Work out how many pavers a patio or driveway needs. Enter the area, pick a paver size and pattern, then get pavers, base, sand, edge and estimated total cost.
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This paver calculator works out how many pavers a patio or driveway needs. Enter the area, pick a paver size and laying pattern, and it returns pavers, base material, bedding sand, joint sand, edge restraint, and total cost. Works in metric or imperial units.
Laying a patio or driveway starts with a simple question: how many pavers do I need? Get it wrong and you’re either short mid-job or stuck with a pallet of leftovers. This paver calculator answers that question and the ones that follow it. It takes the area you’re covering, the paver size, and the laying pattern, then works out the paver count, the base material, the bedding sand, the joint sand, and the edge restraint. It also handles costs, so you can budget the whole project. The tool runs in your browser, which means your measurements and prices stay private. Use it for a small walkway or a full driveway. It works in both metric and imperial units, and it’s free to use as many times as you need. Whether you’re a contractor pricing a job or a homeowner planning a weekend project, the numbers you need are here.
Pick the unit system: imperial or metric.
Choose the area shape: rectangle, L-shape, or direct area.
Enter the dimensions. For a rectangle, type length and width.
Set the number of identical areas if you have more than one.
Pick a paver size preset or enter custom dimensions.
Choose a laying pattern. The waste factor updates automatically.
Enter the base depth, sand depth, and joint sand coverage.
Add your prices for pavers, base, sand, joint sand, edge, and labor.
Start with the area. A rectangle is length times width. An L-shape subtracts the cutout. Direct area is whatever you type. Then divide by the area of one paver to get the paver count.
Formula: Pavers = [ (Area × (1 + Waste %)) ÷ Paver Area ]
Formula: Base volume (loose) = Area × Base depth × (1 + Compaction %)
Formula: Base weight = Base volume × 1600 kg/m³
Formula: Sand volume = Area × Sand depth
Formula: Sand weight = Sand volume × 1600 kg/m³
Formula: Joint sand bags = [ Area ÷ Coverage per bag ]
Formula: Edge length = Perimeter (or manual)
Formula: Total cost = Pavers + Base + Sand + Joint sand + Edge + Labor + Additional
The compaction factor accounts for the difference between loose and compacted base. A 25% factor means you need 25% more volume in loose material to end up with the compacted depth. That’s why you order more than the finished volume suggests.
Pattern waste runs from 5% for running bond up to 12% for herringbone 45°. The tool adds that to your base waste factor.
Worked Example: A 20 ft × 15 ft Patio
Say you’re paving a 20 ft by 15 ft patio. You choose 4″ × 8″ brick pavers, running bond pattern, 5% waste. Base depth is 4 inches compacted, with a 25% compaction factor. Bedding sand is 1 inch. Joint sand covers 100 ft² per bag. Edge restraint is auto. Prices: $0.85 per paver, $40 per ton of base, $35 per ton of sand, $18 per bag of joint sand, $3 per foot of edge, $4 per ft² labor.
Area: 20 × 15 = 300 ft²
Paver area: (4/12) × (8/12) = 0.333 × 0.667 = 0.222 ft²
Waste: 5% (running bond)
Pavers net: ⌈300 ÷ 0.222⌉ = 1,351
With 5% waste: ⌈300 × 1.05 ÷ 0.222⌉ = 1,419
Base depth (compacted): 4 in = 0.333 ft
Base volume (compacted): 300 × 0.333 = 100 ft³
Compaction factor: 25% → loose volume = 100 × 1.25 = 125 ft³
Base weight: 125 ft³ × 99.8 lb/ft³ = 12,475 lbs ≈ 6.24 tons
Sand depth: 1 in = 0.0833 ft → volume = 300 × 0.0833 = 25 ft³ → weight = 25 × 99.8 = 2,495 lbs ≈ 1.25 tons
Joint sand bags: ⌈300 ÷ 100⌉ = 3 bags
Edge length: perimeter = 2×(20+15)=70 ft
Paver cost: 1,419 × $0.85 = $1,206.15
Base cost: 6.24 × $40 = $249.60
Sand cost: 1.25 × $35 = $43.75
Joint sand: 3 × $18 = $54
Edge: 70 × $3 = $210
Material subtotal: $1,763.50
Labor: 300 × $4 = $1,200
Total: $2,963.50
Cost per ft²: $9.88
With 4″ × 8″ pavers and 5% waste, you need about 1,419 pavers. Paver size and pattern change the count. A larger paver covers more area, so you need fewer pieces.
Four inches of compacted base for patios and walkways. Six inches for driveways. Eight inches for heavy-duty driveways. The tool sets the default when you pick an application type.
One inch of bedding sand is standard. A 300 ft² patio needs about 1.25 tons of sand. Joint sand is separate and covers 50 to 100 ft² per bag.
Running bond uses 5%. Herringbone 45° uses 12%. Basketweave uses 8%. The tool sets the waste factor automatically when you pick a pattern.
Yes. Base material compacts by 20 to 30 percent. The tool uses a 25% compaction factor. Order the loose volume, not the compacted volume.
Measure the perimeter of the patio. For a rectangular patio, it’s 2 × (length + width). The tool does this automatically, or you can enter a manual length.
Check the paver size and waste factor. A larger paver means fewer pieces. A higher waste factor means more. Also check the area shape and dimensions.
Yes. Pick driveway or heavy-duty driveway from the application type. The base depth default changes to 6 or 8 inches.
Joint sand is included as a separate line. Polymeric sand is a type of joint sand. Enter its coverage per bag and cost.
Running bond is the most common and easiest to install. Herringbone is stronger and more slip-resistant. Basketweave and stack bond are decorative. Pick based on look and traffic.
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