Paver Calculator
Number of pavers and base material for a patio, path or driveway, with a cut allowance.
The paver count is the easy part. What actually determines whether a patio is still flat in five years is what goes underneath: four to six inches of compacted aggregate base, an inch of bedding sand, and edge restraint that stops the field from creeping outward.
Pattern choice changes the number more than people expect. A running bond laid square to the house wastes almost nothing at the edges. Herringbone, basketweave and anything with a curved border cuts far more pavers in half — budget 12 to 15% rather than the 8% default, and keep the offcuts because they make good repair stock.
How this calculator works
Every field is editable and the result updates as you type — nothing is submitted anywhere, all the maths runs in your browser. That matters for a number you are about to spend money on: you can see exactly which input moved the answer, and by how much.
What this calculation assumes
Assumes pavers laid tight on an inch of bedding sand over compacted base, with an 8% cut allowance. Patterns with many edge cuts, curved borders, and any old surface that must be removed push both material and labour beyond these figures.
Treat the result as an order-of-magnitude check rather than a final quantity. Product packaging changes, regional labour rates vary by a factor of two, and no calculator has seen your actual site.
Frequently asked questions
Do pavers need a sand base?
Yes — an inch of coarse bedding sand over a compacted gravel base. The sand levels the surface and locks the pavers together; the gravel provides drainage and structural support. Sand alone over soil will settle unevenly within a season.
How many extra pavers should I buy?
Eight percent for a simple straight-laid patio, twelve to fifteen for herringbone or curved edges, and a spare bundle kept aside for repairs. Paver colours shift between production runs, so a later replacement may not match even from the same product line.
Do pavers crack in freezing weather?
Good pavers rarely crack — what fails is the base. In freeze-thaw regions the base must drain, which means compacted gravel, a geotextile separator over subsoil, and grading away from the house. Without drainage, water expands under the pavers and heaves the whole field.
Related calculators
Same category, and a couple you will probably need next.