Paver Calculator
Pavers, base stone and bedding sand for a patio, walk or circle.
This paver calculator works out how many pavers, how much base stone and how much bedding sand a patio needs. Enter the area and the paver size and you’ll see the numbers update as you type.
Three details change the order. The joints between pavers shift the count, the base has to reach past the edge, and the pattern decides how many extras to buy. Why do they matter? Each one moves a number you’ll pay for.
How the Paver Calculator Works
The calculator divides the area by the footprint of one paver plus its joint, then adds your allowance for cuts and breakage. The base stone and the sand come from the same area and the depths you set. Here’s what each default assumes.
- A 1/8 inch joint sits in the middle of the 1/16 to 3/16 inch range an Iowa DOT paver specification gives for joints made by paver spacer bars.
- Base depth is 4 inches, the low end of the 4 to 6 inches a Pool & Spa Marketing trade article gives for patios and walkways. Driveways need more, at 6 to 7.8 inches in the same article.
- Bedding sand is 1 inch. The same Iowa DOT specification calls for a nominal 1 inch, and no more than 1 1/2 inches.
- The base extends 4 inches past the edge. The trade article says it should reach past the edge restraint by about its own thickness.
- Stone gets 15% extra for compaction. That’s a common rule of thumb I couldn’t tie to a standard, so change it if the supplier says it doesn’t fit your stone.
With the example values (a 14 by 12 foot patio of 6 by 9 inch pavers), the order is about 477 pavers, 2.6 cubic yards of base stone and 0.5 cubic yards of sand.
I checked the math by hand and tested the calculator on worked examples.
How Many Pavers Per 100 Square Feet?
Paver size decides the count more than anything else. This table comes from the calculator with a 1/8 inch joint, so it matches the tool.
| Paver size | Pavers per 100 sq ft | With 10% extra |
|---|---|---|
| 4 by 8 in | 430 | 473 |
| 6 by 6 in | 384 | 423 |
| 6 by 9 in | 258 | 284 |
| 12 by 12 in | 98 | 108 |
| 16 by 16 in | 56 | 61 |
| 12 by 24 in | 50 | 55 |
A 12 by 12 inch paver gives 98 per 100 square feet, not 100, because the joint takes up space. With 10% extra that’s 108. Nicolock’s paver calculator adds the same 10%. Black Diamond Landscape says to plan on 10 to 15%, with angled patterns like herringbone at the higher end.
How Many Pavers for a 20×20 Patio?
A 20 by 20 foot patio is 400 square feet. Here’s the count by paver size, with and without the extra.
| Paver size | Pavers for a 20 by 20 ft patio (400 sq ft) | With 10% extra |
|---|---|---|
| 4 by 8 in | 1,719 | 1,891 |
| 6 by 6 in | 1,536 | 1,689 |
| 6 by 9 in | 1,031 | 1,134 |
| 12 by 12 in | 392 | 431 |
| 16 by 16 in | 222 | 244 |
| 12 by 24 in | 197 | 217 |
With 6 by 9 inch pavers that’s about 1,031 before extras and about 1,134 with 10%. Check how the supplier sells them first, since a count and a square foot figure aren’t the same thing.
Does Joint Width Change the Count?
Joint width doesn’t change the count much. On a 168 square foot patio of 6 by 9 inch pavers, going from no joint to a 1/4 inch joint saves 29 pavers, and the table shows the steps in between.
| Joint width | Pavers for 168 sq ft (6 by 9 in, no extra) |
|---|---|
| None | 448 |
| 1/16 in | 441 |
| 1/8 in | 433 |
| 3/16 in | 426 |
| 1/4 in | 419 |
The Iowa DOT specification allows joints from 1/16 to 3/16 inch and says no more than 5% of them should pass 1/4 inch. So the waste number and the pattern move the order more than the joint does.
How Much Paver Base for 200 Square Feet?
For a 4 inch base, a 20 by 10 foot patio needs about 3.1 cubic yards, or 4.4 tons, of base stone. That includes the extension and the compaction allowance. The table shows other patio sizes.
| Patio | Base stone (4 in, +15%) | Base weight | Bedding sand (1 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 by 10 ft | 1.62 cu yd | 2.3 tons | 0.31 cu yd |
| 12 by 12 ft | 2.28 cu yd | 3.2 tons | 0.44 cu yd |
| 14 by 16 ft | 3.47 cu yd | 4.9 tons | 0.69 cu yd |
| 20 by 10 ft (200 sq ft) | 3.13 cu yd | 4.4 tons | 0.62 cu yd |
| 20 by 20 ft | 6.06 cu yd | 8.5 tons | 1.23 cu yd |
The extension is easy to forget. The trade article says the base should extend past the restraint by the same distance as its thickness, so a 4 inch base reaches 4 inches past the edge. Does it matter?
| Base extension past the edge | Base stone, 14 by 12 ft patio |
|---|---|
| None | 2.39 cu yd, 3.3 tons |
| 4 in | 2.64 cu yd, 3.7 tons |
| 6 in | 2.77 cu yd, 3.9 tons |
On the 14 by 12 foot patio, the extension adds about a quarter of a cubic yard. Skip it and you’ll run short, with the edge restraint sitting on thin base.
The trade article also says to place the base in layers of 2 to 3 inches and compact each one. A 5 horsepower plate compactor is its pick for patios and walkways.
If the patio drains toward the house, you’ll want to fix that first. Underground downspout drains and French drains for standing water cover the usual fixes. The gravel calculator sizes any extra stone.
Which Base Stone Should It Be?
The calculator sizes the base by depth, and the stone type is a separate choice. The specs I read give depths, not stone types, and hardscape pros argue about the type.
A thread in r/hardscape compared 3/4 inch clean stone with a base called HPB. One contractor said both are standard and pointed to the soil.
“Both are acceptable as industry standards. Be mindful of subgrade conditions. If you have a heavy clay, open grade can sometimes lead to building a saturated pool under your pavers if the water can’t exit.”
– r/hardscape, March 2026 (6 upvotes)
Another commenter in the same thread said that on heavy clay they run a drain out to daylight to stop pooling. One pro’s habit is still one pro’s habit. Ask the supplier which stone suits the soil, and keep the base depth from the calculator either way.
Laying Rules That Change How Much You Buy
- Cut pavers fill the edges. The Iowa DOT specification says to fill gaps at the edge with cut pavers or edge units, and the trade article says any gap wider than 10 mm (0.39 in) next to the restraint gets a cut paver. That’s where your waste goes.
- Don’t disturb the screeded sand. The specification says the screeded sand should not be disturbed, and to screed no more area than you’ll cover with pavers in a day.
- Compaction takes passes. The specification calls for at least four to six passes with a plate compactor while the joint sand goes in, and none within 6 feet of unrestrained edges.
These are public-works rules, so they are a quality bar for a patio, not a legal requirement. The paver maker’s instructions come first.
Paver Questions
How do I calculate how many pavers I need?
Divide the area by the area of one paver plus its joint, then add 10 to 15% for cuts. A 14 by 12 foot patio of 6 by 9 inch pavers is 168 square feet. That’s 433 pavers before extras and 477 with 10%.
How many pavers for a 20×20 patio?
For 12 by 12 inch pavers it’s 392 before extras and 431 with 10%. For 6 by 9 inch pavers it’s about 1,031, or about 1,134 with the extra. The table above lists the other sizes.
How many 12×12 pavers for 100 square feet?
About 98 with a 1/8 inch joint, or 100 with no joint. Add 10% and you buy 108.
How much paver base do I need for 200 square feet?
About 3.1 cubic yards, or 4.4 tons, at a 4 inch depth with a 4 inch extension and 15% for compaction. For a driveway-depth base of 6 inches, change the depth in the calculator.
