Paver and Patio Calculator
Enter the patio size and your paver size (or the pieces per sq ft from the supplier), then the base and bedding sand depths.
How it works
Pavers per sq ft = 144 ÷ (paver length × width in inches), or the supplier's pieces per sq ft. Pavers = area × (1 + allowance) × pavers per sq ft, rounded up. Base = area × base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 cu yd; sand the same with the sand depth. Cubes = area with allowance ÷ coverage per cube.
Worked example: Keystone: 4 × 8 in Holland Stone = 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5 pieces per sq ft; a 96 sq ft cube holds 432. A 20 × 10 ft patio (200 sq ft) + 10% = 990 pavers, 3 cubes, 2.47 cu yd of 4 in base and 16.7 cu ft of 1 in sand.
Assumptions
- Paver sizes are nominal (the size that includes the joint). Keystone's 4 × 8 in Holland Stone is 4.5 pieces per sq ft and 96 sq ft (432 pieces) per cube; check your product's sheet for pieces per sq ft.
- Base depth default 4 in: ICPI recommends a minimum 4 in base for pedestrian areas such as patios and walkways; weak soils, cold climates and driveways need more. Bedding sand default 1 in, as ICPI's consumer guide describes (no thicker than 1½ in).
- Base volume is the compacted depth. Loose stone compacts, so order more by weight; the gravel calculator has compacted tons-per-yard factors.
- Waste default 10% is an editable JobsiteCalc default for cuts; herringbone, curves and borders need more. Edge restraint and joint sand are not included.
- This is a quantity estimate only, not a pavement design. Check local codes and the paver maker's installation guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers are in a square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver's length × width in inches. A 4 × 8 in paver is 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5 per sq ft, which matches Keystone's published figure for Holland Stone.
How deep should the base be for a paver patio?
ICPI recommends a minimum 4 in compacted aggregate base for pedestrian areas such as patios and walkways; soil, drainage and climate can call for more. Check local codes and your paver maker's guide.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
ICPI's consumer guide describes about 1 in of bedding sand. At 1 in, 100 sq ft needs 8.3 cu ft (0.31 cu yd).
Related calculators
- Gravel calculator (cubic yards and tons)
- Retaining wall block calculator
- Asphalt calculator (tons)
- Concrete calculator (bags and cubic yards)
- Square footage calculator
Sources
Formulas and reference values are from these sources. Page content last updated 2026-10-19.
- Keystone Hardscapes product and technical guide (Holland Stone 4 × 8: 4.5 pieces/sq ft, 96 sq ft per cube)
- ICPI (now CMHA): Building your interlocking concrete pavement to last a lifetime (minimum 4 in base for patios and walkways)
- ICPI Concrete paver consumer guide (bedding sand screeded about 1 in, no thicker than 1½ in)
- NIST Guide to the SI (SP 811), Appendix B.9: conversion factors (foot = 0.3048 m, ton, pound)