Paver Calculator — How Many Pavers Do I Need?
Calculate how many pavers you need for a patio, walkway or driveway, plus bedding sand and compacted base material. Enter the area and your paver size to get a complete material list with cutting waste included.
How many pavers do I need?
Divide the area by the face area of one paver, then add 5–10% for cuts and breakage. A 300 mm square unit covers 0.09 m², so a 20 m² patio takes about 222 before waste; a 12 × 12 in paver covers 1 sq ft, which makes a 215 sq ft patio 215 before waste. Herringbone and any curved edge push the waste to the top of that range.
What goes underneath them?
100–150 mm (4–6 in) of compacted crushed stone for a patio, more for a driveway, then a laying course of about 30 mm (1¼ in) of sharp sand. Loose stone compacts by roughly 30%, so order that much extra. Jointing sand goes in last and is bought separately from the bedding.
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How the paver count is calculated
- 1Area = length × width (m² or sq ft)
- 2Paver count: area ÷ paver face area, with 5–10% waste for cuts and breakage
- 3Bedding sand: area × 30 mm (≈ 1 in) depth of sharp sand
- 4Base: area × 100–150 mm (4–6 in) compacted crushed stone (expands ~30% loose)
- 5Jointing sand: take coverage from the jointing-product data sheet as a separate allowance
- 6Round all quantities up; order base and sand by the tonne
Worked example
Patio: 12 × 10 ft (3.66 × 3.05 m = 11.2 m²). Pavers 300×300 mm (12×12 in), 100 mm compacted base.
131 pavers (124 base count × 1.05 waste, rounded up). Bedding sand: 0.34 m³, about 12 cu ft (≈ 500 kg, or 1,100 lb). Base: 1.45 m³ loose — 1.9 cubic yards — ≈ 2.0 tonnes, roughly 2.2 short tons, of crushed stone.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for 100 sq ft?
For 12×12 in (300×300 mm) pavers: 100 sq ft = 9.29 m² ÷ 0.09 m² per paver × 1.05 waste ≈ 109 pavers. Smaller 6×9 in pavers: approximately 280. Use the calculator for your exact paver size.
How deep should the base be under pavers?
Pedestrian patios and paths: 100 mm (4 in) of compacted crushed stone. Driveways: 150 mm (6 in) minimum. Add 30 mm of bedding sand on top of the base in both cases.
Can I lay pavers directly on dirt?
Not for any permanent installation — soil settlement causes sinking, cracking and trip hazards. Even a garden path needs at least 75 mm (3 in) of compacted base material.
What sand goes under pavers?
Sharp (coarse) concrete sand for the 30 mm (1¼ in) bedding layer — never building or play sand, which holds moisture. Kiln-dried fine sand or polymeric sand goes in the joints after laying.
How much waste should I add for pavers?
5% for straight-bond layouts on rectangular areas. 10% for herringbone, circles or areas with many cut edges. Broken pavers in transit are common — the spare stock is rarely wasted.