Paver calculator: pavers, base gravel and sand
For a 12 x 16 ft patio, buy about 589 pavers of 6 x 9 in laid in herringbone: 192 sq ft plus 15% waste. Under them goes 4 to 6 in of compacted gravel base (8 to 12 in for driveways), about 6.6 tons here, and a 1 in layer of bedding sand.
Updated · By the Interior Redesign AI editorial team · Sources cited on the page
Pavers to buy
589 pavers
220.8 sq ft including 15% pattern waste.
Base gravel
4.7 cu yd
about 6.6 tons at 6 in compacted
Bedding sand
0.59 cu yd
1 in layer, not compacted
| Patio area | 192 sq ft |
|---|---|
| One paver face | 0.38 sq ft |
| Base area (extends past each edge by the base depth) | 221 sq ft |
| Base volume incl. 15% compaction allowance | 4.7 cu yd |
| Base weight at 1.4 tons per cu yd (assumption) | 6.6 tons |
| Pavers to buy | 589 |
- OK6 in of base is within or above the 4-6 in Unilock gives for walkways and patios. Clay or wet soil needs more.
Planning estimate. Order pavers by the square foot or pallet from the maker's coverage chart, and ask the supplier for its base stone's weight per cubic yard.
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Key numbers
- Base for patios and walkways
- 4-6 in of compacted aggregate (Unilock)
- Base for driveways
- 8-12 in of compacted aggregate (Unilock)
- Bedding sand
- 1 in of bedding sand (Belgard's section), screeded and not compacted before the pavers go down (Unilock)
- Base past the edges
- Extend the base beyond the paved edge by the base depth (Unilock)
- Pattern waste
- 10% straight lay; 15-20% herringbone, diagonal or curved (Western Interlock)
- Compaction lifts
- Compact the base in 3-4 in layers (Unilock)
Worked example
A 12 x 16 ft herringbone patio
6 x 9 in pavers in herringbone, foot traffic only, 6 in base.
- Area: 16 × 12 = 192 sq ft. One paver: 9 × 6 ÷ 144 = 0.375 sq ft.
- Pavers: 192 × 1.15 ÷ 0.375 = 589 (rounded up).
- Base pad: (16 + 1) × (12 + 1) = 221 sq ft at 0.5 ft deep, plus 15% for compaction = 127.1 cu ft, 4.7 cu yd.
- Base weight: 4.71 cu yd × 1.4 = 6.6 tons.
- Sand: 192 sq ft × 1/12 ft = 16 cu ft, about 0.59 cu yd.
Order 589 pavers, about 6.6 tons of base stone and 16 cu ft of bedding sand.
How we calculate
Pavers: patio area divided by the face area of one paver, plus a cutting allowance for the pattern. We use Western Interlock's 10% for straight lay, 15% for herringbone and 20% (the top of its 15-20% band) for diagonal or curved layouts. Joints are not subtracted, which leaves a small extra.
Base: the base pad is the patio plus a border on every side equal to the base depth, as Unilock recommends, times the compacted depth. Our defaults are 6 in for patios (the top of Unilock's 4-6 in and the depth in Belgard's worked example) and 10 in for driveways (the middle of 8-12 in); you can type your own.
Assumptions, labeled: we add 15% to the base because loose stone compacts, and convert to tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a typical figure for crushed stone. Both vary by quarry, so ask your supplier and change the allowance in the widget.
Bedding sand is a 1 in layer over the patio area only.
Estimates, sources
Planning estimates and published guidelines, not quotes, designs or code rulings. Figures were checked on each source on the date shown. Local prices, your home and your jurisdiction's adopted code decide the real answer.
- Do's and Don'ts of Paver Installation, Step 2 of 3: Base Preparation (Unilock, as of Oct 26, 2026): base 4 to 6 in for pedestrian walkways, 8 to 12 in for driveways; compact in 3-4 in layers; extend the base past the paved edge by the base depth (undated page)
- Technical Resource Guide (document BEL25-D-516650), base and bedding (Belgard, as of Oct 26, 2026): example section: 6 in compacted base, 1 in sand bedding, 2 3/8 in paver; place the base in two or three lifts (year inferred from the document code)
- How to calculate paver stones needed for your project (Western Interlock, as of Oct 26, 2026): add 10% for straight-lay patterns; add 15-20% for diagonal, herringbone or curved layouts (June 2025)
Pavers per 100 square feet by size
Before waste, a square foot holds 144 square inches of paver face. Multiply by your pattern's allowance before you order.
| Paver size | Straight lay | Herringbone |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 8 in brick-size | 495 | 518 |
| 6 x 9 in | 294 | 307 |
| 12 x 12 in | 110 | 115 |
| 24 x 24 in slab | 28 | 29 |
Why the base matters more than the pavers
Most paver failures, such as ruts, sunken corners and wobbly stones, come from the base, not the pavers. Unilock asks for the base to be compacted in 3-4 in layers and extended past the edge, and notes that clay soils need deeper excavation for drainage.
The bedding sand is a thin leveling layer, not a structural one: Belgard's example section shows 1 in, and Unilock says to screed it and leave it uncompacted until the pavers are on and plate-compacted.
How to use this tool
Measure the patio
Length and width; split an L-shape into two rectangles and add them.
Pick the paver and pattern
Enter the paver's face size and the laying pattern, which sets the waste.
Choose the use
Foot traffic or cars, which sets the base depth; type your own depth if your plan says otherwise.
Read the order
Pavers, base in cubic yards and tons, and bedding sand.
Questions
How many pavers do I need for 100 square feet?
It depends on size: about 495 pavers of 4 x 8 in, or 294 of 6 x 9 in, with 10% added for straight lay. Herringbone needs about 15% extra instead of 10%.
How deep should the gravel base be under pavers?
Unilock gives 4-6 in of compacted base for walkways and patios and 8-12 in for driveways. Go deeper on clay or poorly drained soil.
How much sand goes under pavers?
About 1 in of bedding sand, screeded level and not compacted before the pavers go down. That is roughly 8.3 cu ft per 100 sq ft.
How many tons of gravel do I need for a paver patio?
For a 12 x 16 ft patio on a 6 in base with a border and a 15% compaction allowance, about 6.6 tons. We use 1.4 tons per cubic yard, an assumption; your supplier's figure may differ.
How much extra should I order for cuts?
Western Interlock suggests 10% for straight-lay patterns and 15-20% for herringbone, diagonal or curved layouts.
Should the base be wider than the patio?
Yes. Unilock recommends extending the base past the paved edge by the same distance as the base depth, so a 6 in base runs 6 in beyond each edge.
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