Paver Calculator: Bricks, Sand, Gravel and Cost for Patios and Walkways

1. Select the area shape: rectangle, circle, or enter a custom square footage.
2. Enter the project dimensions in feet (length and width, radius, or total area).
3. Set the paver size in inches. Common sizes include 4 x 8 (standard brick), 6 x 6, 6 x 9, 12 x 12 and 16 x 16.
4. Adjust the waste allowance. 10% covers most straight-lay patios; use 15% for curves or herringbone patterns.
5. Set the gravel base depth (4 inches typical for patios, 6 inches for driveways) and the sand bedding depth (1 inch is standard).
6. Optionally enter your cost per paver and gravel cost per cubic yard for a cost estimate.

A paver calculator is a tool that estimates the materials needed to build a paver patio, walkway or driveway. It calculates the number of pavers, the volume of gravel base and sand bedding, the polymeric sand for joints and the edge restraint length.

Paver projects require several layers: a compacted gravel base for drainage and stability, a thin sand bed to level the pavers, the pavers themselves and polymeric sand swept into the joints. Getting the quantities right before ordering saves trips and reduces waste.

This calculator uses exact geometry to convert your project dimensions and chosen paver size into material counts. All costs are user-entered estimates, not fixed prices, because material prices vary widely by region and supplier. See the construction calculators hub for more building tools.

The calculator applies straightforward area and volume geometry.

1. Calculate the project area from the shape and dimensions.
2. Divide by the individual paver area to get the base count.
3. Multiply by 1 + waste to account for cuts and breakage.
4. Compute gravel and sand volumes from area and depth, then convert to cubic yards.
5. Estimate polymeric sand bags at about 20 sq ft per 50 lb bag.
6. Measure the perimeter for edge restraint.

Why Round Up

Pavers, bags and restraint pieces come in whole units. The calculator always rounds up so you do not fall short on site.

Take a 10 x 10 ft patio using 4 x 8 inch standard brick pavers with 10% waste, a 4 inch gravel base and a 1 inch sand bed.

Area: 10 x 10 = 100 sq ft.

Paver area: 4 x 8 = 32 sq in / 144 = 0.222 sq ft each.

Pavers: ceil(100 / 0.2222 x 1.10) = ceil(495.0) = 495 pavers.

Gravel: 100 x 4 / 12 / 27 = 1.235 cu yd.

Sand: 100 x 1 / 12 / 27 = 0.309 cu yd.

Polymeric sand: ceil(100 / 20) = 5 bags (50 lb each).

Edge restraint: 2 x (10 + 10) = 40 linear ft.

If pavers cost $0.50 each and gravel costs $35 per cubic yard, the material estimate would be 495 x $0.50 + 1.235 x $35 = $247.50 + $43.22 = about $291.

Pavers come in many shapes and sizes. The table below shows the most popular rectangular options and how many cover one square foot.

These are nominal dimensions. Actual sizes vary slightly by manufacturer, and joint spacing adds a small amount to the layout.

A solid base is the foundation of any paver project. The ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) recommends compacted gravel under a thin sand leveling layer.

Gravel Base Depth

• 4 inches: typical for pedestrian patios and walkways on well-drained soil.
• 6 inches: recommended for driveways, areas with poor drainage or clay soils.
• 8 to 12 inches: for heavy vehicle traffic or very soft subgrades.

Sand Bedding

The sand layer is almost always 1 inch deep after compaction. It levels minor imperfections in the gravel and lets pavers seat evenly. Concrete sand or ASTM C33 sand is the standard choice.

Polymeric Sand

Swept into the joints after the pavers are laid, polymeric sand hardens when activated with water. A 50 lb bag covers roughly 20 sq ft of standard-width joints. Wider joints or thicker pavers use more.

Straight Patterns

A running bond or stack bond on a rectangular patio wastes relatively few cuts. 10% is a safe allowance.

Herringbone and Angled Patterns

Herringbone, basketweave or 45-degree layouts create more perimeter cuts. Use 15% waste.

Curves and Circles

Circular patios and curved walkways can produce a lot of cut-off pieces. 15 to 20% is prudent.

Extra pavers are also useful for future repairs. Keeping a dozen spares from the same dye lot means a perfect color match later.

Running Bond

The simplest pattern. Pavers are offset by half their length in each row, like a brick wall. Works well with 4 x 8 pavers and wastes the least material.

Herringbone

Pavers are set at 90-degree angles to each other, creating a zigzag. Highly interlock-resistant and recommended for driveways. Uses about 15% more cuts.

Basketweave

Pairs of pavers alternate direction in a checkerboard-like pattern. Decorative and easy to lay with 4 x 8 units.

Stack Bond

All pavers align in a grid with no offset. Clean and modern but offers less interlock, so it suits patios more than driveways.

Several factors change how many pavers and how much base material a project needs.

Paver Size

Smaller pavers like 4 x 8 inches need more units per square foot than large 12 x 12 inch slabs, but smaller units fit curves and patterns better.

Pattern Choice

A herringbone or 45-degree layout creates more perimeter cuts, so waste rises from 10% to about 15%.

Soil and Drainage

Clay soils or areas with poor drainage need a deeper gravel base, sometimes 6 to 12 inches instead of the standard 4 inches.

Joint Width

Wider joints between pavers use more polymeric sand per bag. The 20 sq ft per bag estimate is for standard tight joints.

Project Shape

Rectangular areas waste the fewest cuts. Circles, curves and irregular outlines increase waste and may need a higher allowance.

Paver prices vary by material, thickness and finish. The table below shows typical cost ranges for common types. Enter your actual price in the calculator for a personalized estimate.

These are approximate ranges. Always get local quotes. Labor, delivery and base preparation add to the total project cost.

Planning a New Patio

Use a paver calculator before ordering materials. Knowing the exact count of pavers, gravel and sand prevents over-ordering or running short mid-project.

Comparing Paver Sizes

Run the calculator with different paver dimensions to see how the count and cost change. Larger pavers mean fewer units but often cost more each.

Budgeting a Driveway

Enter your local prices per paver and per cubic yard of gravel to get a material cost estimate before requesting contractor quotes.

Extending an Existing Patio

Measure the new section, enter the area as custom square footage and get the additional materials needed without recalculating the whole project.

1. Forgetting Waste for Cuts

Every edge and corner requires a cut paver. Skipping the waste allowance means running short. Always add at least 10%.

2. Using the Wrong Base Depth

A 4-inch base is fine for foot traffic, but a driveway needs 6 inches or more. Too shallow a base leads to settling and shifting.

3. Ignoring Joint Sand

Polymeric sand locks pavers in place and prevents weeds. Forgetting it leaves the project unfinished and unstable.

4. Skipping Edge Restraint

Without edging, pavers migrate outward over time. Always include edge restraint in the material list.

5. Ordering Exact Quantities

Even with a waste factor, keep a few spare pavers from the same batch for future repairs. Dye lots vary, so a perfect match later is not guaranteed.

The geometry is exact: area, volume and paver counts follow standard formulas with no rounding shortcuts.

It depends on the paver size. With standard 4 x 8 inch brick pavers (0.222 sq ft each) and 10% waste, you need 495 pavers. Larger 12 x 12 inch pavers would need only about 110.

For a 4-inch base on 100 sq ft: 100 x 4 / 12 / 27 = about 1.235 cubic yards. Use 6 inches for driveways, which works out to about 1.852 cubic yards per 100 sq ft.

The ICPI recommends 4 inches of compacted gravel for pedestrian patios and walkways and 6 inches for driveways. Very soft soils or heavy loads may need 8 to 12 inches.

The sand bedding layer is typically 1 inch deep. For 100 sq ft: 100 x 1 / 12 / 27 = about 0.309 cubic yards. This is the leveling layer under the pavers, separate from the joint sand.

Polymeric sand is swept into paver joints and hardens with water. A 50 lb bag covers roughly 20 sq ft of standard-width joints, so 100 sq ft needs about 5 bags.

Add 10% for straight layouts like running bond on rectangular areas. Use 15% for herringbone, angled or curved designs. Keep a few extras for future repairs.

The most common paver is 4 x 8 inches, the standard brick size. Larger 12 x 12 or 6 x 9 pavers cover ground faster. Smaller pavers allow tighter curves and more pattern options.

Enter the radius in feet and select the circle shape. The calculator uses pi times radius squared for the area, then divides by paver area and adds waste.

Yes. Edge restraint keeps pavers from shifting outward over time. The calculator estimates the perimeter length in linear feet so you know how much edging to buy.

Paver prices vary widely by material, size and region. This calculator lets you enter your own cost per paver and gravel price to get a personalized estimate.

• ICPI Tech Spec 2: Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute; base depth and installation guidelines).
• Belgard Paver Specifications (Belgard; common paver sizes and coverage rates).
• ASTM C33 Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates (ASTM International; sand and aggregate specifications for paver bedding).