How many pavers do I need?
Multiply the area by the pavers per square foot for your paver, then add 5% for cuts, or 10% if the layout has many cuts.
pavers = square feet × pavers per sq ft × 1.05
Oregon State Extension advises always adding 5% for pavers cut to fit curves and odd spaces, and 10% when you know you will cut a lot of them.[3] Iowa State notes that complicated laying patterns use 5–10% more pavers than simple ones.[4] Split L-shaped or curved patios into rectangles, circles and triangles, as in the irregular area guide, and add each part in the calculator.
Pavers per square foot by size
A 4 × 8 in Holland paver lays at about 4.6–4.8 per square foot because real pavers are slightly smaller than their name.
Unilock's Hollandstone measures 7.875 × 3.875 in and lists 4.58 units per sq ft;[1] another maker's 3.85 × 7.79 in Holland paver lists 4.8.[2] For other sizes the table divides 144 square inches by the nominal size, which gives the minimum; check the maker's "units per sq ft" figure, or enter the actual size and joint in the calculator.
| Nominal size | Square inches | Pavers per sq ft | Pavers per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in | 32 | 4.5 | 450 |
| 6 × 6 in | 36 | 4 | 400 |
| 6 × 9 in | 54 | 2.67 | 267 |
| 12 × 12 in | 144 | 1 | 100 |
| 12 × 18 in | 216 | 0.67 | 67 |
| 16 × 16 in | 256 | 0.56 | 57 |
| 24 × 24 in | 576 | 0.25 | 25 |
Patio paver calculator: common patio sizes
A 12 × 16 ft patio needs about 880–922 Holland pavers before the extra for cuts.
| Patio | Square feet | Pavers | With 5% extra | With 10% extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 | 458–480 | 481–504 | 504–528 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 | 660–692 | 693–726 | 726–761 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 192 | 880–922 | 924–968 | 968–1,014 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 320 | 1,466–1,536 | 1,539–1,613 | 1,613–1,690 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 | 1,832–1,920 | 1,924–2,016 | 2,016–2,112 |
Base, sand and edging under the pavers
Pavers sit on 1 inch of bedding sand over a compacted base, typically 4–6 inches for a patio or walk.[3]
Dig to the base depth plus 1 inch of sand plus the paver thickness.[3] Driveways need a thicker base (at least 6 inches for interlocking pavers).[6] Size the base and sand with the paver base calculator. Joints between interlocking pavers are typically 1/16–3/16 in, filled with jointing sand, and an edge restraint around the paving is essential to how it performs.[5] For a raised patio, the retaining wall calculator counts the wall blocks.
Buy from one batchColors vary between production runs, so order the extra pavers with the main order rather than later.
Common paver ordering mistakes
- Using the nominal size without the joint or the real dimensions: the count per square foot changes.[1][2]
- No extra for cuts on curved or diagonal layouts.[3][4]
- Forgetting the base: the gravel base usually outweighs the pavers; order it with the stone calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for a 12 × 12 patio?
About 660–692 Holland 4 × 8 in pavers, or 693–726 with 5% extra for cuts.
How many 4 × 8 pavers are in a square foot?
How much extra should I buy for pavers?
5%, or 10% if you will cut many pavers.[3]
How deep should the base be under pavers?
About 4–6 inches of compacted base plus 1 inch of bedding sand for patios and walks.[3]
Sources
- Hollandstone specification sheet (units per sq ft)
- Southern Traditions Holland Paver 4 × 8 sell sheet
- 10-Step Guide to Installing Pavers
- Installing Interlocking Concrete Pavers, Part One
- Tech Spec 10: Application Guide for Interlocking Concrete Pavements
- Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PAV-TEC-002-22)