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LandscapingVerified Formulas

Paver Calculator

Calculate brick or concrete pavers, joint spacing, bedding sand, and subbase crushed stone.

Paver Calculator Interactive Tool

Interactive Calculator

Enter your project dimensions below. Results update instantly.

typical value, change to match your product10% standard; 15% for curved patios or herringbone
typical value, change to match your productStandard brick paver is 8 inches
typical value, change to match your productStandard brick paver is 4 inches
typical value, change to match your productTypically 1/8 inch (0.125) for polymeric sand
typical value, change to match your product4 inches for pedestrian patios; 6+ for driveways

Results

Base Pavers Needed

860

Exact layout count before cuts
Total Pavers to Order

946

Includes +10% cutting waste
Bedding Sand (1" layer)

0.65 cu yd

ASTM C33 coarse concrete sand
Crushed Stone Base (4")

2.84 cu yd

Road base compacted foundation
Project Area: 200 sq ftPerimeter Edging Restraint: 60 linear ft

Paver Quantity & Base Material Formulas

Effective Paver Area = (Paver L + Joint) × (Paver W + Joint) | Pavers = ⌈(Patio Sq Ft × (144 ÷ Effective Area)) × (1 + Waste %)⌉

Formula Variables:

  • Bedding Sand:1 inch uncompacted sharp concrete sand (ASTM C33): (Patio Sq Ft × (1 ÷ 12)) ÷ 27 cu yd.
  • Gravel Sub-base:4 inches compacted crushed stone base: (Patio Sq Ft × (4 ÷ 12)) ÷ 27 × 1.15 cu yd.

Diagonal herringbone and intricate running bond patterns require 10%–12% waste for perimeter edge cuts.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Example: 15 × 20 ft patio (300 sq ft) using standard 4 × 8 inch pavers with 1/8" joints

Installing a 300 sq ft backyard paver patio on a 4-inch crushed gravel base with 1-inch bedding sand and 10% waste for cut borders.

Patio Dimensions:15 ft × 20 ft (300 sq ft)
Paver Size:4 in × 8 in
Joint Width:0.125 in (1/8")
Waste:10%
  1. Effective paver dimensions: (4 + 0.125) × (8 + 0.125) = 4.125 × 8.125 = 33.516 sq in.
  2. Pavers per square foot: 144 ÷ 33.516 = 4.296 pavers/sq ft.
  3. Base paver count: 300 sq ft × 4.296 = 1,289 pavers.
  4. Add 10% cut waste: 1,289 × 1.10 = 1,418 pavers.
  5. Bedding sand (1"): (300 × (1 ÷ 12)) ÷ 27 × 1.05 = 0.97 cu yd (~1.35 tons).
  6. Gravel sub-base (4"): (300 × (4 ÷ 12)) ÷ 27 × 1.15 = 4.26 cu yd (~6.0 tons).
Order 1,418 pavers, 1.0 cu yd of bedding sand, 4.3 cu yd of base gravel, and 70 linear ft of edge restraint.

Input Explanations & Measurement Guidelines

Patio Length & Width

Typical: 12 × 16 ft

Overall dimensions of the planned paved surface.

Paver Dimensions

Typical: 4 × 8 inches or 12 × 12 inches

Nominal surface length and width of individual paver units.

Joint Spacing

Typical: 0.125 in (1/8")

Width of polymeric sand gaps between pavers.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Assumes a flat or single-plane patio slope (1/4" drop per foot away from foundations for drainage).
  • Assumes rectangular perimeter; curved, organic boundaries generate slightly more cut waste (~15%).

Safety & Professional Notes

  • Always wear eye protection and an OSHA-compliant N95/P100 respirator when cutting pavers with a diamond wet saw to prevent inhaling crystalline silica dust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need both bedding sand and gravel base?

The 4-inch gravel base provides structural strength and frost heave resistance. The 1-inch bedding sand layer allows you to screed a smooth surface and tap pavers flush.

Can I lay pavers directly on dirt or existing concrete?

Laying pavers directly on soil leads to uneven settling, weed penetration, and frost heave within one winter. A compacted aggregate base is non-negotiable.

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