🧱 Paver & Patio Calculator
Enter the patio dimensions and your paver size, and get the number of pavers to buy plus the gravel base and bedding sand volumes.
Pavers (+waste)
594
540 bare · 4.5/ft²
Gravel base (~6″)
2.22 yd³
Bedding sand (~1″)
0.37 yd³
Pavers = patio area ÷ paver area, rounded up, plus waste for cuts. Base allows ~6″ (15 cm) compacted gravel and ~1″ (2.5 cm) bedding sand. Add extra pavers for a diagonal or herringbone pattern. 🔒 In your browser.
How the paver & patio calculator works
The number of pavers is the patio area (length × width) divided by the area of a single paver, rounded up, plus a waste allowance for cuts and breakage. The tool also estimates the base: a compacted gravel sub-base about 6 inches (15 cm) deep and a bedding-sand layer about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, both spread over the whole area.
Add about 10% waste for a straight layout and 15–20% for a diagonal or herringbone pattern, which needs many angled cuts around the edges. A solid, well-compacted gravel base and screeded sand bed are what stop pavers from sinking and shifting — don’t skimp on the sub-base. Buy pavers from the same batch for consistent colour.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need?
Divide the patio area by the area of one paver and round up. For a 12 × 10 ft (120 sq ft) patio with 8 × 4 in pavers (0.222 sq ft each), that’s 120 ÷ 0.222 ≈ 540 pavers before waste.
How much waste should I add for pavers?
About 10% for a straight or running-bond layout, and 15–20% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, which produce many cut pieces around the perimeter. Keep a few spares for future repairs.
How much gravel base do I need under pavers?
Plan on a compacted gravel sub-base about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) deep for a patio or walkway. This calculator estimates that volume; go deeper for driveways or soft ground.
How much bedding sand goes under pavers?
A screeded bedding layer of coarse sand about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep sits between the gravel base and the pavers. The tool estimates that volume separately from the gravel.
Do I need edge restraints?
Yes — plastic or metal edge restraints (or a concrete haunch) keep the outer pavers from spreading and the whole field from creeping over time. They’re essential for a lasting installation but aren’t part of this quantity estimate.