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Paver Calculator

Enter the patio or walkway size and your paver size to see how many pavers to buy, plus the crushed-stone base, bedding sand and edge restraint underneath and around them.

12 ft16 ft

Your measurementsConcrete, masonry & paving

%
More for herringbone, curves or many cuts
6–8 in for patios and walks, 10–14 in for driveways
$

What to order

  • Pavers951 pavers
  • Patio area192 sq ft (211.2 with extra)
  • Gravel base (crushed stone)4.8 tons · 3.56 cu yd
  • Bedding sand0.8 tons · 0.59 cu yd
  • Edge restraint56 ft

What to measure

Diagram of a rectangle or square: measure the length and width
Rectangle or squareMeasure the length and width.
Diagram of a l-shape: measure the length, width, cut-out length and cut-out width
L-shapeMeasure the length, width, cut-out length and cut-out width.
Diagram of a circle: measure the diameter
CircleMeasure the diameter.

How to use the paver calculator

  1. Pick a rectangle, L-shape or circle and enter the size.
  2. Enter the paver size from the product label (length × width of the top face).
  3. Keep 10% for cuts, or more for a herringbone or curved layout.
  4. Set the base depth for the job: 6 in for a patio or walk, 10 in or more for a driveway.

The formula

  • Pavers = area × (1 + extra) × 144 ÷ (paver length × width in inches), rounded up
  • Base gravel = area × base depth (ft) ÷ 27 cu yd, × 1.35 tons per cu yd for crushed stone
  • Bedding sand = area × sand depth (ft) ÷ 27 cu yd, × 1.35 tons per cu yd
  • Edge restraint = the perimeter: 2 × (length + width), or π × diameter for a circle

Worked example: 12 × 16 ft patio, 4 × 8 in pavers

  • Area: 12 × 16 = 192 sq ft; plus 10% = 211.2 sq ft
  • Pavers: 211.2 × 4.5 = 950.4 → 951 pavers
  • Base: 192 × 0.5 ft = 96 cu ft = 3.56 cu yd → 4.8 tons of crushed stone
  • Sand: 192 × 1/12 ft = 16 cu ft = 0.59 cu yd → 0.8 tons
  • Edge restraint: 2 × (12 + 16) = 56 ft

Pavers per square foot

Paver size Per sq ft Per 100 sq ft (+10%)
4 × 8 in 4.5 495
6 × 6 in 4 440
6 × 9 in 2.67 294
12 × 12 in 1 110

Frequently asked questions

How many pavers do I need per square foot?

144 ÷ (paver length × width in inches). That is 4.5 pavers per sq ft for 4 × 8 in, 4 for 6 × 6 in, 2.67 for 6 × 9 in and 1 for 12 × 12 in, before the extra for cuts.

How many pavers do I need for a 12 × 16 patio?

192 sq ft of 4 × 8 in pavers is 864 pavers; with 10% extra for cuts, buy 951. The calculator also gives about 4.8 tons of base gravel at 6 inches and 0.8 tons of bedding sand at 1 inch.

How deep should the gravel base be under pavers?

Unilock's installation guide calls for 6–8 inches of compacted gravel under patios and walkways, 6–12 inches under pool decks, and 10–14 inches under driveways, with 1 inch of coarse bedding sand on top.

How much slope does a paver patio need?

Unilock recommends sloping it away from the house by at least 2%, about 1/4 inch per foot. A patio that runs 16 ft out from the wall should drop about 4 inches.

Do I need edge restraint around pavers?

Yes, on every open edge. It keeps the pavers from spreading and shifting sideways. Plastic or metal edging works; Unilock says to spike it into the compacted base. The calculator gives the perimeter as a starting length.

How many extra pavers should I buy?

The calculator starts at 10% for cuts and breakage. Use more for herringbone or diagonal patterns, curved edges or a layout with many corners, and keep a few spares for later repairs.

Sources

Formulas and defaults last reviewed October 30, 2026. How we check our math.