Paver Calculator
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A paver patio is three estimates stacked on top of each other: the pavers themselves, the gravel base underneath, and the bedding and joint sand. This calculator does all three from one set of dimensions.
For the pavers, it converts your area to square inches, divides by the face area of one paver to get a raw count, then adds waste for the cuts a pattern forces at the edges and diagonals. For the base and bedding it treats each layer as a slab of known depth and works out its volume in cubic yards, the unit bulk aggregate is sold in.
A 12 × 10 ft patio in 12 × 12 in pavers, running-bond pattern (5%), 5% extra:
Base thickness — 4 inches (and more for a driveway). CMHA's Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PAV-TEC-002, the successor to ICPI Tech Spec 2) states that "sidewalks, patios and pedestrian areas should have a minimum base thickness (after compaction) of 4 in. (100 mm) over well-drained soils." A residential driveway should be "at least 6 in. (150 mm) thick," and colder climates or wet, weak soils need more still. This calculator uses the 4-inch pedestrian figure; if you are paving a driveway, set your gravel order to a 6-inch (or thicker) base.
Bedding sand — 1 inch. The same document specifies that "bedding sand should be spread and screeded to an uncompacted nominal 1 in. (25 mm) thickness." A deeper sand bed is a common cause of rutting and should be avoided — the leveling happens in the base, not the sand.
Polymeric jointing sand — about 50 sq ft per 50 lb bag. Coverage depends heavily on joint width. SEK-Surebond's PolySweep data sheet, a representative manufacturer label, rates a 50 lb bag at 50–75 sq ft for joints up to 1/4 in, 25–50 sq ft for 1/4–1/2 in joints, and only 15–25 sq ft for 1/2–3/4 in joints. The tool's 50 sq ft per bag is the low end of the narrow-joint band, which fits tight-jointed concrete pavers; for wide joints, flagstone or large-format units, read your bag's coverage chart and expect to buy more.
How thick should the gravel base under pavers be?
For patios, walkways and other pedestrian areas, at least 4 inches of compacted crushed gravel over well-drained soil. A residential driveway needs at least 6 inches, and cold climates or wet, weak soils need more. This calculator assumes the 4-inch pedestrian base, so increase your gravel for a driveway.
How much polymeric sand do I need for a paver patio?
It depends on joint width. A 50 lb bag of polymeric jointing sand covers roughly 50 to 75 square feet for narrow joints up to a quarter inch, dropping to 25 to 50 square feet at half-inch joints and 15 to 25 for wider joints. The calculator assumes about 50 square feet per bag, which suits tight-jointed concrete pavers.
Why does the pattern change how many pavers I need?
A pattern that runs at an angle to the edges, like herringbone, forces more cut pavers along every border, and the offcuts are usually scrap. Running and stack bond waste about 5 percent, basketweave about 10, herringbone about 15, and circular fans 20 percent or more, which is why the tool adds waste by pattern before rounding up.
This is a materials estimate for ordering, not an installation spec. It does not account for edge restraints, geotextile over soft soils, the extra base a driveway or a freeze-thaw climate needs, or the slope required to drain water away from the house. Base preparation is where most paver projects succeed or fail — do not cut it short to save a few bags of gravel.
Base and bedding figures are from CMHA PAV-TEC-002, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (the successor to ICPI Tech Spec 2): a minimum 4 in compacted base for pedestrian areas, 6 in and up for residential driveways, and a nominal 1 in bedding sand layer. Polymeric-sand coverage is from the SEK-Surebond PolySweep polymeric sand technical data sheet. Deeper background on base layers, patterns and compaction is in our landscaping guide.