Paver calculator
Enter the size of the area and of the paver to see how many pavers to buy, and the depth of the base and the sand to see how many cubic yards of each.
This answer is for the example values in the boxes above. An area of 120 sq ft, pavers 8 by 4 in, 10% extra. Change the boxes to see your own answer.
Each paver takes up its own size plus one joint. The base and the sand are the area times the depth you give, with no extra for compaction or waste.
How it works
The calculator divides the area by the area one paver takes up and rounds up. A paver takes up its length plus one joint by its width plus one joint. Type 0 for pavers laid tight, or if the size you typed already includes the joint. The extra covers cuts and breakage, and it is added before the count is rounded.
The base and the sand are the area times the depth you give, in cubic feet and cubic yards. If you type what a cubic yard of the base weighs, as your supplier says, the calculator also gives tons. The pallets come from the coverage that the seller prints.
A worked example
A patio of 12 by 10 feet is 120 square feet, or 17,280 square inches. A paver of 8 by 4 inches covers 32 square inches, so 540 pavers cover it with no joints. With 10 percent extra you buy 594. With joints of 1/8 inch each paver takes up 8.125 by 4.125 inches, 516 pavers cover the patio and you buy 568.
Under the patio, a base 4 inches deep is 40 cubic feet, or 1.48 cubic yards. One inch of bedding sand is 10 cubic feet, or 0.37 cubic yards.
The depth of the base and the sand
The depth of the base and of the sand depends on the job, so the calculator gives none. The 4 inches and the 1 inch in the boxes are an example. Take the figures from your paver maker or your installer, and leave a box empty to skip that layer.
What it leaves out
The volumes are exact for the depth you give. They add nothing for compaction or waste, so ask your supplier how much more to order. The calculator counts the pavers and the materials under them, and it does not count edging or joint sand.
Questions
How many pavers do I need for a patio?
Divide the area by the area of one paver and add extra for cuts. A patio of 12 by 10 feet is 120 square feet. Pavers of 8 by 4 inches laid tight number 540, and 594 with 10% extra.
Does the joint between pavers change the count?
Yes, a little. Each paver takes up its size plus one joint. With a joint of 1/8 inch, pavers of 8 by 4 inches take up 8.125 by 4.125, and 516 cover the patio instead of 540.
How much base and sand do I need?
Multiply the area by the depth of each layer. 120 square feet with a base 4 inches deep is 40 cubic feet, which is 1.48 cubic yards, and 1 inch of sand is 10 cubic feet, which is 0.37. The depths come from your paver maker or installer.
How many pallets of pavers do I need?
Type the coverage of a pallet in square feet, as the seller prints it. The calculator divides the area with its extra by that number and rounds up.
What if the patio is not a rectangle?
Work out the other parts with the square footage calculator and type their area in square feet in the box for other area. The calculator adds it to the rectangle.
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