Paver Calculator
Calculate how many pavers you need for patios, walkways, and driveways
Paver Size
Each paver: 12" × 12" = 1.000 sq ft
Project Area
10% for straight, 15% for diagonal
Select a paver size and enter your dimensions to see results
Tips & Notes
- •Add 10% waste for straight patterns and 15% for diagonal or herringbone.
- •Concrete pavers run $2–$8 per sq ft; brick pavers $3–$9 per sq ft.
- •Always use a compacted base of 4"–6" gravel topped with 1" of bedding sand.
- •Polymeric joint sand is recommended — it sets hard and resists insects and weeds.
- •Running bond and herringbone patterns use pavers more efficiently than diagonal.
Recommended Products
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Materials & Supplies
Tools You'll Need
Pro tips for paver
- ›Add 10% waste for straight patterns and 15% for diagonal or herringbone.
- ›Concrete pavers run $2–$8 per sq ft; brick pavers $3–$9 per sq ft.
- ›Always use a compacted base of 4"–6" gravel topped with 1" of bedding sand.
- ›Polymeric joint sand is recommended — it sets hard and resists insects and weeds.
- ›Running bond and herringbone patterns use pavers more efficiently than diagonal.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for a 12×12 patio?▾
For a 144 sq ft patio with 6×9 (54 sq in) pavers, you need about 384 pavers before waste. Add 10% for straight patterns or 15% for diagonal/herringbone — so order 425–445. The calculator above does this automatically by paver size and pattern.
How much base gravel and sand do I need under pavers?▾
Standard installation uses 4"–6" of compacted crushed stone base plus 1" of bedding sand. For a 100 sq ft patio: about 1.5 cubic yards of base gravel and 0.3 cubic yards (or ~10 bags) of bedding sand.
What's the difference between paver sand and polymeric sand?▾
Bedding sand is coarse, washed concrete sand laid 1" thick under the pavers. Polymeric sand is a fine sand with binder that goes between pavers — it hardens when wet and resists weeds and insects. You need both.
How much do pavers cost installed?▾
Materials alone run $2–$8/sq ft for concrete pavers and $3–$9/sq ft for brick or natural stone. Installed by a contractor, expect $15–$30/sq ft total including base, sand, edging, and labor.
What pattern uses the fewest pavers?▾
Running bond and stack bond are the most material-efficient (10% waste typical). Herringbone and diagonal patterns require more cuts at edges and need 15% extra. Random patterns with multiple paver sizes fall in between.