Paver Calculator
Estimate how many pavers a patio, walkway, or driveway needs. Enter the project area and paver size, then optionally add base material, bedding sand, and cost.
Results
Enter your measurements to see an estimate.
Calculated: — EasyBuildTools, www.easybuildtools.com
How to use the Paver Calculator
Choose a project area shape. Rectangle uses length and width in feet. Circle uses the diameter in feet. Custom square footage lets you enter an area you already measured, which is handy for irregular patios. Then enter the paver size in inches, pick a waste allowance, and optionally add base material, bedding sand, and costs.
- Enter the project dimensions or total area.
- Enter the paver length and width in inches.
- Choose a waste allowance (10% is typical).
- Optionally enable base material and bedding sand, entering depths in inches.
- Optionally enter your local paver, base, and sand prices.
Results update automatically as you type. Pavers are always rounded up to a whole unit.
Formula and methodology
- Project area — rectangle: length × width. Circle: π × (diameter ÷ 2)². Custom: the value you enter.
- Paver coverage = (paver length in × paver width in) ÷ 144, in square feet.
- Pavers before waste = project area ÷ paver coverage.
- Total pavers = pavers before waste × (1 + waste% / 100), rounded up to the next whole paver.
- Base material = area × (base depth ÷ 12), in cubic feet; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Bedding sand = area × (sand depth ÷ 12), in cubic feet; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
Cost is computed from the prices you enter. Per-square-foot pricing multiplies the project area; per-paver pricing multiplies the rounded paver count. Base and sand costs multiply their cubic-yard volumes by your per-yard price.
Worked example
Patio: 12 ft × 16 ft = 192 sq ft. Pavers are 8 in × 4 in, so each covers (8 × 4) ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft. Pavers before waste = 192 ÷ 0.222 = 864. With 10% waste: 864 × 1.10 = 950.4, rounded up to 951 pavers. A 6-inch base over 192 sq ft = 96 cu ft = 3.56 cu yd. A 1-inch bedding sand layer = 16 cu ft = 0.59 cu yd. Enter these values above to confirm.
Practical paver planning tips
- Complex patterns, diagonal layouts, curved edges, and lots of cuts increase waste — move to 15% rather than 10%.
- Base depth depends on use and soil. Patios and walks often use 4 to 6 inches of compacted aggregate; driveways usually need more. See How Deep Should Paver Base Be?
- Compacted base settles less than loose base, so order enough to compact to your target depth. See How Much Paver Base Do I Need?
- Bedding sand and joint sand are different roles. Read Paver Sand vs. Polymeric Sand before buying.
- Keep a few extra pavers for future repairs — matching dye lots later is difficult.