Paver Calculator: Pavers, Base Gravel & Sand for a Patio
This paver calculator estimates how many pavers a patio or walkway needs, plus base gravel and bedding sand in cubic yards, from the area, paver size, and a waste allowance.
How to use
- Enter the patio as length and width in feet, or switch to total square feet.
- Enter the paver length and width in inches. Set waste (default 10%), base gravel depth (default 4 in), and bedding sand depth (default 1 in).
- Optionally enter a price per paver.
- Read the pavers to order, gravel and sand in cubic yards and approximate tons, and the cost when a price is entered.
Formula
Area is length × width in feet, or the square feet you enter. One paver covers (length in inches × width in inches) / 144 square feet. Pavers before waste = area ÷ that coverage. Pavers to order = that count × (1 + waste / 100), rounded up. Gravel and sand use the patio area without the waste allowance: cubic feet = area × depth in inches / 12, and cubic yards = cubic feet / 27. Approximate tons use 1.4 tons per cubic yard of crushed gravel and 1.35 tons per cubic yard of sand. Cost is the price per paver × pavers to order.
Example. A 12 × 10 ft patio is 120 sq ft. A 6 × 9 in paver covers 0.375 sq ft, so the patio needs 320 pavers before waste and 352 after 10% waste. At 4 in of base, the gravel is 1.481 cubic yards (about 2.074 tons). At 1 in of bedding sand, the sand is 0.37 cubic yards (0.5 tons).
Example. 100 sq ft of 12 × 12 in pavers is 100 pavers before waste and 110 after 10% waste. One inch of sand on 100 sq ft is 0.309 cubic yards, about 0.31 cubic yards per 100 square feet.
Example. 352 pavers at $0.85 each cost $299.20.
Planning aid
Order whole pavers. The waste percent covers cuts and breakage, and it is not added to the gravel or sand volumes. Crushed gravel is figured at about 1.4 tons per cubic yard and sand at about 1.35. Your supplier’s weight, compaction, and joint sand can change what you actually buy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many pavers I need?
Divide the patio area in square feet by the area of one paver in square feet (length x width in inches / 144), then add 5-10% for cuts and breakage.
How much base gravel goes under pavers?
Most patios use about 4 inches of compacted crushed gravel base; driveways often use 6-8 inches. Multiply area by depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
A 1-inch bedding layer of coarse concrete sand is typical. That is about 0.31 cubic yards per 100 square feet, plus a little polymeric sand for the joints.
How much extra should I order for waste?
Add about 5% for simple square layouts and 10-15% for herringbone, diagonal patterns or curved edges with many cuts.
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
Crushed gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard and sand about 1.35 tons, but check with your supplier since it varies by material and moisture.
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