How to use the paver calculator
- Enter the area. Type the length and the width of the patio, path or driveway. If part of it will have no pavers, enter that part as the area to leave out.
- Choose the paver. Pick a paver size from the list, or choose my paver size and type the length and width of one paver in inches. Set the waste allowance.
- Read the number of pavers. The result shows the pavers to buy, the pavers per square foot, and the rows and pavers per row for a simple layout.
What is a paver calculator?
A paver calculator is a tool that counts the pavers needed to cover an area. It divides the area of the patio, path or driveway by the area of one paver, then adds an allowance for pavers that are cut or broken.
It works for concrete pavers, brick pavers and paving slabs, because the count depends only on the size of the unit.
Features
- The number of pavers for a rectangular area
- Six example paver sizes and a field for your own size
- Bags of polymeric sand from the coverage printed on your bag
- An area to leave out, for a planter, a tree or a drain
- Pavers per square foot, rows and pavers per row
- An adjustable waste allowance for cuts
- A cost from your own price per paver
- A live top view with every paver, a PDF of the estimate and a WhatsApp share button
What you can use it for
- A paver patio or a walkway
- A pool deck or a fire pit area
- A paver driveway
- Counting polymeric sand bags for the joints
How the number of pavers is calculated
Pavers per square foot = 144 ÷ (paver length in inches × paver width in inches).
Pavers = (length × width − area left out) × pavers per square foot × (1 + waste ÷ 100), rounded up.
| Paver size | Pavers per square foot | Pavers per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 8 in × 4 in | 4.5 | 450 |
| 6 in × 6 in | 4 | 400 |
| 9 in × 6 in | 2.67 | 266.7 |
| 12 in × 12 in | 1 | 100 |
| 16 in × 16 in | 0.56 | 56.3 |
| 24 in × 24 in | 0.25 | 25 |
Worked example: a 12 ft by 10 ft patio with 8 × 4 pavers
- Area: 12 × 10 = 120 square feet.
- Pavers per square foot: 144 ÷ (8 × 4) = 4.5.
- Pavers without waste: 120 × 4.5 = 540.
- With 5% waste: 540 × 1.05 = 567 pavers.
These are the numbers the calculator shows when the page opens.
Joints, cuts and patterns
The calculator counts pavers by their own size and ignores the thin sand joint between them. The joint makes each paver cover slightly more ground, so the real count is a little lower than the result. That error is on the safe side.
Pavers at the edges are cut to fit. A pattern laid at an angle, such as herringbone at 45 degrees, and a curved edge need more cuts than a straight layout. The calculator starts at 5% for a straight layout; raise it for angled patterns and curves.
The base and the bedding sand under the pavers are worked out in the paver base calculator.
How much polymeric sand the joints need
Polymeric sand is the joint sand that hardens when it is wetted. Makers give its coverage as a range of square feet per bag, and the range depends mostly on how wide the joints are. Enter the figure for your product and your joints in the calculator, and it divides the paved area by it.
| Product (maker's data sheet) | Bag | Narrow joints | Wide joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Techniseal EZSAND (updated February 2021) | 40 lb | 45 to 55 sq ft (1/8 to 1/2 in) | not given |
| Alliance Gator Maxx G2 (revised May 2025) | 50 lb | 65 to 85 sq ft (1/8 to 3/8 in) | 22 to 42 sq ft (3/4 to 1 1/4 in) |
| Sakrete Paver Set Polymeric Sand (REV 11/12) | bag | 50 to 80 sq ft (about 1/8 in) | 20 to 40 sq ft (about 3/8 in) |
| SEK-Surebond PolySweep | 50 lb | 50 to 75 sq ft (up to 1/4 in) | 25 to 50 sq ft (1/4 to 1/2 in); 15 to 25 sq ft (1/2 to 3/4 in) |
Each maker says the real amount depends on the shape and size of the pavers and the width and depth of the joints. Alliance Gator's figures are for pavers 2 3/8 inches high. Sakrete's sheet does not say which of its two bag sizes the bag row is for. Use the lower number of a range to be safe.
What the calculator includes
- The area is a rectangle. For another shape, work out its area, enter a rectangle with the same area, or split it into rectangles.
- Edge restraints and a border course in a different paver are not included. Polymeric sand is counted only if you enter the coverage of your bag.
- Each dimension can be up to 10,000 in its unit, a paver side up to 1,000 inches, the area left out up to 1,000,000 and waste 0 to 50%.
Is it private?
Yes. The calculation and the PDF are made in your browser. The numbers you type are not sent to our server and are not saved.
Tips for an accurate estimate
- Measure the area in square feet and choose the paver size you will buy.
- Add more waste for patterns with many cuts, such as herringbone or curved edges.
- Read the coverage printed on your polymeric sand bag and enter it for the joint width you will have.
- Buy all pavers from one lot so the colour stays the same.
- Lay the pavers on a compacted base; use the paver base calculator for the stone and sand.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
- How many pavers do I need?
- Divide the area by the area of one paver and add waste. A 12 ft by 10 ft patio is 120 square feet. With 8 inch by 4 inch pavers at 4.5 per square foot, that is 540 pavers, or 567 with 5% waste.
- How many pavers are in a square foot?
- Divide 144 by the length times the width of the paver in inches. An 8 × 4 paver gives 4.5 per square foot, a 6 × 6 paver gives 4, and a 12 × 12 paver gives 1.
- How many pavers do I need for a 10 × 10 patio?
- A 10 ft by 10 ft patio is 100 square feet. It takes 450 pavers of 8 × 4 inches, 400 of 6 × 6 inches or 100 of 12 × 12 inches, before waste.
- How much extra should I buy for cuts?
- The calculator starts at 5% for a straight layout. Angled patterns and curved edges need more cuts, so raise the allowance for those.
- Does the calculator include the base and sand?
- No. It counts pavers only. Use the paver base calculator for the gravel base and the bedding sand.
- How much polymeric sand do I need?
- Divide the paved area by the square feet one bag covers for your joint width. Makers' data sheets give ranges such as 50 to 75 square feet per 50 lb bag for joints up to 1/4 inch (SEK-Surebond PolySweep). Enter your bag's figure in the calculator.
- Can I use it for brick pavers or paving slabs?
- Yes. The count depends only on the size of the unit. Choose my paver size and enter the length and width of your brick or slab.
Sources
Every figure this calculator uses comes from the published sources below. The formulas are on this page, so any result can be checked by hand.
- Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association, PAV-TEC-002-22, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements. Base depth of 4 in for patios and 6 in for driveways, and a 1 in bedding sand layer.
- Techniseal, Alliance Gator, Sakrete and SEK-Surebond, Polymeric sand technical data sheets (EZSAND, Gator Maxx G2, Paver Set, PolySweep). Coverage of one bag of polymeric sand by joint width.