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This paver calculator works out how many pavers you need for a patio, walkway or driveway, along with the gravel base and bedding sand underneath. Enter the area and the paver size, choose your base depths, and get paver counts, cubic yards or cubic meters and approximate weights.
How to Use the Paver Calculator
- Enter the length and width of the paved area.
- Enter the paver length and width (for example 8 × 4 in brick pavers or 20 × 10 cm blocks).
- Add 5–10% extra for cuts and breakage, or more for curved edges and herringbone patterns.
- Enter the gravel base and sand bedding depths.
Paver Formulas
Pavers = Area ÷ (Paver length × Paver width) × (1 + Waste %)
Base volume = Area × Base depth
Sand volume = Area × Sand depth
Worked Example
- Patio: 12 × 10 ft = 120 sq ft
- Pavers: 8 × 4 in = 0.222 sq ft each, so 540 pavers, or 594 with 10% extra
- Gravel base 4 in deep: 40 cu ft = 1.48 cu yd (about 2.1 tons)
- Sand bedding 1 in deep: 10 cu ft = 0.37 cu yd
Recommended Base Depths
| Use | Compacted gravel base | Sand bedding |
|---|---|---|
| Walkways and patios | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) | 1 in (2.5 cm) |
| Driveways | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) | 1 in (2.5 cm) |
| Poor or clay soil | Add 2–4 in and use geotextile fabric | 1 in (2.5 cm) |
Pavers per Square Foot
| Paver size | Pavers per sq ft | Pavers per m² |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 4.5 | 48 |
| 6 × 6 in | 4 | 43 |
| 6 × 9 in | 2.67 | 29 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1 | 10.8 |
| 20 × 10 cm | ≈4.6 | 50 |
Installation Tips
- Compact the gravel base in 2–3 inch lifts with a plate compactor.
- Screed the sand to an even 1 inch layer; do not use it to fix low spots in the base.
- Slope the patio about ¼ inch per foot away from the house for drainage.
- Install edge restraints and sweep polymeric or jointing sand into the joints.
- Need more gravel detail? See the gravel calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10×10 patio?
A 100 sq ft patio needs 450 standard 4 × 8 inch pavers, or about 495 with 10% extra.
How much gravel do I need under pavers?
For a patio, 4–6 inches of compacted gravel. A 10 × 10 ft patio with a 4 inch base needs about 1.2 cubic yards.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
About 1 inch of bedding sand, which is roughly 0.31 cubic yards per 100 square feet.
How much extra should I order?
5% for simple square layouts and 10–15% for curves, herringbone patterns or many cuts.
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