Paver Patio Calculator
Plan the materials for your patio, layer by layer - pavers, base gravel, bedding sand, polymeric sand and edge restraint, with a shopping list ready for the store.
Results are planning estimates - see assumptions below.
Patio shape
Paver information
Your project
192
ft²
891
Pavers
3.84 US tons
Base gravel
0.88 US tons
Bedding sand
Materials
Calculated is the exact math. Purchase is what to actually buy - cuts and installation loss are already built in.
Pavers
Includes a planning allowance for cuts, which varies by laying pattern.
Calculated
824.93pavers
Allowance 8%
Purchase
891
pavers
Base gravel
The ordering allowance covers the loose-to-compacted volume difference — not a guarantee of physical compaction on site.
Calculated
2.37yd³
Allowance 20%
Purchase
3.84
US tons
Bedding sand
Screeded flat, not compacted with a plate — the allowance here covers spillage only.
Calculated
0.59yd³
Allowance 10%
Purchase
0.88
US tons
Polymeric sand
Estimated from paver and joint geometry. Coverage varies by product, joint width and joint depth — enter your product's coverage above for a tighter number.
Calculated
1.78ft³
Allowance 10%
Purchase
4
bags
Edge restraint
Piece count includes a cutting allowance. Spike count is based on the actual perimeter, not the extra material bought for cuts.
Calculated
58.8ft
Purchase
8
pieces
Spikes
Spacing is a planning assumption that varies by edge restraint manufacturer — check your product's instructions.
Purchase
52
spikes
Ready to buy
Your shopping list
- Pavers891 pavers
- Base gravel3.84 US tons
- Bedding sand0.88 US tons
- Polymeric sand4 bags
- Edge restraint8 pieces
- Spikes52 spikes
Learn how it works
What each layer means
Pavers
The surface material. Count depends on your patio's area, the paver's size, the joint width between pavers, and the laying pattern (some patterns waste more material in cuts than others).
Base gravel
The compacted layer beneath the patio that carries the load and provides drainage. Depth typically ranges 4-6 in for a pedestrian patio; more for anything vehicles will drive on.
Bedding sand
A thin, screeded (not compacted) layer that pavers sit on, giving a level, adjustable surface.
Polymeric sand
Fills the joints between pavers and locks them together. Quantity depends on paver size, joint width and joint depth, and varies by product.
Edge restraint & spikes
Holds the outer row of pavers in place so the whole patio doesn't spread over time.
How the calculation works
- Calculate the project's area and perimeter from its shape.
- Divide the area by the coverage of one paver (including half the joint on each side).
- Apply a waste allowance for cuts, based on the laying pattern.
- Calculate the compacted base volume from area and depth, then apply an ordering allowance for loose-to-compacted volume.
- Calculate bedding sand volume from area and depth (no compaction allowance - it's screeded flat).
- Estimate polymeric sand from joint geometry, or from your product's stated coverage if you provide it.
- Calculate edge restraint length from the perimeter, plus a cutting allowance for pieces.
- Calculate spike count from the real perimeter - never inflated by the material bought for cuts.
- Apply the purchase rule for each material: round discrete items (pavers, bags, edge restraint pieces, spikes) up to whole units; leave bulk materials (base gravel, bedding sand) as a continuous weight or volume.
Full formulas, defaults and sources are documented on the methodology page.
Worked example
A 20 x 12 ft patio, 8 x 4 in pavers, running bond, 0.125 in joints - calculated live by the same engine as the tool above, so it never drifts out of sync.
Important assumptions
Every default the calculator uses, labeled honestly: FACT (backed by exact math), ASSUMPTION (a planning estimate, always overridable), or USER INPUT (depends entirely on your project).
Base gravel ordering allowance (20%)
ASSUMPTIONCovers the difference between loose material you order and its compacted volume on site - not a guarantee of physical compaction. Based on an aggregate-ordering guide citing 1.15-1.25x as typical practice.
Aggregate density (2,700 lb/yd3)
ASSUMPTIONA planning figure reported consistently by suppliers for crushed stone and concrete sand. Not defined by any sizing standard - real density varies by rock type, moisture and gradation.
Waste percentage by laying pattern (6-20%)
ASSUMPTIONA consensus range from multiple installation guides, not an official standard. Complex patterns like herringbone waste more material than a simple running bond.
Polymeric sand quantity (geometric mode)
ASSUMPTIONEstimated from paver and joint geometry. Manufacturer coverage varies by product - switch to coverage mode once you've chosen a bag for a tighter number.
Edge restraint spike spacing
ASSUMPTIONVaries by manufacturer (12-20 in depending on product). Confirm your product's installation instructions before buying spikes to the exact count.
Paver size, joint width, project dimensions
USER INPUTAlways based on what you enter - the calculator never assumes a paver you haven't specified.
Geometry (area, perimeter, paver count before waste)
FACTExact arithmetic given your inputs - not an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for my patio?
Divide your patio's area by the area one paver covers (including half the joint width on each side), then add a planning allowance for cuts based on your laying pattern - simple patterns waste less than diagonal ones like herringbone. The calculator above does this automatically for the paver size and pattern you enter, and you can adjust the allowance in Advanced options.
How deep should a paver patio base be?
4 to 6 inches of compacted base gravel is the standard range for a pedestrian patio (driveways need more, 6-12 inches, for vehicle loads). This is a planning default in the calculator, not a code requirement - check your local building code if you're unsure.
How much polymeric sand do I need?
It depends on your paver size, joint width and joint depth - and on which product you buy, since coverage varies more than 2x between manufacturers at the same joint width. Use the geometric estimate above for early planning, or switch to "I know my product's coverage" in Advanced options once you've picked a bag.
Should I include a waste allowance?
Yes. Cutting pavers to fit edges and corners always wastes some material - more with diagonal patterns like herringbone, less with a simple running bond. The calculator applies a default based on your chosen pattern, which you can override.
What's the difference between calculated and purchase quantity?
Calculated is the exact math for your project's geometry. Purchase is what to actually buy: it adds the waste or ordering allowance for that layer. For discrete items - pavers, bags, edge restraint pieces, spikes - purchase quantity is rounded up, since you can't buy half a paver. For bulk materials like base gravel and bedding sand, purchase quantity stays as a continuous weight or volume, since suppliers typically sell those by the ton or yard rather than in fixed units.
How accurate is a paver patio calculator?
As accurate as its assumptions. Geometry (area, paver count before waste) is exact math. Waste percentages, base compaction allowance, and polymeric sand coverage are planning estimates - real installations vary with site conditions, cuts, and the specific product you buy. We label which is which below.
Can I calculate an irregular or L-shaped patio?
Yes - choose L-shape above and enter the overall rectangle plus the corner notch that's missing. For more complex shapes, split the project into rectangular sections and add the results together.
See the full methodology for every formula and source, or go back to all LayerTally calculators.