Calculate how many pavers you need for patios, walkways, and driveways. Includes paver sand, gravel base, and polymeric sand estimates.
10% waste recommended
Estimates only — paver sizes vary by manufacturer. Base material depth depends on soil conditions and intended use.
Building a 12×16 foot patio with 6×9 inch pavers in a running bond pattern at 10% waste? The area is 192 square feet, requiring approximately 564 pavers. For the base, you need about 2.4 cubic yards of gravel (3.2 tons), 0.6 cubic yards of leveling sand, and 8 bags of polymeric sand. At $0.50–$1.50 per paver, the pavers alone cost $282–$846.
| Patio Size | 4×8 in (10%) | 6×9 in (10%) | 12×12 in (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8×10 ft (80 sqft) | 396 | 235 | 88 |
| 10×12 ft (120 sqft) | 594 | 352 | 132 |
| 12×16 ft (192 sqft) | 950 | 564 | 212 |
| 14×20 ft (280 sqft) | 1,386 | 822 | 308 |
| 16×24 ft (384 sqft) | 1,901 | 1,128 | 423 |
It depends on the paver size. Standard 4×8 inch brick pavers: 4.5 per sqft. 6×9 inch: 2.67 per sqft. 12×12 inch: 1 per sqft. Always add 10% waste for straight layouts, 15% for herringbone or diagonal.
4 inches of compacted gravel for patios and walkways. 6–8 inches for driveways. Top with 1 inch of leveling sand before setting pavers. In areas with poor drainage or freeze-thaw cycles, go deeper.
Running bond is the easiest to lay and wastes the least material. Herringbone is the strongest for driveways because it locks pavers together under load. Basketweave gives a classic look with moderate difficulty.
1 inch of leveling sand over the compacted gravel base. For a 200 sqft patio, that's about 0.6 cubic yards of sand. Don't use more than 1.5 inches — too much sand causes pavers to shift and settle unevenly.
Yes. Without edge restraints, pavers along the perimeter will gradually shift outward. Use plastic or aluminum paver edging staked into the gravel base along the entire perimeter.
Typical Results
💡 Order base gravel in tons: a 4" base at 1.4 tons per yd³ means roughly 0.6 tons per 100 sq ft.
Common Mistakes