Paver Calculator
Paver count with the right cutting waste for your pattern, plus the base, bedding and jointing sand that go under and between them.
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Results
Working
- area = 16 x 12 = 192 sq ft
- paver footprint = (6 + 0.1 joint) x (9 + 0.1) = 55.9 sq in
- pavers per sq ft = 144 / 55.9 = 2.58
- exact count = 192 x 2.58 = 495
- with waste = 495 x 1.15 = 569, rounded up
- base = 192 x 4 / 12 x 1.25 compaction / 27 = 2.96 cu yd
- fall = 12 ft x 1/4 in per ft = 3 in across the width
Quick answer
Divide the area by the face area of one paver plus its joint, then add cutting waste: about 5% for straight patterns, 10 to 15% for herringbone, and 20% where the edges curve. The base underneath usually costs more than the pavers, at four inches of compacted gravel for a patio and eight for a driveway.
pavers = area sq ft x 144 / ((paver w + joint) x (paver l + joint)) x (1 + waste)
Worked example
A 16 ft by 12 ft patio in 6 x 9 in holland pavers, laid 45 degree herringbone, with three open edges.
Working
- area = 16 x 12 = 192 sq ft
- paver footprint = (6 + 0.1 joint) x (9 + 0.1) = 55.9 sq in
- pavers per sq ft = 144 / 55.9 = 2.58
- exact count = 192 x 2.58 = 495
- with waste = 495 x 1.15 = 569, rounded up
- base = 192 x 4 / 12 x 1.25 compaction / 27 = 2.96 cu yd
- fall = 12 ft x 1/4 in per ft = 3 in across the width
The waste allowance is what separates a finished patio from one job short. A 45 degree herringbone puts an angled cut on nearly every perimeter unit and half of each cut is unusable, so 15% is realistic rather than cautious.
Pavers per square foot by size
Counts at a 1/8 in joint. Multiply by your own area over a hundred, then use the column matching your pattern.
| Paver | Per sq ft | Per 100 sq ft | +5% straight | +15% herringbone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 8 in brick | 4.3 | 430 | 452 | 495 |
| 6 x 6 in square | 3.84 | 384 | 404 | 442 |
| 6 x 9 in holland | 2.58 | 258 | 271 | 297 |
| 8 x 8 in square | 2.18 | 219 | 230 | 251 |
| 12 x 12 in slab | 0.98 | 98 | 103 | 113 |
| 16 x 16 in slab | 0.55 | 56 | 59 | 64 |
| 18 x 18 in slab | 0.44 | 44 | 47 | 51 |
A wider joint means fewer pavers, which is why the joint has to be decided before ordering rather than on the day.
At a glance
| What it does | Paver count with pattern waste, plus base, bedding and jointing materials |
|---|---|
| Inputs needed | Area, paver size, joint width, laying pattern, what the surface carries |
| Main output | Pavers to order |
| Formula | pavers = area x 144 / ((w + joint) x (l + joint)) x (1 + waste) |
| Category | Home & DIY |
| Cost | Free, no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Paver Calculator
- Measure the area and enter the length and width. Break irregular shapes into rectangles.
- Measure the edges that are not against a wall, since those need restraint.
- Pick the paver and set the joint width before anything else, because the joint changes the count.
- Choose the pattern honestly: herringbone and curves genuinely waste more than a running bond.
- Order the base and bedding at the same time. They are usually the larger delivery.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need per square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver face area in square inches, including the joint. A 6 by 9 in paver at an eighth inch joint covers about 0.39 sq ft, so you need roughly 2.6 per square foot.
How much extra should I order for cutting?
Five per cent for running or stack bond, ten for 90 degree herringbone, fifteen for 45 degree herringbone, and twenty where edges curve. The waste comes from perimeter cuts, so a long thin area wastes more than a square one of the same size.
How deep should the base be under pavers?
Four inches of compacted crusher run for a patio or path, eight for a driveway, plus about an inch of screeded sharp sand for bedding. Add the paver thickness and you are excavating seven to eleven inches.
What is the right fall for a patio?
A quarter inch per foot, running away from the building. That is enough to shed water without being noticeable underfoot. Level paving ponds, and water sitting under paving is what lifts it when it freezes.
Do I need edge restraint?
On every edge not held by a wall. Without it the outer course leans out under load, the joints open, the jointing sand washes out and the failure works inwards from the edge.
Polymeric sand or plain sand for joints?
Polymeric resists washout and weeds but has to be installed dry and watered exactly as the bag says or it hazes the surface. Plain kiln-dried sand is more forgiving and easier to top up later.
Counts assume a rectangular area laid to a regular pattern. Complex shapes, inset borders and soldier courses all raise the waste figure. Order from the tool, then walk the perimeter and add for any feature that puts a cut where a whole unit would otherwise sit.
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