Paver Calculator
Work out how many pavers a patio needs, plus the base and bedding sand under them.
Last reviewed September 19, 2026
Result
Enter length and width to see the result.
https://calcgallery.com/landscaping/paver-calculator/
Results are estimates for planning only. Actual needs vary with site conditions, products and workmanship. Always confirm quantities with your supplier and follow local building codes and manufacturer instructions. Read the full disclaimer
How to use it
- Measure the patio or path, or enter the area directly.
- Enter the paver size. Use the real dimensions, which are usually a millimetre or two under the nominal.
- Leave the joint gap at zero unless you are deliberately spacing them.
- Read the paver count, plus the sub-base and bedding sand underneath.
How it is calculated
Each paver occupies its own size plus any joint gap, on both axes:
Paver module = (length + gap) × (width + gap)
Pavers = ceil(area ÷ module × (1 + waste))Most concrete pavers have small spacer nibs moulded onto the sides and butt together, so the gap is zero. Clay pavers and anything laid to a deliberate joint need the gap entered, because across a large patio it adds up to whole rows.
The two layers underneath are straightforward volumes:
Sub-base = area × sub-base depth
Bedding sand = area × sand depthBoth are given in cubic yards or metres, which is how they are sold.
Practical tips
Compact the sub-base in layers. A 150 mm base put down in one go and whacked once is not compacted, it is loose stone with a flat top. Two 75 mm lifts, each properly compacted, is a base that does not sink in year two.
Get the fall right before you lay anything. A patio wants roughly 1 in of fall per 6 ft, away from the building. Working that out after the pavers are down means lifting them.
Lay to a string line and check every few rows. Small errors accumulate. By the time you notice a row has drifted, you are twenty rows past where the fix was easy.
Cut at the end, all at once. Lay all the whole pavers first, then measure and cut the border in one session. Cutting as you go means changing tools constantly and more mistakes.
Buy pavers from one batch. Like tile, concrete pavers vary in shade between production runs, and a patch of a different batch is obvious across a patio.
With your numbers
- Each paver occupies (9 in + gap) × (6 in + gap)
- Pavers before waste = 180 ft² ÷ that = 480
- With 5% for cuts = 504 pavers
Quick reference
Pavers at the border get cut, and a cut paver rarely fits anywhere else, so this includes an allowance for the layout.
| Job | Pavers to buy |
|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft patio, 6 × 9 in pavers | 280 |
| 12 × 15 ft patio, 6 × 9 in pavers | 504 |
| 15 × 20 ft patio, 6 × 9 in pavers | 840 |
| 200 ft² path, 4 × 8 in pavers | 945 |
| 3 × 4 m patio, 110 × 220 mm pavers | 521 |
| 4 × 5 m patio, 110 × 220 mm pavers | 868 |
| 30 m² drive, 110 × 220 mm pavers | 1,302 |
Common questions
- How many pavers do I need for a 12 by 15 foot patio?
- 504 of the common 6 by 9 in size, including 5% for cuts. Without the allowance it is 480, and you would be short the moment you cut the first border paver.
- How deep should the sub-base be?
- Around 100 mm for a patio walked on, and considerably more for anything cars drive on, over well-compacted ground. Requirements vary with soil and use, so treat that as a starting point.
- Why only 5% waste for pavers?
- Because cut pavers are often reusable on the opposite edge, and unopened packs can usually be returned. Tile gets 10% because the offcuts are thin and brittle; pavers are neither.
- Do I need bedding sand as well as a sub-base?
- Yes, they do different jobs. The sub-base carries the load. The bedding layer, usually about 25 mm of sharp sand, lets you level each paver. Laying pavers straight onto hardcore gives an uneven surface that stays uneven.
- What about jointing sand?
- That is a third material, brushed into the joints at the end, and this does not estimate it. The quantity depends entirely on joint width and paver depth, and a bag goes a long way.
- Should I lay them diagonally?
- You can, and it looks good, but every border paver becomes an angled cut and the waste roughly triples. Choose the diagonal option above and the allowance follows.