A 12 × 12 ft patio in 4×8 in pavers,
No joint, 5% waste. Each paver covers 32 in², so 144 ft² takes exactly 648 pavers, or 681 with waste. A 4 in base is 1.778 yd³ (about 2.489 tons), and 1 in of sand is 0.444 yd³, or 24 bags of 0.5 ft³.
Paver Calculator
Estimate how many pavers, how much base gravel and how many bags of sand your patio needs.
Results
- Area
- 144 ft²
- Pavers before waste
- 648
- Pavers to buy
- 681
- Base gravel
- 1.778 yd³
- Base weight
- 2.489 tons
- Bedding sand
- 0.444 yd³
- Sand bags
- 24 bags of 0.5 ft³
Base is the compacted depth. Loose gravel settles when you compact it, and this count does not add extra for that. Base depth is guidance only.
Cost comparison
Enter your patio's size and the paver you've picked to estimate all three layers: the compacted gravel base, the sand bed and the pavers on top. That way you can price the whole job, not just the stone you'll see.
How to use it
- Enter the area as length and width, as a circle, or as total square feet.
- Choose a paver size or type your own. Presets include 4×8, 6×6, 6×9, 12×12, 16×16 and 24×24 in.
- Enter the joint width. Use 0 for pavers with built-in spacer lugs, since the spacing is already part of the paver's size.
- Set waste: about 5% for straight patterns and 10 to 15% for herringbone, curves or lots of cuts.
- Adjust the base and sand depths if your installer or the paver maker recommends something different. The defaults are a 4 in base for patios (6 to 8 in for driveways) and 1 in of sand.
Before you measure
Measure the finished patio size, not the dug-out area. If you're adding edging, the paver count stops at the inside of the edging. For L-shaped or irregular patios, split the shape into rectangles, add up the square feet and enter the total. Keep a few spare pavers after the job. Matching a color batch years later for a repair can be hard.
How it works
Each paver covers its own size plus one joint width, so the count is your area divided by that, plus waste. Base and sand are the area times each layer's depth, converted to cubic yards, tons and bags.
- Coverage per paver = (length + joint) × (width + joint) ÷ 144 ft². Pavers = area ÷ coverage × (1 + waste), rounded up.
- Base yd³ = area × base depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = yd³ × 1.4 by default, the same setting as the Mulch & Gravel Calculator.
- Sand bags = sand cubic feet ÷ 0.5, rounded up.
Worked examples
The same patio with 1/8 in joints.
The joint makes each paver's footprint slightly larger, so the raw count falls to 618.70, or 650 pavers with 5% waste. That's 31 fewer than with no joint, so set the joint carefully.
A 10 × 20 ft patio in 12×12 slabs,
10% waste and a 6 in base. 200 slabs plus 10% gives 220. The base is 3.704 yd³ (5.185 tons), and the sand is 0.617 yd³, or 34 bags.
A 3 × 30 ft herringbone walkway in 6×9 in pavers.
90 ft² at 2.667 pavers per square foot is 240 pavers, and 264 with 10% waste for all the angled cuts. A 4 in base is 1.111 yd³ (1.556 tons), and the sand takes 15 bags.
Pavers per square foot
| Paver size | Per ft² (no joint) | Per ft² (1/8 in joint) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 4.50 | 4.30 |
| 6 × 6 in | 4.00 | 3.84 |
| 6 × 9 in | 2.67 | 2.58 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1.00 | 0.98 |
| 16 × 16 in | 0.56 | 0.55 |
| 24 × 24 in | 0.25 | 0.25 |
Waste isn't included here. Add it on top.
A note on the base
The base figure is the compacted depth. Loose gravel settles when you compact it, so many installers order extra. The tool doesn't add a compaction factor yet, so ask your supplier how much extra to allow for the stone you're buying. Base depth is guidance only. Soil, frost and traffic all affect what's right for your site.
FAQ
How many pavers do I need?
Divide your area by the square feet each paver covers (including the joint), then add waste. A 12 × 12 ft patio in 4×8 pavers needs 648, or 681 with 5% waste.
How do I account for spacing between pavers?
Enter the joint width and the tool adds it to each paver's size. With 1/8 in joints, the same 12 × 12 patio needs 650 instead of 681.
How much paver base do I need?
Area × base depth. A 144 ft² patio with a 4 in base needs 1.778 yd³, about 2.5 tons at 1.4 tons per yard.
How much sand goes under pavers?
Usually a 1 in bed. For 144 ft² that's 0.444 yd³, or 24 bags of 0.5 ft³.
How much extra should I buy for herringbone or circles?
About 10 to 15%, versus 5% for straight running bond. Those patterns create many more cuts.
How do I figure pavers for a circular patio?
Pick the circle shape and enter the diameter. The tool uses π × radius² for the area. Plan on the higher waste range because every edge paver is cut.