Paver Calculator
A paver calculator works out how many pavers you need by dividing the patio area by the area of one paver, then adding waste for cuts. It also sizes the gravel base and bedding sand underneath. Enter your patio dimensions and paver size below to get the paver count and base materials.
Enter patio dimensions to see the materials.
How Do You Calculate How Many Pavers You Need?
To calculate pavers, find the patio area (length times width), then divide by the area of one paver. A 6 by 9 inch paver covers 0.375 square feet, so a 200 square foot patio needs about 534 pavers before waste, or about 560 with 5 percent. The calculator handles any paver size and also estimates the gravel base and bedding sand, which every paver installation needs underneath.
How Much Base Do Pavers Need?
Pavers sit on a compacted gravel base (usually 4 to 6 inches for a patio, more for a driveway) topped with about 1 inch of bedding sand. So a paver project is really three materials: the pavers, the gravel, and the sand. The calculator estimates all three, and you can refine the base with the gravel calculator and the sand layer with the sand calculator for exact depths.
How Much Waste for Pavers?
Add about 5 percent waste for a straight or running-bond paver layout, and 10 percent or more for herringbone, circular or diagonal patterns, which need more cut pieces at the edges. Curved borders also raise waste. Five percent is lower than tile because pavers are often laid with simple patterns, but the calculator lets you raise it for complex designs.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many pavers do I need for a patio?
- Divide the patio area by the area of one paver and add 5 percent waste. A 200 square foot patio with 6 by 9 inch pavers needs about 560 pavers.
- How much base do pavers need?
- A compacted gravel base of 4 to 6 inches for a patio, topped with about 1 inch of bedding sand. The calculator estimates both.
- How much waste for pavers?
- About 5 percent for straight layouts, 10 percent or more for herringbone, circular or diagonal patterns with many cut edges.