Paver Calculator

Paver formula

Paver footprint (sq in) = (Paver width + joint) x (Paver length + joint)
Pavers = Area (sq ft) x 144 / Paver footprint x (1 + waste %)
Gravel base (cu yd) = Area x Base depth (in) / 12 / 27, Bedding sand (cu yd) = Area x Sand depth (in) / 12 / 27
Polymeric sand bags = Area / 75 sq ft per 50 lb bag (1/8 in joints)

Worked example

A 16 x 14 ft patio (224 sq ft) in 6 x 9 in pavers with 1/8 in joints: each paver occupies 6.125 x 9.125 = 55.9 sq in, so 144 / 55.9 = 2.58 pavers per square foot. 224 x 2.58 = 577 pavers, or 606 with 5% waste.

Base: 224 x (6 / 12) = 112 cubic feet of crushed stone, which is 4.15 cubic yards, or 4.5 yards after compaction. Bedding sand at 1 in: 224 / 12 = 18.7 cubic feet, or 0.69 cubic yards. Polymeric sand: 224 / 75 = 3 bags.

Quick reference

How to calculate pavers

Multiply the length and width of the area for square feet. Then work out the footprint of one paver including half a joint on each side: a 4 by 8 inch paver with 1/8 inch joints occupies 4.125 by 8.125 inches, or 33.5 square inches, so a square foot holds 4.3 pavers. Many suppliers sell by the square foot or by the pallet, so also note the coverage printed on the pallet tag.

Waste depends on the layout. A rectangular patio in a running bond needs about 5 percent for cuts along two edges. Herringbone, curves and circles cut pavers along every edge and need 10 to 15 percent. Keep a few spare pavers from the same lot for future repairs, since colors change between batches.

Base, sand and joints

Excavate to the paver thickness plus the sand and base depth, sloping the base 1/4 inch per foot away from the house. Lay 4 to 6 inches of 3/4 inch minus crushed stone for a patio, or 8 to 12 inches for a driveway, compacting every 2 to 3 inches with a plate compactor. Order gravel by the cubic yard or ton: a cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons and loses 10 to 15 percent of its volume when compacted, so order a little extra.

Screed exactly 1 inch of coarse concrete sand over the base; a thicker bed lets pavers settle and rut. Set the pavers, install edge restraint, then sweep polymeric sand into the joints, compact, and mist with water to activate the binder. Regular sand works too but washes out and grows weeds sooner.

Key facts

• A standard 4 x 8 in Holland paver covers 0.22 sq ft, so a square foot takes 4.5 pavers, or about 4.3 with 1/8 in joints.
• A 12 x 12 in paver covers just under 1 sq ft; 100 sq ft needs about 98 with joints plus waste.
• A patio base is 4 to 6 in of compacted crushed stone; driveways need 8 to 12 in.
• One cubic yard of gravel covers 81 sq ft at 4 in deep, and one yard of sand covers 324 sq ft at 1 in.
• A 50 lb bag of polymeric sand fills the joints of roughly 50 to 100 sq ft of pavers, depending on paver size and joint width.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and references

• •PAV-TEC-002 Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association)
• •QUIKRETE quantity calculator (polymeric jointing sand and paver sand yields) (Quikrete)
• •QUIKRETE Patio Paver Jointing Sand product page (Quikrete)