Plus base and sand
Paver calculator
Paver count for any shape, plus the two materials people forget to price: the compacted gravel base and the one-inch sand bed.
OrderExact · https://orderexact.com/pavers/
Sizes and allowances
| Option | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway, foot traffic | 4 in base | Compacted crushed stone in two 2-inch lifts. |
| Patio | 4–6 in base | Six inches on clay or poorly drained soil. |
| Driveway | 8–12 in base | Plus a thicker paver. This is a different job from a patio. |
| Bedding sand | 1 in | Screeded and never compacted before laying. Not a leveling layer. |
| Cutting waste | 5–10% | Five percent for a rectangle, ten where there are curves or angles. |
Three materials, not one
The paver count is the easy part. Underneath sits 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone and a screeded 1-inch sand bed, and both of those are calculated above from the measurements you entered.
The base extends past the paver edge by about 6 inches on every side so the perimeter has something to sit on. The base figure above includes that collar, which is why it covers more ground than the pavers do. On a narrow walkway the collar is most of the difference: a 20 by 3 foot path is 60 square feet of paver over 84 square feet of base.
One inch of sand, no more
Bedding sand is not for leveling. It is a thin, uniform screeded layer that lets each paver seat evenly. Using sand to correct dips in a bad base is the single most reliable way to get a wavy patio within a year.
Get the base flat and properly compacted, then screed exactly an inch of coarse concrete sand across it. If you find yourself pouring 3 inches of sand into a low spot, stop and fix the base.
Joint sand and edging finish the job
After laying, sweep polymeric sand into the joints and compact the surface. Without it, joints wash out and pavers start to wander.
Edge restraint spiked into the base holds the perimeter. A patio without restraint spreads at the edges, opens up joints, and fails from the outside in — and the fix is relaying it.
Common questions
How many pavers do I need?
Divide the area by the coverage of one paver. A 12 by 12 inch paver covers 1 square foot, so a 200 square foot patio needs 200 pavers plus 5 to 10 percent for cuts.
How much base do I need under pavers?
Four inches of compacted crushed stone for a walkway or patio, six on poorly drained soil, and 8 to 12 inches for a driveway. Compact in 2-inch lifts.
How much sand goes under pavers?
One inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded level. One cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at that depth.
How much extra should I order for cuts?
Five percent for a simple rectangle, ten percent where there are curves, angles or obstacles to work around.
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