Divide your patio area in square feet by the coverage of one paver, then add 5 to 10 percent for cuts and breakage (10 to 15 percent for diagonal or curved patterns). A standard 4 in. x 8 in. paver covers about 0.22 sq. ft., so a 10 ft. x 12 ft. patio (120 sq. ft.) needs roughly 545 pavers before waste, or about 600 with a 10 percent allowance. This guide gives the formula, the base and sand you need under the pavers, and the paver sizes we stock.
How do you calculate the number of pavers?
Measure length times width for each area, add the areas together, then divide by one paver's face area. Use actual dimensions, not nominal ones, and subtract any planter or post cutouts.
Pavers per square foot by size
The table shows approximate counts before waste; check the product page for exact sizes.
| Paver size |
Per sq. ft. |
Style |
Use |
| 4 x 8 in. |
About 4.5 |
Brick |
Patios, walks |
| 4 x 7-3/4 in. |
About 4.6 |
Holland |
Patios, walks |
| 3 x 11-13/16 in. |
About 4.1 |
Plank |
Walkways |
Add waste for cuts
Straight running bond or stack bond layouts need about 5 to 10 percent extra. Herringbone, diagonal and curved layouts need 10 to 15 percent. Buy all pavers at once, because color can vary from pallet to pallet.
Which pavers do we stock?
Our pavers collection includes the 4 in. x 7-3/4 in. x 2-1/4 in. tan concrete paver, the 3-15/16 in. x 7-7/8 in. brown concrete paver and the long Planc grey concrete paver. For a fired-clay look, the red clay paver is listed for pedestrian areas and light vehicle traffic, with each pallet covering 128 sq. ft. The concrete pavers above are not rated for vehicular traffic, so for driveways confirm the rating on the product page. For a budget option, the gray concrete brick is sized 4 in. x 8 in. and suits garden, walkway or patio use.
How much base and sand do you need?
Pavers sit on compacted aggregate base topped with a bedding layer of sand. Typical patio and walkway builds use about 4 to 6 in. of compacted base and 1 in. of bedding sand; driveways need a deeper base, often 8 to 12 in. Check the plans and local requirements for your site.
Calculate base and sand volume
Volume in cubic feet is area times depth in feet. A 120 sq. ft. patio with a 4 in. base needs 120 x 0.33 = about 40 cu. ft., or roughly 1.5 cu. yd., before compaction. Add 10 to 15 percent for compaction. Bedding sand at 1 in. adds about 10 cu. ft. for the same patio. Our sand, gravel and base rock guide explains which aggregate to order for each layer.
Bedding and joint sand
Use the 48 lb. brown paver sand for leveling and joint filling, or the 50 lb. all-purpose sand, which is a washed coarse sand listed as an underlayment for brick pavers and flagstones. Browse the concrete aggregates collection for bulk base options.
Los Angeles notes
Southern California soils range from sandy to expansive clay, and hillside lots need drainage planned before paving. Slope pavers at least 1/8 in. per foot away from the house, and keep gravel and base from washing out during winter storms. If your patio meets a slope, see our retaining walls guide. In dry months, concrete-paver patios are an easy drought-friendly replacement for turf; pair them with decorative gravel for water-wise yards.
Paver takeoff checklist
- Measure each area and subtract cutouts
- Divide by paver face area
- Add 5 to 10 percent waste, more for angled patterns
- Calculate base and sand by area times depth
- Order all pavers at once for color match
- Plan slope and drainage before you dig
Conclusions
Area divided by paver size, plus waste, gives your paver count; area times depth gives your base and sand. Order pavers, aggregate and joint sand together so the job moves from excavation to finish without waiting on deliveries.
