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Paver Calculator: How Many Pavers, Gravel & Sand Do I Need?
A paver project is four purchases, not one: the pavers themselves, the crushed-stone base, a one-inch sand bed, and polymeric sand for the joints. Enter your patio dimensions, paver size, and laying pattern below and this tool figures all four — pavers rounded up with typical pattern waste, and base/sand tonnages labeled as estimates. No sign-up, no tracking: the math runs entirely in your browser.
By HowMuchBuild Editorial TeamCalculation reviewedUpdated October 2026
ft
in
ft
in
length ″
width ″
Nominal size — e.g. a 4″×8″ paver is the most common patio paver.
Waste figures are typical — more cuts and curves mean more waste.
4″ is standard for patios and walkways; 6″ for driveways.
Estimated cost
What will it cost?
Enter your local store prices — prices vary by region.
Pavers
594 pavers
—
Gravel base
2.4 tons
—
Bedding sand
0.6 tons
—
Polymeric sand (50-lb bags)
2 bags
—
Estimate — prices vary by store and region. Check your local store for current pricing.
You need
594pavers
Includes 10% waste (Running bond) · patio area 120 sq ft
2.4
tons · gravel base (est.)
0.6
tons · bedding sand (est.)
2
bags · 50-lb poly sand (est.)
How we calculated it
- Patio area = 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft
- One paver covers 8″ × 4″ ÷ 144 = 0.22 sq ft
- Raw paver count = 120 ÷ 0.22 = 540
- With 10% waste (Running bond, typical) = 540 × 1.1 = 594 → round up = 594 pavers
- Gravel base = 120 sq ft ÷ 100 × (4″ ÷ 2″) = 2.4 tons (estimate)
- Bedding sand = 120 × 1″÷12 = 10 cu ft = 0.37 cu yd × 1.4 = 0.52 tons (estimate)
- Polymeric sand = 120 sq ft ÷ 80 = 1.5 → round up = 2 fifty-lb bags (estimate)
Material estimates for planning. Gravel and sand tonnage is an estimate — bulk density varies by supplier, stone type, and moisture. Always round up and confirm loads with your supplier.
Worked example: 12×10 ft patio, 4×8 in pavers, running bond
The classic backyard patio. Here is the full arithmetic, step by step:
- Area: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft
- One paver: 8″ × 4″ ÷ 144 = 0.2222 sq ft
- Raw count: 120 ÷ 0.2222 = 540 pavers
- With 10% waste (running bond, typical): 540 × 1.10 = 594 → 594 pavers
- Gravel base (4″): 120 ÷ 100 × (4 ÷ 2) = 2.4 tons — estimate
- Bedding sand: 120 × (1″ ÷ 12) = 10 cu ft = 0.37 cu yd; 0.37 × 1.4 = 0.52 tons — estimate
- Polymeric sand: 120 ÷ 80 = 1.5 → round up = 2 fifty-lb bags — estimate
Paver coverage chart
Pavers needed per 100 sq ft before waste — add your pattern's allowance on top:
| Paver size | Area per paver | Pavers per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 4″ × 8″ | 0.222 sq ft | 450 |
| 6″ × 6″ | 0.25 sq ft | 400 |
| 6″ × 9″ | 0.375 sq ft | 267 |
| 8″ × 8″ | 0.444 sq ft | 225 |
| 12″ × 12″ | 1.0 sq ft | 100 |
Materials for common projects
Using 4×8 in pavers, running bond (10% waste), and a 4-inch base. Gravel and sand figures are estimates:
| Project | Pavers | Gravel | Bedding sand | Poly sand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 ft patio (100 sq ft) | 495 | 2.0 tons | 0.5 tons | 2 bags |
| 12×16 ft patio (192 sq ft) | 951 | 3.9 tons | 0.9 tons | 3 bags |
| 4×20 ft walkway (80 sq ft) | 396 | 1.6 tons | 0.4 tons | 1 bag |
The formulas
Patio area
A = Length × Width (rectangle) or A = π × r² (circle) — all in feet.
Paver count
Pavers = ⌈ A ÷ ((paver L″ × paver W″) ÷ 144) ⌉ with waste: ⌈ raw × 1.05 / 1.10 / 1.15 ⌉ for stack bond, running bond, or herringbone (typical figures).
Gravel base tonnage (estimate)
Tons = (A ÷ 100) × (base depth in inches ÷ 2) — from the rule that 1 ton covers roughly 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep. Bulk density varies by supplier and moisture, so treat this as a planning figure.
Bedding sand tonnage (estimate)
Tons = (A × 1″ ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.4 — the 1-inch sand bed in cubic yards, converted at roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Polymeric sand bags (estimate)
Bags = ⌈ A ÷ 80 ⌉ — one 50-lb bag per 80 sq ft, a common rule of thumb that varies with joint width and paver size.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10×10 patio?
A 10×10 ft patio is 100 sq ft. With standard 4×8 in pavers (0.2222 sq ft each), that's 450 pavers before waste — 495 with the typical 10% running-bond allowance.
How much waste should I plan for with different paver patterns?
As typical guidance: about 5% for stack bond (grid, few cuts), 10% for running bond (offset, the most common), and 15% for herringbone (zigzag, most cuts). Curves and border cuts push all of these higher.
How deep should the gravel base be under pavers?
4 inches of compacted crushed stone is standard for patios and walkways; use 6 inches for driveways. Deeper bases handle heavier loads and freeze-thaw movement better.
How much sand goes under pavers?
A 1-inch layer of coarse bedding sand over the compacted gravel base. It's screeded flat — not compacted — then the pavers are set and vibrated into it.
How many tons of gravel do I need per 100 sq ft of patio?
Using the rule of thumb that 1 ton covers about 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep, a 100 sq ft patio at a 4-inch base depth needs about 2 tons of gravel — but this is an estimate, since bulk density varies by supplier and moisture.
How much polymeric sand do I need for my paver joints?
Roughly one 50-lb bag per 80 sq ft of pavers is a common rule of thumb — an estimate that varies with joint width and paver size. The calculator above rounds the count up for your area.
Can I lay pavers directly on dirt or existing concrete?
Not directly on dirt — without a compacted gravel base and bedding sand, pavers settle unevenly within a season or two. Laying over an existing concrete slab is possible with edge restraints and good drainage, but that changes the whole build-up; treat it as guidance and check local best practice.
Base depth: patios vs. driveways
The base is what keeps pavers from heaving and settling — most paver failures are base failures, not paver failures. Four inches of compacted crushed stone suits patios and walkways; step up to six inches where cars park or turn. Compact the base in two-inch lifts with a plate compactor rather than dumping all the stone at once. The one-inch sand bed goes on top of the compacted base, is screeded flat, and is not compacted before the pavers go down.
Keep estimating