How it works
The calculator finds the paved area, adds your waste allowance and divides by the space one paver takes up including its joint. If you enter a base depth, it multiplies the paved area by that depth.
Area = Length × Width
Area with waste = Area × (1 + Waste ÷ 100)
Pavers = ⌈ Area with waste ÷ ((Paver length + Joint) × (Paver width + Joint)) ⌉
Base volume = Area × Base depth
⌈ ⌉ means rounding up to the next whole paver. All dimensions are converted to one internal unit first, so you can enter the patio in feet and the pavers in inches.
Worked example
Inputs
- Measure by
- Patio length × width
- Patio length
- 12 ft
- Patio width
- 10 ft
- Paver length
- 8 in
- Paver width
- 4 in
- Joint width
- 1/8 in
- Waste allowance
- 5 %
- Base depth (optional)
- 4 in
Result
- Paved area
- 120 sq ft
- Area incl. waste
- 126 sq ft
- Pavers
- 542
- Base material volume
- 1.48 cu yd (40 cu ft)
Common mistakes
- Using the paver’s nominal size instead of its actual size. Small differences add up over hundreds of pavers.
- Forgetting edge cuts. Curved borders, steps and anything that is not a straight run cut pavers that cannot be reused – set the waste allowance accordingly.
- Treating the base volume as the amount to order. Loose material settles when compacted, so you need more loose material than the compacted volume shown. Ask your supplier how much extra to allow for their material.
- Ignoring the border. If you use a different soldier or edge course, calculate it separately and subtract its area from the field.
Assumptions and limits
- The area is a rectangle, or you have entered its total paved area. Each paver plus its share of the joint covers (paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint).
- The count is an area estimate. It does not plan cuts or patterns, and mixed-size pattern kits must be calculated from the kit’s own coverage.
- Base volume is the paved area (without waste) × the depth you enter, as a compacted volume in place. It does not include extra for compaction, bedding sand or base extending past the paved edge.
- Pavers are rounded up to whole pieces. Pallets and bundles are not counted – check how many pavers your supplier sells per pallet.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra should I order for cuts?
It depends on the shape of the area and the pattern. A simple rectangle in a straight pattern needs the fewest cuts; curves, herringbone and diagonal layouts need more. The manufacturer’s installation guide or your supplier can give a figure for the product, and many people keep a few spares for future repairs.
Does the joint width matter?
Yes. Each paver occupies its own size plus one joint in each direction. The narrower the paver, the larger the share of the area taken by joints, so leaving the joint out slightly overstates the count.
How deep should the base be?
That depends on your soil, drainage, frost conditions and whether the surface carries foot traffic or vehicles. This calculator does not recommend a depth – use the paver manufacturer’s installation guide or ask a local professional, then enter the depth here to get the volume.
Can I convert the base volume to tons?
Only with the weight per volume of the specific material, which varies with the aggregate and how compacted it is. Ask your supplier for their figure, or use the gravel calculator.
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C – General Tables of Units of Measurement — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Exact unit definitions: 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 yd³ = 27 ft³, 1 US gal = 231 in³, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
Method reviewed November 2, 2026