How to Calculate Pavers for a Patio or Walkway
Calculating the number of pavers you need for a hardscaping project involves finding the total square footage of your project area, finding the square footage of a single paver, and dividing the project area by the paver area. Finally, you must add a standard 10% "waste factor" to account for cuts, breakages, and mistakes.
- 144 = The number of square inches in one square foot. Dividing by 144 perfectly converts your paver's inch measurements into square feet.
- 1.10 = The multiplier used to add the mandatory 10% waste buffer.
Always round your final calculation up to the nearest whole paver. If your project has a lot of curves, circular patterns, or extreme angles, you may want to increase the waste factor to 15% to compensate for the heavy amount of custom cutting required.
| Paver Size (Inches) | Square Feet per Paver | Pavers per 100 Sq Ft (No Waste) |
|---|---|---|
| 4" × 8" (Standard Brick) | 0.22 sq ft | ~450 pavers |
| 8" × 8" | 0.44 sq ft | ~225 pavers |
| 12" × 12" | 1.00 sq ft | 100 pavers |
| 16" × 16" | 1.78 sq ft | ~57 pavers |
| 24" × 24" | 4.00 sq ft | 25 pavers |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to add an extra 10% for waste?
Hardscaping projects almost never utilize entirely whole pavers. When you reach the edges of your patio or walkway, you will need to cut pavers to fit the borders. The leftover cut halves are often unusable elsewhere in the pattern. Adding 10% ensures you have enough material to cover these edge cuts and any accidental breakages that happen during installation.
How much base material do I need under my pavers?
For standard pedestrian walkways and patios, industry standards recommend a foundation consisting of 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel (class 5 or 3/4" minus) followed by exactly 1 inch of leveling sand. For driveways bearing vehicular traffic, the gravel base should be increased to 8 to 12 inches depending on your soil type.
Do I need to buy polymeric sand?
While you can use regular fine sand to sweep into the joints of your pavers, polymeric sand is highly recommended. It contains special binding agents that harden when exposed to water, effectively locking the pavers in place, deterring weed growth, and preventing insects like ants from nesting between the stones.