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Paver calculator: pavers, base and sand for a patio
The short answer
Divide the area by the area of one paver, then add waste. A 16 by 12 foot patio is 192 square feet. With 8 by 4 inch pavers and 10% extra, that’s 951 pavers. Add the base and sand: at 6 inches of base and 1 inch of sand, that’s 3.56 and 0.59 cubic yards. Follow your paver maker for depth.
Enter the patio and the paver. You’ll get a count, plus cubic yards of base and sand, so the whole material list is on one page.
Pavers you need
951 pavers
192 square feet, with 10% extra for cuts.
- Gravel base
- 3.56 cubic yards
- Sand bed
- 0.59 cubic yards
- Each paver covers
- 0.22 sq ft
Price for this job
- Materials (951 × $1.25)
- $1,188.75
- Labor
- $0.00
- Markup
- $237.75
- Price to quote
- $1,426.50
How it works
Pavers = area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) ÷ paver area, where paver area = length (in) × width (in) ÷ 144. Base and sand = area × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27.
| Paver size | Pavers |
|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 450 |
| 6 × 6 in | 400 |
| 6 × 9 in | 267 |
| 12 × 12 in | 100 |
| 12 × 24 in | 50 |
Base depth
It depends on the load, the soil and the climate, so the calculator lets you change it. Driveways and soft ground need more than a garden walk. Your paver maker’s install guide is the source to go by.
Then price it with the gravel calculator for the base in tons, and put it all on a landscaping estimate.
Common questions
How many pavers do I need?
How much base goes under pavers?
How much sand do I need under pavers?
How much extra should I order?
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The next job starts with a phone call
CoveDesk picks up when you’re loading the truck, takes the details and texts them to you.