Paver Calculator
Estimate how many pavers you need, plus base gravel, bedding sand, pallets, waste, and material cost for patio, walkway, and driveway projects.
Build Your Paver Order
Best for backyard seating areas, dining pads, and general hardscape patios.
Simple offset rows keep cuts manageable and usually stay close to the base waste rule.
Default waste follows the project type and pattern. You can override it here if your cuts or edge conditions are different.
Order Summary
Quantity checks
This page is a planning estimate for ordering, not a manufacturer-specific pallet or joint-sand quote.
Cost estimate is optional
Turn on Cost Mode if you want this order summary to add paver, gravel, sand, and polymeric sand pricing.
Project notes
- Project area is 144 sq ft before waste is applied.
- Patio uses a 4" base and a 1" bedding layer in this plan.
- Running bond is running with a 8% waste rule on this page.
Worked examples
12x12 patio with 4x8 pavers
12 × 12 ft patio · 4 × 8 brick pavers · running bond
A standard patio order: rectangular layout, 4-inch base, 1-inch bedding sand, and a normal waste allowance.
20x20 driveway with herringbone
20 × 20 ft driveway · 4 × 8 pavers · herringbone
The footprint is manageable, but the deeper base and stronger pattern push the order up quickly. This is where project type matters more than looks.
Circle patio paver order
80 sq ft curved patio edge · 6 × 6 pavers · basketweave
Even a small walkway needs extra material when the edges curve or the pattern creates more cuts than a straight run.
Where paver orders usually change
Pattern can change the order before the footprint changes
Running bond and stack bond usually stay close to the base count. Herringbone and curved edges tend to add more perimeter cuts.
Driveway jobs need a deeper base than patios
A patio can often stay on a 4-inch compacted base. A driveway usually needs something closer to 6 inches before the order is realistic.
Pallet planning is a delivery problem, not just a math problem
Once the order reaches multiple pallets, delivery, unloading, and staging need to be planned up front.
How to use this calculator
- Start with the project footprint. Use a preset for common patio sizes or switch to custom dimensions when the project is not a simple rectangle.
- Choose the project type before trusting the base. A driveway order should not use the same base depth logic as a light patio or walkway.
- Pick the paver size and pattern. The paver size drives the unit count, while the pattern is what usually changes the waste rule.
- Read the order summary first. Start with pavers, then pallets, then base gravel, bedding sand, and polymeric sand.
- Only then look at cost. Price is useful, but the buy list is what keeps the job moving when the delivery arrives.
How we calculate
Example: 12 × 12 ft patio with 4 × 8 pavers
- Project area = 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft
- Single paver area = 32 in² ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft
- Base paver count = 144 ÷ 0.222 = 648
- With 8% waste = 648 × 1.08 ≈ 700 pavers
- Base gravel = 144 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.78 cu yd
- Bedding sand = 144 × 1 ÷ 324 = 0.44 cu yd
Why the buy list changes
The paver count comes from the unit size, but the real order moves when the pattern changes the waste, the project type changes the base depth, or the pallet count changes delivery planning.
Paver quantity and installation-layer planning align with standard ICPI hardscape guidance and consumer-facing paver ordering references.
This is a planning page, not a manufacturer-specific pallet takeoff or joint-sand spec sheet.
Base depth guide
Patio
4" compacted base + 1" bedding sand
A common planning default for backyard patios with foot traffic and normal furniture load.
Walkway
4" compacted base + 1" bedding sand
Usually similar to a patio unless the subgrade is weak or the path sees service equipment traffic.
Driveway
6" compacted base + 1" bedding sand
Vehicle load changes the order quickly. The pavers matter, but the base usually drives the larger jump.
Popular paver size guide
4" × 8" brick paver
Traditional patios, walkways, and driveway herringbone layouts
One of the most common formats, with pallet quantities that are easy to plan around.
6" × 6" square paver
Smaller patios and tighter walkway layouts
Easy to count and compare against square-foot coverage, but it still needs a waste buffer when cuts appear.
8" × 8" square paver
Medium-format patio fields
Often reduces the unit count, which can make delivery and staging easier even if each paver costs more.
12" × 12" slab paver
Cleaner patio grids and modern outdoor pads
The math is simpler because one paver is close to one square foot, but perimeter cuts can still raise waste.
Waste guide by pattern and edges
Straight rectangular patio
Running bond and stack bond usually stay closest to the planning count here.
Driveway or herringbone layout
The stronger interlock is worth it, but edge cuts usually push the order beyond a simple square-foot conversion.
Curved edges or irregular outline
Curves are where low waste assumptions fail first. This is where ordering too tight creates the most problems.
Pallet planning guide
One pallet or less
A smaller patio or walkway can usually be staged close to the work area with simpler delivery planning.
Two to four pallets
This is the range where staging and unloading start to matter. You are coordinating drop points, not just buying pavers.
Five pallets and up
Driveway-size orders turn into logistics jobs. Make sure the delivery path, curb access, and on-site staging are realistic before ordering.