CALCULATION METHOD
How many pavers do I need?
Calculate the paved surface area, subtract excluded spaces, and add a cutting and breakage allowance. Divide that order area by one paver’s face area and round up. If ordering full pallets, divide by pieces per pallet and round up again.
Order area = net paved area × (1 + waste allowance)
Pavers = order area ÷ paver face area, rounded up
Loose base volume = area × compacted depth × compaction factor
Bedding sand volume = area × sand depth
12 × 16 ft patio example
A 12 × 16 ft patio has 192 sq ft. With 5% extra, plan for 201.6 sq ft. An 8 × 4 in paver has a 0.222 sq ft face area, so the estimate is 908 pavers. At 200 pavers per pallet, that is five full pallets.
Patio paver calculator and pavers per square foot
Enter the actual face dimensions of a single paver. Smaller units require more pieces per square foot; mixed-size modular patterns should use the square-foot coverage published for the complete pattern or pallet rather than one component size.
Paver base calculator
The calculator starts with a 4-inch compacted aggregate base and a 1.25 loose-material factor. Belgard describes 4–6 inches as typical, with depth influenced by soil and application. Driveways and weak soils may require deeper engineered sections.
Paver sand calculator
The default bedding layer is 1 inch. This is separate from jointing sand. Joint sand usage varies substantially with paver dimensions, thickness, joint width, pattern, and product, so use the exact manufacturer’s coverage chart or calculator.
Edge restraint and cost
For the main rectangle, edge restraint equals its perimeter. Add any extra exposed edges manually. The cost combines full pallets or individual pavers, whole bags of base and bedding sand, and edge length; it excludes labor, excavation, delivery, tax, geotextile, joint sand, drainage, tools, and disposal.
The Home Depot patio paver guide for area measurement and example base and sand layers; Belgard installation guidance for compacted aggregate and bedding sand depth; QUIKRETE product calculators for product-specific paver and joint-sand coverage. Accessed September 11, 2026.