Paver Patio Calculator

By Stephen Morrison, Editor Last reviewed October 30, 2026

Enter your patio or walkway and your paver size. You get the number of pavers, the gravel base in yards and tons, bedding sand and edging, in one list.

Your patio

Shape

RectangleCircleI know the area

Length

Width

Paver length

Paver width

More options: waste, base and sand depth, prices

Extra for cuts

More for herringbone or curves

Joint width

0 = count by face size (a bit more)

Gravel base depth

4–6 in for patios and walks

Bedding sand depth

About 1–1½ in

Gravel weight

tons/yd³

Ask your supplier

Sand bag size

cu ft

Price per paver

Gravel per ton

Sand per bag

You need

– pavers

– sq ft · includes –% extra

Gravel base– yd³ · – tons
Bedding sand– bags · – yd³
Edge restraint– ft
Estimated cost–

Shopping list

Quick answer: a 10 × 12 ft patio of 4 × 8 in pavers needs 594 pavers with 10% extra, a 4 in gravel base of1.48 yd³ (about 2.07 tons), 20 bags of bedding sand and 44 ft of edging.

How the calculator works

Pavers: area ÷ ((length + joint) × (width + joint) ÷ 144) × (1 + extra%)
Base: area × base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = cubic yards; × tons per yard
Sand: area × sand depth (in) ÷ 12 = cubic feet; ÷ bag size
Edging: the perimeter (rectangle 2 × (L + W), circle π × diameter)

Pavers per square foot

Paver size	Pavers per sq ft	Per 100 sq ft (no extra)
4 × 8 in	4.5	450
6 × 6 in	4	400
6 × 12 in	2	200
12 × 12 in	1	100
16 × 16 in	0.56	57
12 × 24 in	0.5	50

Layers of a paver patio

Excavate deep enough for base, sand and paver, and slope the soil slightly away from the house for drainage.
Compacted gravel base: 4–6 in for walks and patios, placed and compacted in layers.
Bedding sand: about 1–1½ in, screeded flat. Don't compact it before laying.
Pavers, then edge restraint around the open edges.
Joint sand swept in and compacted, often polymeric sand to resist weeds.

Common questions

How many pavers for a 10 × 12 patio?

With 4 × 8 in pavers, 120 sq ft takes 540 pavers. Add 10% for cuts and that's 594.

How thick should the gravel base be?

ICPI's application guide gives a minimum aggregate base of 4 to 6 in for walks, and 6 to 8 in for driveways. Use the thicker end on clay or poorly drained soil. This calculator defaults to 4 in.

How much sand goes under pavers?

A bedding layer of about 1 to 1½ in, screeded flat, per ICPI. For a 10 × 12 patio at 1 in that's 10 cu ft, or 20 bags of 0.5 cu ft. Joint sand (often polymeric) is extra; its bag lists the coverage.

How much gravel do I need in tons?

Multiply the cubic yards by your supplier's weight per yard. We use 1.4 tons per yard as a planning figure. For the 10 × 12 patio, a 4 in base is 1.48 yd³, or about 2.07 tons. Gravel compacts as you tamp it, so order a little extra.

Do I need edge restraint?

Yes. Without it, pavers creep outward over time. Plastic, metal or concrete edging runs around the open edges, so the calculator gives the perimeter: 44 ft for a 10 × 12 patio.