Paver Calculator
Calculate exactly how many pavers you need for patios, walkways, driveways, or landscaping projects. Accounts for paver size, joint gaps, wastage, and optional pallet and cost estimation.
Area to Pave
Paver Size
Installation Options
1/8" (0.125) is standard for most pavers.
5–10% straight, 15% herringbone, 20% complex.
Cost Estimation
(Optional)Paver Estimate
To cover your 12 ft × 10 ft area (120.0 sq ft) with 8×4 inch pavers and a 1/8 inch joint gap, you will need approximately 655 pavers. Including 10% wastage, you should order 720 pavers.
Total area = Length × Width × Number of sections.
How many pavers do you actually need?
Whether you’re building a patio, laying a walkway, or paving a driveway, running out of pavers mid-project is one of the most frustrating mistakes you can make. Our paver calculator takes the guesswork out — enter your area dimensions, paver size, and joint gap, and get an instant count of exactly how many pavers to order, including wastage.
The math is simple, but the details matter. A joint gap of even 1/8 inch changes your paver count across a large area. And without accounting for waste from cuts and breakage, you’ll find yourself ordering more pavers at the last minute — often from a different batch that doesn’t quite match.
How to calculate pavers by hand
Here’s the step-by-step process for figuring out your paver count:
- Measure your area. Multiply length by width to get total square footage (or square meters).
Area = Length × Width
- Calculate effective paver size. Add the joint gap to both paver dimensions.
Effective Paver Area = (Paver Length + Gap) × (Paver Width + Gap)
- Divide area by paver size. This gives you the exact number of pavers needed.
Pavers Needed = Area ÷ Effective Paver Area
- Round up to the nearest whole number — you can’t buy half a paver.
- Add wastage. Multiply by 1 + (waste percentage / 100).
Pavers to Order = Pavers Needed × (1 + Waste%)
Example: A 12 ft × 10 ft patio with 4×8 inch pavers, 1/8 inch joint gap, and 10% waste:
- Patio area = 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft
- Effective paver area = (4 + 0.125) × (8 + 0.125) = 33.52 sq in = 0.233 sq ft
- Pavers needed = 120 ÷ 0.233 = 515.0 → 516 pavers
- With 10% waste = 516 × 1.10 = 567.6 → 568 pavers
Common paver sizes
The most commonly used paver brick size is 4×8 inches (10×20 cm). Here’s a reference table of popular sizes:
| Size (in) | Size (cm) | Area (ft²) | Pavers per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 | 10 × 20 | 0.22 | ~450 |
| 6 × 6 | 15 × 15 | 0.25 | ~400 |
| 6 × 9 | 15 × 23 | 0.38 | ~270 |
| 8 × 8 | 20 × 20 | 0.44 | ~227 |
| 12 × 12 | 30 × 30 | 1.00 | ~100 |
| 12 × 18 | 30 × 46 | 1.50 | ~67 |
Larger pavers cover more area per piece, so you’ll need fewer of them. However, they’re heavier and harder to handle during installation.
Understanding joint gaps
The gap between pavers isn’t just aesthetic — it serves a structural purpose. Pavers are rarely perfectly uniform in size, and joint spacing allows for slight variations during installation. Without gaps, pavers would butt against each other and create uneven edges.
Standard joint gaps for pavers:
- 1/8 inch (3mm): The most common default. Works well for most residential installations.
- 3/16 inch (5mm): Larger format pavers or areas with slight size variation.
- 1/4 inch (6mm): Tumbled or antiqued pavers, or when you want a more visible joint line.
Most paver installations use polymeric sand to fill the joints — it hardens when misted with water and locks pavers in place while preventing weed growth.
How much waste should you plan for?
Waste comes from cuts at edges and obstacles, breakage during handling, and pattern alignment. How much you need depends on your layout:
| Pattern Type | Waste % | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Running bond, straight lay | 5–10% | Minimal cuts, predictable pattern |
| Stacked bond | 5% | Simple grid, few edge cuts |
| Herringbone (90° or 45°) | 15% | Every edge tile requires angled cuts |
| Basketweave | 8–10% | Moderate complexity |
| Circular or radial | 20%+ | Many angled cuts at every edge |
Pro tip: After installation, store any leftover pavers. Batches can vary in color and shade, so matching pavers from a different batch months later can be nearly impossible.
Tips for buying pavers
- Order 10% extra as a baseline. It’s cheaper to have a few extras than to reorder and risk a color mismatch.
- Buy all pavers at once. Even the same paver from the same brand can vary between production runs.
- Check the pallet count. Pavers are sold by the pallet, not individually. Divide your total by pavers-per-pallet and round up.
- Keep a few extras stored after installation for future repairs.
Planning a larger hardscape project?
Pavers are just one piece of the puzzle. If your project also involves mulch, concrete, or other landscaping materials, these calculators can help you plan the full scope:
- Mulch Calculator — Estimate mulch for garden beds and landscape areas
- Concrete Slab Calculator — Calculate concrete for foundations and slabs
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this calculator.
How do I calculate how many pavers I need?
Measure your project area in feet or metres and multiply length by width to get total square footage. Divide that by the area of one paver, including the joint gap between pieces. For example, a 100 sq ft patio using 4×8 inch pavers needs roughly 450 pavers before waste. Always add 5–15% for cuts and breakage depending on your pattern complexity. Our paver calculator handles this automatically — just enter your dimensions and paver size for an instant count.
How many pavers do I need for a 10×10 area?
A 10 ft × 10 ft area is 100 square feet. The number of pavers depends on the size you choose. Using standard 4×8 inch pavers, you need approximately 450 pavers (before wastage). Larger 12×12 inch pavers require about 100 pieces, while 8×8 inch pavers need roughly 225. Add 10% extra for edge cuts and breakage. Use our calculator to get an exact count based on your specific paver dimensions and joint gap.
How many square feet does a 12×12 paver cover?
A single 12×12 inch paver covers exactly 1 square foot. This makes calculations straightforward — if your patio is 200 square feet, you need approximately 200 pavers of this size before accounting for wastage. Larger pavers like these are popular for driveways and patios because they install quickly and create a clean, modern look. With a standard joint gap, each paver covers slightly more than 1 sq ft.
How many square feet does a 24×24 paver cover?
A 24×24 inch paver covers 4 square feet per piece. These large-format pavers are commonly used for commercial walkways and modern patio designs. For a 400 sq ft driveway, you would need approximately 100 pavers before waste. Their size makes installation faster but they're heavier to handle. Remember to factor in joint gaps and add 10–15% for cuts around edges and obstacles.
How many pavers are needed per square metre?
Pavers per square metre depends on paver size. Common metric sizes: 200×100 mm pavers need 50 per m², 200×200 mm pavers need 25 per m², and 300×300 mm pavers need about 11 per m². For imperial sizes converted: 4×8 inch pavers need roughly 49 per m², while 12×12 inch pavers need about 11 per m². Always include joint gaps in your calculation and add 10% for wastage.
How much paver base do I need?
Paver base (crushed stone or gravel) forms the foundation beneath your pavers. For residential patios and walkways, you need 4–6 inches of compacted base material. For driveways, increase to 8–12 inches. Calculate volume by multiplying your area (in square feet) by the base depth (in feet). A 100 sq ft patio with a 4-inch base requires about 1.2 cubic yards of paver base. Order 10% extra to account for compaction.
How many bags of paver base do I need?
Paver base is typically sold in 0.5 cubic foot bags. For a 4-inch deep base on a 100 sq ft patio, you need approximately 67 bags. A 6-inch base requires about 100 bags for the same area. Bulk delivery is more cost-effective for larger projects — most suppliers offer delivery by the cubic yard. Calculate your total volume first, then divide by 0.5 to find the number of bags needed.
How much paver sand do I need?
Joint sand (also called paver sand or polymeric sand) fills the gaps between pavers after installation. For standard 1/8-inch joints, you need roughly 1 bag (50 lbs) per 25–30 square feet of pavers. A 200 sq ft patio typically requires 7–8 bags of joint sand. Polymeric sand is recommended because it hardens when misted with water, locking pavers in place and preventing weed growth between joints.
How much does paver installation cost per square foot?
Professional paver installation costs $8–$15 per square foot for materials and labour combined. Basic concrete pavers run $8–$12/sq ft, while natural stone pavers range from $12–$20/sq ft. This includes the pavers, paver base, joint sand, and labour. DIY installation can cut costs by 40–50%, but you'll still need to budget for base materials ($1–$3/sq ft) and pavers ($3–$10/sq ft). Driveways cost more due to deeper base requirements.
What is the most common paver size?
The most popular paver size is 4×8 inches (100×200 mm), used for residential patios, walkways, and pool decks. It covers about 0.22 sq ft per paver and works well in herringbone, running bond, and basketweave patterns. Other common sizes include 6×6, 8×8, and 12×12 inches. Larger pavers (18×18 or 24×24) are trending for modern designs but require a thicker base for driveways.
How many pavers come on a pallet?
Pallet counts vary by manufacturer and paver size. Standard pallets hold 400–600 pavers for 4×8 inch sizes, 200–300 for 12×12 inch pavers, and 100–150 for large-format 24×24 pavers. Always confirm the exact pallet count with your supplier before ordering. Divide your total paver count by the pallet count and round up to determine how many pallets to purchase for your patio or walkway project.