PAVER COUNT
About this calculator
This paver calculator estimates how many concrete or brick pavers you need for a patio, walkway, or driveway. Enter the project dimensions and the paver size sold at your supplier, choose the laying pattern (straight runs cost about 5% in cuts; 45° diagonal and herringbone climb to 15-20%), and the calculator returns the total piece count rounded up. The math is the project area divided by the area of a single paver, multiplied by the waste factor for the pattern. Brick-format 4×8 in pavers run 4.5 per ft² before waste; 12×12 in slabs run 1 per ft².
How to use this calculator
Measure your patio length and width in feet. For an L-shaped patio or one with a cutout (around an AC unit, tree, etc.), use the L-shape toggle and enter the cutout dimensions. Pick the paver size from the dropdown — the calculator already knows the area per paver for each common format (4×8 brick = 4.5/ft², 6×9 standard = 2.67/ft², 12×12 slab = 1/ft², etc.).
Choose the laying pattern: straight or running bond runs at 5% waste; 45° diagonal hits 15%; herringbone needs 20% because every perimeter piece requires a diagonal cut. The result is the total paver count rounded up. Order full pallets — most yards palletize at 100–144 ft² of standard pavers, so even if you only need 110 pavers, you'll buy a 200-paver pallet.
Worked example
For a 12 × 10 ft patio (120 ft²) using 6×9 standard pavers in a straight running bond:
Paver area: (6 × 9) ÷ 144 = 0.375 ft²/paver. Pavers per ft²: 1 ÷ 0.375 = 2.67. Pavers needed: 120 × 2.67 × 1.05 (5% waste) = 336 pavers.
At $1.50–$3 per 6×9 paver, materials run $500–$1,000. Add 4 inches of crushed stone base (1.5 yd³ = ~$60) and 1 inch of paver sand (0.4 yd³ = ~$30). Total materials around $600–$1,100.
Switching to herringbone: 120 × 2.67 × 1.20 = 384 pavers — 48 more pavers, $72–$144 more in materials, and significantly more cutting and labor. The pattern is worth it on visible patios but adds real cost.
Pro install runs $15–$30/ft² installed for standard patterns ($1,800–$3,600 for this patio); herringbone adds $5–$10/ft². DIY is doable for a small patio in a weekend with two people.
Common mistakes & waste factors
Skipping the base. Pavers laid directly on dirt heave with frost and shift with traffic within a year. 4 inches of crushed stone, compacted in 2-inch lifts, is non-negotiable.
Underordering for diagonal patterns. The 15% waste for 45° and 20% for herringbone are minimums. Add 2–3% if your patio has lots of curves or a circular border.
Forgetting edge restraint. Without a metal or plastic edge restraint around the perimeter, the pavers slowly migrate outward and the pattern fails. $30–$50 of edge restraint saves $1,000+ in repaving labor.
Using regular sand for joints. Polymeric sand (the kind that hardens with water) is the standard for paver joints. Regular sand washes out within a year and the joints fill with weeds.
Rules of thumb
Paver math (per ft²): 4×8 = 4.5 · 6×6 = 4 · 6×9 = 2.67 · 8×8 = 2.25 · 12×12 = 1 · 12×24 = 0.5.
Waste: 5% straight, 15% diagonal, 20% herringbone. Add 3% for circular or curved edges.
Base: 4 inches of compacted ¾-inch crushed stone, then 1 inch of paver sand for screeding.
Edge restraint: required around the perimeter or pavers walk outward over time.
Polymeric joint sand (not regular sand) for finished joints — locks pavers in place and resists weeds.
Common questions
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