A paver project is really four material orders: pavers, base gravel, bedding sand, and edge restraint. This calculator produces all four at once, plus polymeric joint sand and an installed cost estimate.
Ordering base stone separately? Cross-check with the Gravel Calculator for tonnage conversions.
Paver Project Calculator
Enter your area, paver size, and base depth. Results include paver count, gravel, sand, and edging.
The Paver Count Formula
Pavers = (Area sq ft ÷ Sq Ft per Paver) × (1 + Waste %)
Sq Ft per Paver = (Length in × Width in) ÷ 144
Calculating from square footage rather than counting rows matters because edge courses are cut. If you count 18 rows of 27 pavers you will be wrong the moment the layout requires a half piece at each end, and the error compounds across the field.
Worked example: A 12 × 16 ft patio in 4 × 8 in pavers, running bond. Area is 192 sq ft. Each paver is (4 × 8) ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft. 192 ÷ 0.222 = 865 pavers. Add 5% waste: 909 pavers. Base at 4 inches: 192 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 2.37 cubic yards of gravel. Bedding sand at 1 inch: 192 × 0.083 ÷ 27 = 0.59 cubic yards.
Pavers per Square Foot by Size
| Paver Size | Sq Ft Each | Pavers per Sq Ft | Per 100 Sq Ft | Per Pallet (approx) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 0.222 | 4.50 | 450 | 480–540 | Classic brick patio, driveways |
| 6 × 6 in | 0.250 | 4.00 | 400 | 440–480 | Walkways, accents |
| 6 × 9 in | 0.375 | 2.67 | 267 | 280–320 | Holland stone patios |
| 6 × 12 in | 0.500 | 2.00 | 200 | 210–240 | Modern linear patterns |
| 8 × 12 in | 0.667 | 1.50 | 150 | 160–180 | Large-format patios |
| 12 × 12 in | 1.000 | 1.00 | 100 | 104–120 | Slab patios, stepping |
| 12 × 24 in | 2.000 | 0.50 | 50 | 52–60 | Contemporary plank look |
| 16 × 24 in | 2.667 | 0.375 | 38 | 40–48 | Oversized slabs |
Pallet counts vary by manufacturer and paver thickness. Suppliers rarely break pallets, so round your order up to whole pallets and expect a small surplus.
Base and Bedding Requirements
The base is where paver projects succeed or fail. Material quantities below are per 100 square feet of finished surface.
| Application | Base Depth | Gravel per 100 Sq Ft | Tons | Bedding Sand | Total Excavation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walkway | 4 in | 1.23 cu yd | 1.7 | 0.31 cu yd | 7.4 in |
| Patio | 4–6 in | 1.23–1.85 cu yd | 1.7–2.5 | 0.31 cu yd | 7.4–9.4 in |
| Driveway | 6–8 in | 1.85–2.47 cu yd | 2.5–3.3 | 0.31 cu yd | 9.4–11.4 in |
| Soft clay soil | 8–12 in | 2.47–3.70 cu yd | 3.3–5.0 | 0.31 cu yd | 11.4–15.4 in |
Excavation depth equals base depth plus 1 inch bedding sand plus paver thickness (typically 2.375 in). Compact base in 3–4 inch lifts — a single deep lift will not compact properly no matter how many passes you make.
Paver Patio Cost Breakdown
| Component | Cost per Sq Ft | On 200 Sq Ft Patio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers (material only) | $3–$8 | $600–$1,600 | Estimate — most contractors quote installed, not material |
| Natural stone pavers | $8–$25 | $1,600–$5,000 | Bluestone, travertine, granite |
| Base gravel | $0.80–$1.60 | $160–$320 | 4–6 in compacted |
| Bedding sand | $0.20–$0.45 | $40–$90 | 1 in coarse sand or stone dust |
| Edge restraint | $2–$4 per LF | $120–$240 | Measured by perimeter, not area |
| Polymeric joint sand | $0.25–$0.60 | $50–$120 | 50 lb bag covers 60–100 sq ft |
| Geotextile fabric | $0.20–$0.50 | $40–$100 | Recommended over clay |
| Excavation & disposal | $1.50–$4 | $300–$800 | More if hauling spoil offsite |
| Installed — basic design | $4–$6 | $800–$1,200 | Pavers and labor as a package |
| Installed — elaborate design | $7–$20 | $1,400–$4,000 | Borders, multiple colors and patterns |
Source: installed paver pricing from the ConcreteNetwork.com paver cost guide, which cites the Bob Harris Guide to Stamped Concrete. Note that paver contractors quote on an installed basis — pavers and labor come as one package — so the component rows above are planning estimates rather than how a real quote is structured. DIY removes the labour line but budget $150–$300 for plate compactor rental and expect to move several tons of base by wheelbarrow.
Underestimating Base Material Volume
The base is the largest material order by weight and the one most often shorted. A 200 sq ft patio with a 6-inch base needs 3.7 cubic yards of gravel weighing about 5 tons. Homeowners routinely order 2 tons, discover the shortfall mid-project, and either pay a second delivery fee or thin the base to 3 inches, which guarantees settlement within a couple of seasons.
Skipping Edge Restraint to Save Money
Edge restraint is roughly 3–5% of project cost and determines whether the field stays tight. Without it, the perimeter course creeps outward, joint sand escapes, and the loosening progresses inward year after year. On a 200 sq ft patio the restraint costs $120–$240 — trivial against the $2,400–$5,600 total, and impossible to retrofit once the pavers have shifted.
Using Play Sand or Fine Sand for Bedding
Bedding requires coarse, angular sand — concrete sand or stone dust — that locks in place under load. Fine play sand and mason sand are rounded and behave almost like a liquid under repeated traffic, letting pavers rock and settle unevenly. The material costs nearly the same, so there is no reason to accept the wrong one; specify concrete sand or ASTM C33 when ordering.
Ignoring Slope for Drainage
A paver surface needs a fall of about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house — roughly 2 inches over a 16-foot patio. Building dead level traps water at the surface, pushes it toward the foundation, and in freezing climates the trapped moisture heaves the field. Establish the slope in the compacted base, not by tilting individual pavers during setting.
About these price ranges
Pricing varies widely by region, season, project size, and site conditions. Treat every figure on this page as a planning estimate for budgeting only — not as a quote. Coastal metro markets commonly run 20–40% above national ranges while rural inland markets can fall 10–20% below. Always collect at least three written quotes from local contractors before committing to a budget.
Sourced figures: ConcreteNetwork.com paver cost guide (installed basic and elaborate design ranges), ConcreteNetwork.com patio cost guide (independently confirms the $4-$20 per sq ft installed range).
Unsourced estimates: Base gravel, bedding sand, edge restraint, joint sand, and excavation line items. These are informed planning figures rather than data drawn from a published price index, and they carry a correspondingly wider margin of error.