Paver Calculator

How many pavers you need for a patio, path or driveway, plus the compacted base and bedding sand in tons or tonnes, for common paver and slab sizes.

A paved patio needs three things: the pavers, a compacted base and a bedding layer of sand. 4 × 8 in brick pavers are sized to include their joint, so they come to 4.5 per ft², and UK 200 × 100 mm block paving comes to 50 per m². A 12 × 10 ft patio is 120 ft², or 540 brick pavers, 594 with 10% extra for cuts. Under it, 4 in of compacted crusher run is about 2.4 US tons with extra for compaction, and 1 in of bedding sand about half a ton. Enter the area, choose the paver and the base material, and the calculator gives all three, in tons or tonnes.

Units
Bag sizes
Area
ft
ft
Feet and inches work too: type 12'6 or 12.5.
in
%
in
in
Pavers
594

4.5 per ft²

Area
120 ft²

10% extra pavers

Base
2.4 tons

Crusher run, 1.78 yd³

Bedding sand
0.52 tons

0.39 yd³

How it was worked out
  1. Area: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 ft²
  2. 4.5 pavers per ft² × 120 ft² = 540; plus 10% = 594, rounded up to 594 pavers
  3. Base: 120 ft² × 4 in + 20% for compaction = 1.78 yd³ × 1.35 tons/yd³ = 2.4 tons
  4. Bedding sand: 120 ft² × 1 in + 5% = 0.39 yd³ = 0.52 tons

Nominal sizes like 4 × 8 in usually include the joint already, so the joint starts at zero; slabs laid with pointed joints start at 10 mm. Edge restraints and joint sand are extra. Driveways need a deeper base than patios.

Common use cases

  • A paver patio, path or pool surround
  • Block paving for a driveway (with a deeper base)
  • Paving slabs for a garden terrace
  • Ordering pavers, base and sand from one supplier

How to use

  1. Choose your units and country (for the usual paver sizes and base material).
  2. Enter the paved area; add areas for curves and steps.
  3. Choose the paver or slab size, and check the joint and extra for cuts.
  4. Set the base material and depth and the bedding sand depth, then read the results.

FAQ

How many pavers do I need per square foot?

4.5 for 4 × 8 in pavers, 4 for 6 × 6 in, 1 for 12 × 12 in and about 0.56 for 16 × 16 in. For UK block paving (200 × 100 mm), 50 per m².

How deep should the base be under pavers?

Commonly 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm) of compacted crushed stone for patios and paths, and 8 to 12 inches or more for driveways, plus about 1 inch (25 to 30 mm) of bedding sand. Soft or clay ground needs more.

How much extra paving should I order?

About 5 to 10% for straight patterns and 10 to 15% for herringbone, circles and areas with lots of cuts.

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