How many pavers do I need?

Pavers are counted per piece, and a small change in paver size changes the count dramatically: 120 sq ft of 4 × 8 pavers is 540 pieces before any allowance, while the same area in 12 × 12 pavers is 120. This calculator returns the count for the paver you are using, plus the volume of base material you will need underneath it.

Patio length (ft)

Patio width (ft)

Paver length (in)

Paver width (in)

Cut allowance (%)

Base depth (in)

4 in compacted for a path, 6-8 in for a driveway.

Pavers needed

594pavers

Patio area 120 sq ftBase gravel 1.48 yd³

Rectangular patios only. Circles, curves and diagonal patterns need a higher cut allowance, and a herringbone pattern typically wastes 15-20%.

The cut allowance is not optional with pavers. Any edge that meets a wall, a step or a curve is finished with a cut piece, and cut pieces come out of full ones. Ten percent covers a simple rectangular patio; fifteen is more realistic for curves, circles or a running-bond pattern where the end of every row is cut.

The base is the part people under-buy. Four inches of compacted crushed stone is the minimum for a footpath, six to eight for anything a vehicle uses, and a compacted inch consumes about 1.25 inches of loose material. Order the base by the cubic yard — a 12 × 10 ft patio at 4 inches is 1.5 cubic yards before any allowance for compaction.

How the calculation works

Patio area = length × width. Paver area = (paver length ÷ 12) × (paver width ÷ 12) square feet. Pavers = ceil(area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) ÷ paver area). Base volume (yd³) = area × (base depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27.

• The patio is a rectangle; curved edges and diagonal patterns waste more, so raise the allowance to 15-20%.
• Pavers are laid tight with a small joint filled with polymeric sand; wide joints reduce the count slightly.
• Base depth is the compacted depth, and the volume given is loose stone before compaction — add 20-25% when ordering if the layer will be rolled.
• Bedding sand is not included; allow about one inch of coarse sand over the compacted base.

Sources: Paver coverage = 144 ÷ (paver length in × paver width in) pavers per square foot; Base depths: 4 in compacted for foot traffic, 6-8 in for vehicles (paver manufacturer guidance)

Worked examples

Questions

How many pavers do I need per square foot?

Divide 144 by the paver's area in square inches: a 4 × 8 paver is 32 in², so 4.5 pavers per square foot. A 12 × 12 paver is 1 per square foot.

How many pavers for a 12 × 10 patio?

About 540 of 4 × 8 before allowance, or 594 with 10% for cuts. In 12 × 12 pavers it is 132.

How deep should the base be?

Four inches of compacted crushed stone for foot traffic, six to eight for a driveway. The base is what stops the pavers from settling unevenly.

How much sand goes under pavers?

About one inch of coarse bedding sand, screeded level, over the compacted base. Polymeric sand is then swept into the joints and watered in.

Do I need edging?

Yes, on any edge that is not retained by a wall or curb. Without restraint the outer course creeps outward over a season or two.

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Written and maintained by Sam Winters. Last updated 2026-11-04. Every figure is computed in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere. Found an error? Tell me — accuracy reports get fixed first.