Paver and patio calculator

Everything that goes into a rectangular paver patio or path: the pavers, the compacted base under them, the bedding sand and the edging, in cubic yards, cubic metres and approximate tons.

To buy

867 pavers

for 192.0 sq ft (17.84 m²), including 5% waste

824.9 pavers cover the area exactly. Under them: 4 in (102 mm) of compacted base over the patio plus 6 in (152 mm) each side, 221.0 sq ft (20.53 m²), and 1 in (25 mm) of bedding sand.

Materials list

Item	Quantity
Pavers	867
Base, compacted volume	2.73 yd³ (73.7 ft³) · 2.09 m³
Base to order (+20% for compaction)	3.27 yd³ (88.4 ft³) · 2.50 m³
Base, approximate weight	4.14–4.97 tons (3.75–4.51 t)
Bedding sand (+10%)	0.65 yd³ (17.6 ft³) · 0.50 m³
Bedding sand, approximate weight	0.82–0.99 tons (0.75–0.90 t)
Edge restraint (full perimeter)	56 ft (17.07 m)

How to use it

Enter the finished size of the paved area. For an irregular patio, get its area from the square footage calculator and enter a rectangle of the same area; the paver and sand figures will be right, and the base and edging slightly approximate.

For the paver size, either enter the actual size of one paver plus the joint you will leave, or, if the pavers have spacer nibs on their sides and are sold by a nominal size that already includes the joint, enter the nominal size with a zero joint. Pick the base depth for the use: foot traffic or vehicles. Everything else can stay at its default unless your supplier or installer says otherwise.

The method

Pavers = area ÷ ((paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint)) × (1 + waste %), rounded up.
Base area = (length + 2 × overhang) × (width + 2 × overhang). The base runs past the paved edge so the edge restraint is anchored on compacted material, not soil.
Base volume = base area × compacted depth. To order = that × (1 + compaction allowance).
Bedding sand = paved area × sand depth, plus 10% for screeding losses and low spots.
Weight = volume × a density of 1.5 to 1.8 tonnes per cubic metre, shown as a range because it depends on the material.
Edge restraint = the perimeter. Subtract any side that runs against a house wall or a slab.

Unit conversions are exact: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.7646 m³, and one US (short) ton is 0.9072 tonnes.

A worked example

The default is a 16 × 12 ft patio, 192 sq ft (17.84 m²), in 4 × 8 in pavers with 1/8 in joints. Each paver with its joint occupies 4.125 × 8.125 in, or 33.5 square inches, so the patio takes 824.9 pavers; with 5% waste, 867.

The base runs 6 in past every edge, so it covers 17 × 13 ft, 221 sq ft. At 4 in compacted depth that is 73.7 cubic feet, 2.73 cubic yards (2.09 m³). With a 20% allowance for compaction, order about 3.27 cubic yards (2.50 m³), which at typical densities weighs roughly 4.1 to 5.0 US tons. The 1 in sand bed under 192 sq ft is 16 cubic feet, 17.6 with the allowance, about 0.65 cubic yards. The edging runs 56 ft around the perimeter.

Typical depths

Commonly cited ranges for concrete paver installations; your soil and climate move them:

Patios and walkways: 4 to 6 in (100 to 150 mm) of compacted base.
Driveways: 8 to 12 in (200 to 300 mm) of compacted base.
Bedding sand: about 1 in (25 mm) screeded, in every case.
Base beyond the edge: commonly 6 to 12 in (150 to 300 mm), and at least enough to carry the edge restraint.

Base goes down in layers of a few inches, each compacted before the next. Poorly drained clay, frost and vehicle loads all call for more depth, and sometimes a geotextile under the base.

Where this stops being reliable

Tonnage. The weight range is wide on purpose. Your supplier's conversion from volume to weight for their material beats any generic figure.
Excavation. The dig depth is base + sand + paver thickness, minus any height the patio will sit above grade. Removing soil is not included.
Slopes and drainage. Patios are laid with a fall away from buildings for drainage. On sloping ground, base depth varies across the site.
Permeable pavers. Permeable systems use open-graded stone in several layers, not the dense-graded base and sand assumed here.
Joint sand. The fine or polymeric sand swept into the joints is not included; its coverage depends on the joint and is printed on the bag.

Common questions

How deep should the gravel base be under pavers?

Industry guidance for segmental pavers commonly gives about 4 to 6 in (100 to 150 mm) of compacted aggregate base for patios and walkways, and 8 to 12 in (200 to 300 mm) for driveways and anything carrying vehicles, with the deeper end for clay or poorly drained soils and cold climates with frost. These are starting points; a local supplier or installer will know what works on your soil.

Why order more gravel than the volume of the base?

Because crushed aggregate delivered loose occupies more space than the same stone after it has been compacted in layers with a plate compactor. The allowance here defaults to 20%; the right figure depends on the material and how well it is compacted. Running short halfway through compaction is more expensive than a little left over.

What sand goes under pavers?

A coarse, washed, sharp sand, often sold as concrete sand, screeded to a uniform depth of about 1 in (25 mm) over the compacted base. It is not compacted before the pavers go down; the pavers are laid on it and then compacted into it. Stone dust and fine masonry or play sand are generally not recommended for the bedding layer, and the joint sand on top is a separate, finer product.

How much waste should I allow for pavers?

About 5% for a simple rectangle in a straight or running-bond pattern, and 10% or more for herringbone, curves, many corners, or patterns that need cutting along every edge. Order extra from the same production run; pavers vary slightly in colour between batches.

Is a ton of gravel the same as a cubic yard?

No. Suppliers sell by weight or by volume, and the conversion between them depends on the stone, its grading and how wet it is. Commonly quoted figures for crushed base fall roughly between 1.25 and 1.5 US tons per cubic yard. This page shows a range; ask your supplier for their own conversion and use that.