How to use the paver calculator
- Enter the length and width of the patio or path, or the total area for irregular shapes.
- Enter the paver size and the joint gap (often zero for spacer-nub pavers).
- Choose the extra allowance for your pattern.
- Set the gravel base and sand depths to get those quantities too.
Paver formulas
Pavers = Area ÷ ((Paver length + gap) × (Paver width + gap)) × (1 + extra %) Base = Area × Base depth Sand bed = Area × Sand depth Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Worked example
A 12 × 10 ft patio with 4 × 8 in pavers, 4 in gravel base and 1 in sand:
- Area = 120 ft²; each paver covers 32 in² → 4.5 pavers per ft²
- 120 × 4.5 = 540 pavers; +5% = 567 pavers
- Base = 120 × 4 ÷ 12 = 40 ft³ = 1.48 yd³ (about 1.9 tons)
- Sand = 120 × 1 ÷ 12 = 10 ft³ = 0.37 yd³
Pavers per square foot and square metre
| Paver size | Per ft² | Per m² |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in (100 × 200 mm) | 4.5 | 48.4 / 50 |
| 6 × 6 in | 4.0 | 43.1 |
| 6 × 9 in | 2.67 | 28.7 |
| 12 × 12 in (300 × 300 mm) | 1.0 | 10.8 / 11.1 |
| 16 × 16 in | 0.56 | 6.05 |
| 24 × 24 in (600 × 600 mm) | 0.25 | 2.69 / 2.78 |
Before joints and waste. Where two values are shown, the first is for the inch size and the second for the metric size.
Building a paver patio that lasts
- Dig deep enough: paver thickness + 1 in sand + base depth. Remove topsoil and soft clay.
- Compact the base in layers of 2–3 inches with a plate compactor and slope it about 1/4 in per foot away from the house.
- Use edge restraints — plastic, metal or a concrete haunch — or the pavers will creep apart.
- Screed the sand to an even 1 inch; don’t use it to fill dips in the base.
- Fill joints with polymeric sand and compact the surface to lock the pavers.
Ordering tips
Pavers are sold by the piece, by the square foot or square metre, or by the pallet (often 100–130 ft² or 10–12 m² per pallet, depending on the product). Ask the supplier for the coverage per pallet and round up to whole pallets if that is cheaper. Keep a few spare pavers from the same batch for future repairs — colours change between production runs. Gravel and sand are usually cheaper delivered in bulk by the ton or cubic yard than in bags once you need more than about half a cubic yard.
Choosing pavers
Concrete interlocking pavers are the most popular for patios and driveways because they are strong and easy to replace. Clay brick pavers keep their colour longer. Natural stone (sandstone, slate, granite) costs more and varies in thickness, so the sand bed needs adjusting as you go. For driveways, choose pavers at least 60 mm (2⅜ in) thick and use a thicker base; 80 mm (3⅛ in) pavers suit heavier vehicles.