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Paver calculator: pavers, base gravel, sand and edging
A 20 × 12 ft patio in 4 × 8 holland pavers takes 1,080 pavers — 4.5 per sq ft — and about 1,134 with 5% for a running bond. Under them go about 8 tons of compacted base and a 1-inch screeded sand bed. Change the size, pattern and traffic and every quantity follows.
Area
Length × width fills in area and perimeter; overwrite either for curves or L-shapes. Leave out any side that butts a house wall or existing slab from the perimeter — it needs no edge restraint.
Pavers and pattern
Base, sand and joints
Pavers
1,134
4.5 per sq ft + 5% waste
Base gravel (tons)
8
5.33 cu yd loose
Bedding sand (tons)
1.1
0.81 cu yd
Edge restraint
9 pcs
64 lin ft
Polymeric sand
6 bags
Check the bag's joint-width chart
Quantities are half a bid. Send these to the free estimate builder to add labor, burden and markup, then hand the customer a proposal.
Every field takes arithmetic — type 24+18+12 and it adds. Nothing is sent anywhere; the math runs in your browser.
How the paver count is calculated
Pavers = sq ft × (144 ÷ paver length × width in inches) × (1 + waste). Sizes below are nominal; many pavers are metric and slightly smaller, which is why the pallet tag lists a square-foot coverage — use it when ordering.
| Paver | Per sq ft | Sq ft per 100 pavers |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 holland / brick paver | 4.50 | 22.2 |
| 6 × 6 | 4.00 | 25.0 |
| 6 × 9 | 2.67 | 37.5 |
| 12 × 12 | 1.00 | 100.0 |
| 12 × 24 plank | 0.50 | 200.0 |
| 16 × 16 | 0.56 | 177.8 |
| 24 × 24 slab | 0.25 | 400.0 |
Base depth by use
Typical ranges. The industry installation guidelines, the paver manufacturer’s instructions, and your soil govern — clay, high water tables and freeze-thaw push toward the deep end.
| Use | Typical compacted base | Bedding sand |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway | 4–6" | 1" |
| Patio | 4–6" | 1" |
| Residential driveway | 8–12" | 1" |
Why the base needs a compaction allowance
Road base or crusher run arrives loose and gets plate-compacted in lifts of a few inches at a time, losing volume as the fines fill the voids. Ordering exactly the finished volume leaves you short; the default 20% allowance covers typical compaction. See the gravel calculator for other stone and depths.
Bedding sand, edge restraint and joint sand
The bedding layer is about 1 inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat — it seats the pavers, it does not fix a wavy base. Edge restraint holds the field together along every free edge; sides that butt a foundation or existing slab do not need it, so take them out of the perimeter. Polymeric sand coverage varies several-fold with joint width, so treat the bag count as a starting point.
For mulch, soil or excavation around the patio, use the cubic yard calculator.
From materials to a bid
Excavation, base compaction and cutting are most of a hardscape price. BuiltSum’s landscaping estimating software prices them per square foot next to the material — send these quantities to the free estimate builder and put your rates on them.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need per square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver's face area in square inches. A 4 × 8 holland paver is 4.5 per sq ft, a 6 × 6 is 4, a 6 × 9 is about 2.67 and a 12 × 12 is 1. Metric pavers run slightly different — the manufacturer's per-square-foot figure on the pallet tag is the one to trust.
How much base do I need under pavers?
Typical practice is 4–6 inches of compacted aggregate base for walkways and patios and 8–12 inches for driveways, more on clay or poorly drained soil. The industry install guidelines and the paver manufacturer's instructions govern; the calculator adds a compaction allowance so you order enough loose stone to finish at that depth.
How much sand goes under pavers?
A 1-inch screeded bedding layer of coarse concrete sand. 240 sq ft at 1 inch is 20 cubic feet — about three-quarters of a yard, or roughly a ton. The sand is not for leveling; the base should already be flat before it goes down.
How many extra pavers should I order?
Around 5% for running bond or basketweave, 10% for 90° herringbone, and 15% for 45° herringbone, circles or lots of curves. Keep a few spares from the same production run for future repairs.
How much polymeric sand do I need?
It depends on joint width and paver depth — a 50-lb bag might cover 30 sq ft of wide-joint tumbled pavers or well over 75 sq ft of tight-joint ones. The calculator defaults to 40 sq ft per bag; check the coverage chart on the bag you are buying.
Quantities are half the bid.
BuiltSum prices them from trade assemblies, sends the proposal, and bills the job monthly — unlimited projects from $49/mo.
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