Do I need to add area for cutting and edging?
Measure to the finished face of the pavers for the count. For the base and edge restraint, excavate 6 to 8 inches wider than the paver field on any side that is not against a house or wall, so the restraint has something solid to anchor to. Diagonal and herringbone layouts also produce more cut pieces along the perimeter, which is why they carry a higher waste percentage.
Related Calculators
Square Footage Calculator
Construction & DIYCalculate the square footage of a room or area - rectangle, circle, triangle, trapezoid, or L-shape - with instant results in square feet, square yards, square meters, or acres.
Gravel Calculator
Construction & DIYEstimate how much gravel you need - enter the area and depth to get the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, an approximate weight in tons, and a bag count, with an optional allowance for waste and compaction.