Paver Patio Calculator
Calculate pavers, base gravel, sand and polymeric joint sand for any patio, walkway or driveway.
The paver calculator returns everything you need for a patio, walkway or paver driveway: pavers, base gravel, bedding sand and polymeric joint sand. Enter the area and paver size, choose your pattern (running bond, herringbone, basketweave or curved/circular) and the calculator applies the correct waste percentage. Herringbone and circular patterns waste the most material because every paver near the edge needs a custom cut. The gravel base depth depends on what the patio will hold up - 4 inches for foot traffic, 6 inches for furniture and grills, 8-12 inches for vehicle traffic.
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Frequently asked questions
A 12 ft x 10 ft patio is 120 sq ft. With 6x9 inch pavers (0.375 sq ft each) in a running bond pattern: 320 pavers exact, 336 with 5% waste. With 4x8 holland pavers in herringbone: 540 pavers exact, 621 with 15% waste. Herringbone needs more material because every edge piece is cut on a diagonal.
4 inches of compacted crushed stone for foot-traffic patios, walkways and pool decks. 6 inches for patios with heavy furniture, grills or outdoor kitchens. 8-12 inches for driveways and any area carrying vehicle weight. In cold climates, add 2-4 inches above these minimums to handle frost heave. Always compact the gravel in 2-inch lifts.
1 inch of bedding sand over the gravel base, screeded smooth. For a 100 sq ft patio that is about 8.3 cubic feet, or 0.5 tons of mason sand. Coarse mason sand or concrete sand works - never use play sand, which packs poorly and washes out. Bedding sand is different from polymeric joint sand, which goes in the gaps after the pavers are set.
Curved or circular patterns (20% waste) waste the most because every paver near a curve needs a custom cut. Herringbone (15% waste) is next - the 45 or 90 degree perimeter cuts add up. Running bond and basketweave are the most efficient at 5-10% waste. For DIY first-timers, running bond is much easier to lay straight.
Polymeric sand for almost every job. Mixed with water it activates a polymer binder that locks pavers in place, blocks weeds and resists washout. One 50lb bag covers 60-100 sq ft depending on paver size and joint width. Regular sand washes out within a year and grows weeds in the joints.