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Paver Calculator

A 10 by 12 ft patio (120 sq ft) needs 132 pavers using 12 by 12 in pavers with 10% waste. Enter your patio length and width, the paver size in inches, and a waste percentage to get the number of pavers to order. The calculator converts paver size to square feet and rounds up so you have enough for cuts along the edges.

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Quick answer

Patio area is the length times the width in feet.

What this tells you

  • Patio area is the length times the width in feet.
  • Paver area in square feet is the paver length times width in inches, divided by 144.
  • Pavers needed is the patio area plus waste, divided by the area of one paver, rounded up.

How to Use

  1. 1Enter the patio length and width in feet.
  2. 2Enter the paver length and width in inches (12 by 12 is a common size).
  3. 3Set a waste percentage to cover cuts and breakage (10% is typical).
  4. 4Click Calculate to see how many pavers to order.

How It Works

Formula

Patio Area = Length(ft) x Width(ft) Paver Area = Paver Length(in) x Paver Width(in) / 144 Pavers Needed = ceil(Patio Area x (1 + Waste% / 100) / Paver Area)

The patio area and each paver are both converted to square feet, then the patio area is divided by the paver area to get a paver count. A waste factor is added before rounding up so the order covers edge cuts and broken pieces.

Calculation note: values are processed in the order shown above, using the current input units.

Worked Examples

10 by 12 ft patio with 12 by 12 in pavers

Patio Length10 ft
Patio Width12 ft
Paver Size12 x 12 in
Waste10%
Result132 pavers

Patio area is 120 sq ft. Each 12 by 12 in paver covers 1 sq ft. Pavers = ceil(120 x 1.10 / 1) = 132.

10 by 10 ft patio with 6 by 6 in pavers

Patio Length10 ft
Patio Width10 ft
Paver Size6 x 6 in
Waste10%
Result440 pavers

Patio area is 100 sq ft. Each 6 by 6 in paver covers 0.25 sq ft. Pavers = ceil(100 x 1.10 / 0.25) = 440.

Pavers per 100 sq ft by Paver Size

Approximate paver counts for 100 square feet of coverage with a 10% waste allowance.

Paver Size (in)Pavers per 100 sq ft
12x12110
6x6440
6x9294
4x8495
16x1662

Counts include 10% waste. Round to full bundles or pallets when you order.

Estimating Patio Pavers and Base

Paver count starts with the area of the patio and the area of a single paver. Once both are in the same units, the patio area divided by the paver area gives the raw count. The waste percentage covers the partial pavers you cut to fit along curved or angled edges.

Pavers also need a compacted base. A common approach is 4 to 6 inches of crushed gravel topped with about 1 inch of bedding sand, though the depth depends on the soil and the load the patio carries. Estimate the gravel and sand separately so the base order is not left out.

Order full bundles or pallets rather than exact counts. Suppliers sell pavers in set quantities, and having a few spares on hand makes future repairs easier when a single paver cracks or settles.

Gravel calculator

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting to add waste, which leaves no pavers for edge cuts or breakage
  • Mixing units by entering paver size in feet instead of inches
  • Ignoring the gravel and sand base, which is a separate material order
  • Ordering an exact count instead of rounding up to full bundles or pallets

Frequently Asked Questions

Divide your patio area in square feet by the area of one paver in square feet, then add a waste allowance and round up. For a 120 sq ft patio with 12 by 12 in pavers (1 sq ft each) and 10% waste, you need ceil(120 x 1.10 / 1) = 132 pavers.
Divide 144 by the area of one paver in square inches. A 12 by 12 in paver is 144 sq in, so 144 / 144 = 1 paver per square foot. A 6 by 6 in paver is 36 sq in, so 144 / 36 = 4 pavers per square foot.
Most patios use about 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed gravel under a 1 inch sand bed, though the depth depends on your soil and the load. Heavier use or soft soil calls for a deeper base. Estimate the gravel as a separate material from the pavers.
Plan on a roughly 1 inch bedding sand layer under the pavers plus polymeric sand to fill the joints. Joint sand use depends on paver thickness and joint width, so check the bag coverage on the polymeric sand you buy.
Add about 10% for a square or rectangular patio. Use 10% to 15% for patios with curves, angles, or a herringbone pattern, because those layouts produce more cut pieces along the edges.
It estimates paver calculator outputs using the visible inputs and formula assumptions on this page.

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