How to calculate how many pavers you need
The count comes from dividing your patio area by the area each paver covers, then padding for waste. Paver dimensions are given in inches and patios in feet, so the units have to be reconciled before dividing — this calculator handles that. The waste allowance covers the pavers you'll cut at the edges and the occasional cracked one.
How much waste to add
A simple square or running-bond layout in a rectangular patio wastes little — around 5%. Diagonal, herringbone, and circular patterns produce more offcuts, so bump it to 10–15%. It's far cheaper to have spares than to run short and risk a mismatched batch.
What's underneath matters
Pavers don't go straight on soil. The standard build-up is a compacted gravel base several inches deep, topped with about an inch of bedding sand that the pavers are set into, then polymeric sand swept into the joints. This calculator estimates the bedding sand; size the gravel base separately based on your soil and drainage.
Frequently asked questions
Does paver size change the count a lot?
Yes — larger pavers cover more area each, so you need fewer. The calculator uses the exact dimensions you enter, including custom sizes.
Should I buy by the pallet?
For large patios, pallets are cheaper per paver. Check how many your chosen paver has per pallet and divide the total by that, rounding up to whole pallets.
What about edging?
Plastic or metal paver edging holds the field in place and is sold by the linear foot — measure your patio's perimeter for that separately.
Paver calculation example
A 10-by-12-foot patio has 120 square feet. A 12-by-12-inch paver covers one square foot, so a straight layout needs 120 pavers before waste. With a 10% allowance for cuts and breakage, plan for 132 pavers.
Related patio calculators
Plan the base and surrounding work with the gravel calculator, concrete calculator, or mulch calculator.