How many pavers do I need?
Divide the patio area by the area of one paver and add about 10% for cuts. A 16 × 12 ft patio is 192 sq ft, so with 12 × 12 in pavers you need 212 pavers. Under them, plan on 4 in of gravel base (3.65 tons) and 1 in of bedding sand (32 bags of 0.5 cu ft).
Worked example: a 16 × 12 ft patio
- Patio area: 16 × 12 = 192 sq ft.
- One 12 × 12 in paver covers 1 sq ft.
- Pavers with 10% extra: 192 × 1.10 = 211.2, rounded up to 212.
- Gravel base: 192 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 2.37 cu yd, plus 10% for compaction = 2.61 cu yd, or 3.65 tons at 1.4 tons per yard.
- Bedding sand: 192 × 1 ÷ 12 = 16 cu ft, which is 32 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
Pavers needed by paver size
For the same 16 × 12 ft patio with 10% extra. Pavers per square foot is 144 divided by the paver size in square inches.
| Paver size | One paver covers | Pavers per sq ft | Pavers for 192 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 0.222 sq ft | 4.50 | 951 |
| 6 × 6 in | 0.250 sq ft | 4.00 | 845 |
| 6 × 9 in | 0.375 sq ft | 2.67 | 564 |
| 12 × 12 in | 1.000 sq ft | 1.00 | 212 |
| 12 × 18 in | 1.500 sq ft | 0.67 | 141 |
| 16 × 16 in | 1.778 sq ft | 0.56 | 119 |
| 24 × 24 in | 4.000 sq ft | 0.25 | 53 |
Base and sand under pavers
Pavers rest on a compacted gravel base and a thin layer of bedding sand. The base carries the load and drains water; the sand lets you set each paver level.
| Use | Gravel base | Bedding sand |
|---|---|---|
| Patio or walkway | About 4 in compacted | About 1 in |
| Residential driveway | 6 in or more | About 1 in |
| Clay soil or cold climate | Add 2 to 4 in | About 1 in |
Dig deep enough for the base, the sand and the paver thickness together. With a 4 in base, 1 in of sand and 2⅜ in pavers, that is about 7⅜ in below the finished surface.
How the calculator works
Pavers = area ÷ (paver length × paver width ÷ 144) × (1 + extra %), rounded up
Gravel base (cu yd) = area × base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.10
Base weight (tons) = base cu yd × 1.4
Sand bags = area × sand depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 0.5, rounded up
Joint gaps are ignored, which adds a small margin. Pavers sold by the square foot or by the pallet list their coverage on the label; use that figure for the paver size if it differs. Joint sand is a separate, small purchase.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers are in a square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver size in square inches. A 4 × 8 in paver is 32 sq in, so 4.5 pavers cover one square foot; a 12 × 12 in paver covers exactly one.
How much extra should I buy for pavers?
About 5% for a plain square patio, 10% for most layouts and 15% for curves, circles or herringbone patterns with many cuts.
How deep should the gravel base be?
About 4 inches compacted for patios and walkways, and 6 inches or more for driveways. Add more for clay soil or areas with deep frost.
What sand goes under pavers?
Coarse concrete sand, about 1 inch deep, screeded flat. Fine play sand or mason sand does not hold pavers as well.
Sources
- The Home Depot, How to Install Patio Pavers
- Angi, How to Build a Paver Patio