BYTETOOLS

Paver Calculator

Calculate how many pavers a patio needs plus base gravel, bedding sand, edge restraint and polymeric sand, with pattern waste for herringbone and running bond.

300.0
Patio area (sq ft)
27.87
Patio area (m²)
4.30
Pavers per sq ft
1,354
Pavers to order
5.56
Base gravel (cu yd)
4.25 m³ / 10.13 t
Base gravel (m³ / US tons)
0.93
Bedding sand (cu yd)
0.71 m³ / 1.25 t
Bedding sand (m³ / US tons)
52.5
Edge restraint (ft)
5
Polymeric sand bags
1,289
Pavers before waste
$880.10
Estimated paver cost

Pavers = patio area ÷ the face area of one paver including its joint. Butted tight, a 4 × 8 in Holland paver is the familiar 4.5 per square foot and a 12 × 12 in slab is exactly one; add a 1/8 in joint and the 4 × 8 drops to about 4.3, which is why the joint width is an input. Pattern waste follows the usual industry guidance — about 5% for a running bond and 10% for a 45° herringbone, because every diagonal course ends in a cut. Base gravel is priced at roughly 135 lb/ft³ compacted and bedding sand at 100 lb/ft³. Soft ground, drainage and frost depth all change the base you actually need. Estimates only.

What is the Paver Calculator?

The ByteTools Paver Calculator sizes a patio or path from the top down. Enter the area — as a rectangle, a circle or a figure you already know — pick a paver size, set the joint width and the laying pattern, and it returns the number of pavers to order along with the base gravel, bedding sand, edge restraint and polymeric sand the installation needs.

  • Rectangular, circular or known-area patios with imperial and metric input
  • Paver presets from 4 × 8 in Holland to 600 × 600 mm slabs, plus custom sizes
  • Pattern waste built in — 5% running bond, 10% herringbone, 15% circular
  • Base gravel and bedding sand in cubic yards, cubic metres and US tons
  • Edge restraint length and polymeric sand bags from your own coverage figure
  • Everything computed locally in your browser, nothing uploaded

How to use the Paver Calculator

  1. 1

    Choose imperial or metric and pick the patio shape, then enter the dimensions or the known area.

  2. 2

    Select a paver size, adjust the length, width and joint width, and choose the laying pattern.

  3. 3

    Set the compacted base depth and the bedding sand depth.

  4. 4

    Choose how many sides need edge restraint and enter the coverage printed on your polymeric sand bag.

  5. 5

    Read the paver count, base gravel and sand volumes in cubic yards, cubic metres and tons, plus the cost.

About the Paver Calculator

The ByteTools Paver Calculator sizes a patio or path from the top down. Enter the area — as a rectangle, a circle or a figure you already know — pick a paver size, set the joint width and the laying pattern, and it returns the number of pavers to order along with the base gravel, bedding sand, edge restraint and polymeric sand the installation needs.

Paver counts come from the area divided by the face of one unit including its joint, which puts a 4 by 8 in Holland paver at the familiar 4.5 per square foot and a 12 by 12 in slab at exactly one. Pattern waste follows the usual industry guidance: about 5% for a running bond and 10% for a 45 degree herringbone, where every diagonal course ends in a cut.

All the maths happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Base depth is the one number worth being generous with — 4 to 6 in under a patio and 8 to 12 under a driveway, more on soft or poorly drained ground. Estimates only; a failed base is far more expensive than an extra ton of stone.

Frequently asked questions

How many pavers do I need per square foot?

Divide 144 by the face area of one paver in square inches. A 4 by 8 in paver gives 4.5 per square foot, a 6 by 9 in gives 2.67, an 8 by 8 in gives 2.25 and a 12 by 12 in slab gives exactly one. Wider joints reduce the count slightly, which this calculator accounts for.

How much extra should I order for a herringbone pattern?

About 10%, compared with 5% for a running or stack bond. A 45 degree herringbone finishes every course against the edge with a diagonal cut, and those offcuts are rarely reusable, so the waste is genuinely higher than for a square layout.

How deep should the base be under pavers?

Four to six inches of compacted crushed stone under a patio or walkway, and eight to twelve under a driveway. Go deeper on clay, on poorly drained ground or where the frost line is deep. The bedding sand on top is a separate one inch, screeded flat and never used to level out a bad base.

How much bedding sand do I need for pavers?

One inch of screeded bedding sand is the industry standard, which works out at about 0.31 cubic yards per 100 square feet. This calculator gives the volume in cubic yards, cubic metres and tons so you can order it either way.

How much polymeric sand will I need?

It depends on the joint width and paver depth, and the bag will say. Narrow joints between thin pavers can reach 75 to 100 square feet per 50 lb bag, while wide joints between thick units drop to 30 or less. Enter your own bag's coverage figure for an accurate count.

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