How to calculate pavers, base and sand
A paver estimate has three parts: the pavers, the compacted crushed-stone base under them, and a thin layer of bedding sand they sit in. Pavers are counted by area. Base and sand are counted by volume, the same way you'd figure gravel or concrete.
Pavers = area (sq ft) × (1 + waste %) ÷ paver face area
Base or sand (cu yd) = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
The calculator adds a separate allowance to the base and sand. Crushed stone loses volume when you compact it, and some always ends up outside your edges.
Worked example: a 12 × 10 ft patio with 4 × 8 pavers
- Area: 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft.
- Paver face: 4 × 8 = 32 sq in, and 32 ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft. That's 4.5 pavers per square foot.
- Add 10% waste: 120 × 1.10 = 132 sq ft.
- Pavers: 132 × 4.5 = 594 pavers.
- Base at 4 in.: 120 × 4 ÷ 12 = 40 cu ft. Add 10%: 44 cu ft. Divide by 27: 1.63 cu yd, or about 2.3 tons.
- Sand at 1 in.: 120 × 1 ÷ 12 = 10 cu ft. Add 10%: 11 cu ft, which is 22 bags of 0.5 cu ft (about 0.41 cu yd).
The ton figure uses about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a common estimate for crushed-stone base. Actual weight runs higher or lower depending on the stone and how wet it is, so confirm with your supplier if they sell by the ton.
How many pavers per square foot?
These counts use the nominal face size. Many pavers are made to metric sizes and run slightly small (a "4 × 8" is often closer to 3.9 × 7.9 in.), and the joints between them take up a little area too. The two roughly offset, but if the manufacturer lists coverage per pallet or pieces per square foot, trust that number, or enter the actual size as a custom size.
| Paver size | Face area | Pavers per sq ft | Per 100 sq ft (no waste, rounded up) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in. | 0.222 sq ft | 4.5 | 450 |
| 6 × 6 in. | 0.25 sq ft | 4 | 400 |
| 6 × 9 in. | 0.375 sq ft | 2.67 | 267 |
| 12 × 12 in. | 1 sq ft | 1 | 100 |
| 16 × 16 in. | 1.78 sq ft | 0.56 | 57 |
| 12 × 24 in. | 2 sq ft | 0.5 | 50 |
Multi-size patterns (often sold as random, ashlar or 3-piece kits) are sold by the square foot or by the pallet. For those, use the "sq ft with waste" figure and buy that much coverage rather than counting pieces.
How much waste to allow
- 5–10%: running bond, stack bond or basket weave with straight edges and few cuts.
- 10–15%: herringbone at 90°, or a layout with a few obstacles like downspouts and steps.
- 15% or more: 45° herringbone, curved edges, circles, or a small area where nearly every edge piece gets cut.
Keep a few extra pavers after the job. Dye lots vary, and matching a cracked paver years later is much easier if you saved some from the original pallets.
Base and sand depth by project
| Project | Compacted base | Bedding sand | Typical paver thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkway or patio, well-drained soil | 4–6 in. | 1 in. | 2 3/8 in. (60 mm) |
| Patio on clay or wet soil | 6–8 in. | 1 in. | 2 3/8 in. (60 mm) |
| Residential driveway | 8–12 in. | 1 in. | 2 3/8 or 3 1/8 in. (60 or 80 mm) |
These are common rules of thumb. Cold climates with deep frost and soft soils often call for the deeper end of each range. Follow the paver manufacturer's installation guide, which may be stricter.
How deep to dig
Excavation depth is base + sand + paver thickness. For a typical patio that's 4 + 1 + 2 3/8 = about 7 3/8 in. below the finished surface. Slope the subgrade and base away from the house, commonly 1/8 to 1/4 in. per foot, so water runs off instead of pooling.
Buying base gravel and sand
- Base: use crushed stone with fines that compacts hard. It goes by different names around the US: paver base, 3/4 in. minus, crusher run, road base or aggregate base. Rounded pea gravel and river rock don't lock together and shouldn't be used as base.
- Compact in layers (lifts) of about 2–4 in. with a plate compactor, which most tool rental shops carry. Dampen the stone slightly so it packs.
- Extend the base past the pavers, typically 6 in. or more on each side, so the edge restraint sits on compacted stone. On a 10 × 10 ft patio, 6 in. on every side adds about 20% to the base volume; run the calculator again with the larger length and width to get the base figure.
- Bedding sand should be coarse, washed concrete sand, screeded flat at about 1 in. Avoid play sand, fine mason sand and stone dust under pavers; they hold water and can let pavers shift.
- Bags or bulk: one cubic yard is 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft. Under about half a yard, bags are convenient. Over a yard, bulk delivery usually costs less and saves a lot of lifting. Our gravel calculator handles other stone types and depths.
Edge restraint and joint sand
Every side of a paver patio that isn't held by a house wall, curb or existing slab needs edge restraint. Without it, the outer rows creep outward and the joints open up. Plastic or aluminum paver edging spiked into the base is the usual DIY choice; it's sold in fixed lengths, so buy enough to cover the linear footage the calculator shows, minus any sides that butt against a structure.
After the pavers are down and compacted, joints get filled with sand. Polymeric sand, which hardens after wetting, resists weeds and washout better than plain sand. How far a bag goes depends heavily on joint width, paver thickness and whether the pavers are tumbled, so use the coverage chart printed on the bag rather than a single rule of thumb. Install it on a dry day and follow the wetting directions exactly.
Comparing a paver patio with poured concrete? Price the same footprint with the concrete calculator. For odd shapes, total the area first with the square footage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10×10 patio?
A 10×10 patio is 100 square feet. With 4×8 pavers that is 450 pavers with no waste, or 495 with a 10% allowance. With 6×9 pavers it is 267 without waste or 294 with 10%. With 12×12 pavers it is 100, or 110 with waste.
How much gravel do I need under pavers?
Most patios and walkways need 4–6 inches of compacted crushed-stone base, and driveways need 8–12 inches. For 100 square feet at 4 inches, that is 33.3 cubic feet, or about 1.23 cubic yards (roughly 1.7 tons) before a compaction allowance. See the gravel calculator for other areas.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
Plan on a 1-inch layer of coarse concrete sand for bedding. That is 8.3 cubic feet per 100 square feet, or about 17 bags of 0.5 cubic feet. Joint sand is a separate purchase; check the polymeric sand bag for its coverage at your joint width.
Can I lay pavers on sand without gravel?
It is not recommended for patios, walkways or driveways. Sand alone shifts and washes out, so the pavers settle unevenly. The compacted gravel base carries the load and drains water; the thin sand layer only gives the pavers a level bed.
How deep should I dig for a paver patio?
Add the base depth, sand depth and paver thickness. With a 4-inch base, 1 inch of sand and 2 3/8-inch pavers, dig about 7 3/8 inches below the finished height. A driveway with an 8–12 inch base needs roughly 11–16 inches.
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