About the Paver Calculator
Laying a patio or path starts with the question of how many pavers to buy. This calculator takes the length and width of the area, the size of the paver, the gap between pavers and an allowance for cuts and breakage. It gives the number of pavers to buy, the area in square feet and metres, and the amount of sand needed for the bedding layer. Type the patio size, the paver size, the joint gap, the waste and the depth of sand and the pavers needed appears at once, with a few related figures underneath, and you can copy the result with one tap. The sums run in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Paver Calculator
- 1Enter the patio size, the paver size, the joint gap, the waste and the depth of sand.
- 2Pick the units or options from the menus if the pavers needed tool offers them.
- 3Read the pavers needed in the large result box.
- 4Look at the extra rows for related figures.
- 5Press Copy result to keep the answer.
When you need the pavers needed
Homeowners and landscapers use the count to order pavers in full pallets, to compare prices of sizes, and to plan base materials. Larger pavers cover the ground faster but are heavier and need a more level base.
Choose the waste according to the pattern: straight lines need about 5 percent, a diagonal or herringbone pattern 10 to 15 percent. Add a few extra pavers for later repairs, as colours vary between batches.
How the pavers needed is worked out
Pavers = area × (1 + waste) ÷ the area of one paver including half a joint all round. Sand = area × depth. A patio 12 ft by 10 ft is 120 sq ft. With 6 by 6 inch pavers, a ⅛ inch joint and 10 percent waste, you need 507 pavers. A 1 inch sand bed needs 10 cubic feet, or 0.37 cubic yards.
Every answer on this page comes from that one rule, so you can check any result by hand with a calculator. The figures shown underneath, such as other units, are conversions of the same answer.
- Five paver sizes
- Sand bed volume
- Waste allowance
Mistakes to avoid with pavers needed
This tool counts the pavers and sand only. A proper patio also needs a compacted gravel base, edging and jointing sand. The area is a plain rectangle; for curved or L-shaped patios, split the area into rectangles and add the results.
On phone and computer
On a phone, type into the boxes one after another and read the pavers needed underneath; Copy result puts it on the clipboard for a message or a note. On a computer the inputs sit on the left and the answer on the right, so you can change one figure and watch the pavers needed move. The paver calculator works the same on both. Plan the base with Gravel Calculator and Concrete Calculator, compare the look with Tile Calculator, and use Mulch Calculator when the border of the area is a garden bed.
Features
- Waste 5 to 15 percent
- Split odd shapes
- Order a few spares
- Clear messages when the pavers needed inputs make no sense
- Copy the result with one tap
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate pavers needed?
Pavers = area × (1 + waste) ÷ the area of one paver including half a joint all round. Sand = area × depth. A patio 12 ft by 10 ft is 120 sq ft. With 6 by 6 inch pavers, a ⅛ inch joint and 10 percent waste, you need 507 pavers. A 1 inch sand bed needs 10 cubic feet, or 0.37 cubic yards.
What is the formula for pavers needed?
Pavers = area × (1 + waste) ÷ the area of one paver including half a joint all round. Sand = area × depth. The paver calculator applies it exactly and rounds only the displayed answer to six significant figures.
How deep should the sand bed be?
About 1 inch, or 25 mm. A thicker layer settles unevenly.
How wide should the joints be?
Typically ⅛ inch to ½ inch, depending on the paver. Interlocking pavers use very narrow joints.
Do I need a gravel base?
Yes for most patios: usually 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel, more for driveways.
Is this paver calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser, so the numbers you type are not uploaded or stored.