Paver Calculator
Count the pavers, base gravel and bedding sand for a patio, walkway or fire pit area.
How to use this paver calculator
Choose the shape of your patio or path and enter its size in feet. Enter the face size of one paver in inches (a classic brick paver is 4 × 8). Pick how much extra to allow: curves and circles need more cutting than straight edges. The calculator also works out the crushed gravel base and the layer of bedding sand that goes underneath.
How deep should the base be?
| Use | Gravel base | Sand bed |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or garden path | 4 in | 1 in |
| Patio | 4–6 in | 1 in |
| Driveway | 8–12 in | 1 in |
| Clay or poorly draining soil | Add 2 in | 1 in |
The math behind it
- Pavers = area × (1 + extra%) × 144 ÷ (paver width × paver length), rounded up.
- Gravel base = area × (base depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27 for cubic yards, × about 1.4 for tons.
- Sand = area × (sand depth ÷ 12). A 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet.
Example: a 12 × 10 ft patio is 120 sq ft. With 4 × 8 inch pavers and 10% extra, you need 594 pavers, about 1.48 cubic yards (2.1 tons) of gravel base, and 10 cubic feet of sand, which is about 20 bags.
Also on the list
- Edge restraint around the outside so the pavers don't creep apart. Measure the perimeter.
- Polymeric sand to sweep into the joints. A 50 lb bag covers roughly 50–100 sq ft depending on the joint width.
- Landscape fabric under the gravel on soft or clay soil.
Often used together
Quick answers
How many pavers are in a square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver's width times its length in inches. A 4 × 8 inch paver works out to 4.5 per square foot, and a 6 × 9 inch paver to about 2.7 per square foot.
How much gravel do I need under pavers?
Usually 4 inches for walkways and 4–6 inches for patios, compacted in 2-inch layers. That's about 1.2 cubic yards per 100 square feet at 4 inches deep.
Can I lay pavers on sand alone?
Not for a lasting patio. Sand alone shifts and washes out. You need a compacted gravel base with just a thin 1-inch sand bed on top.