Paver Calculator
Plan a patio, walkway, or driveway in one go — estimate paver count, base gravel volume, bedding sand bags, edge restraint length, and the total cost.
Inputs
Project type sets the recommended base depth: 4" / 10 cm for patios and walkways, 8" / 20 cm for driveways.
Pattern auto-fills a typical waste percentage — herringbone is the wastiest (more diagonal cuts).
Typical: 1/8" (3 mm) for polymeric sand joints.
Compacted crushed gravel under the sand bed.
Industry standard: 1" / 25 mm screed sand.
Suggested: 5% running/stack, 8% basket weave, 15% herringbone, +5% for curved edges.
Tick "Include" to add paver, gravel, and sand pricing for a total cost estimate.
Materials needed
About Paver Calculator
The Paver Calculator estimates everything you need to lay a hard surface in one shot — pavers, compacted base gravel, bedding sand, edge restraint, and total cost. Whether you're putting in a backyard patio, a front-walk runner, or a full driveway, the numbers come out the same way: count the pavers from the area, then layer the base materials below them.
It supports running bond, herringbone, basket weave, and stack patterns, with appropriate waste percentages auto-filled. Switch between imperial and metric, choose the project type to default the base depth (4"/10 cm for patios and walkways, 8"/20 cm for driveways), and you'll have a shopping list within seconds.
How to Use Paver Calculator
- 1 Pick your unit. Imperial uses feet for the project, inches for pavers and depths, cubic yards for bulk. Metric uses metres, centimetres, millimetres, and cubic metres.
- 2 Choose project type. Patio, walkway, or driveway. This sets the recommended base depth — driveways need roughly double the gravel of a patio because they take vehicle loads.
- 3 Enter project dimensions. Length and width of the rectangle being paved. For an L-shape or curve, calculate each rectangle separately and add the results.
- 4 Enter paver size. Length, width, and thickness. Standard rectangular pavers are typically 4×8 inches and 2 3/8" thick, but check what's on the pallet you're buying.
- 5 Choose the pattern. Running bond, herringbone 45°, basket weave, or stack. Waste percentage auto-fills — adjust upward if your space has lots of curved or angled edges.
- 6 Confirm the base and sand depths. 4" gravel / 1" sand for a patio; 6"+ gravel for a driveway. Adjust the joint width if you're using a wider-jointed cobble look.
- 7 (Optional) Cost it. Tick "Include" and enter price per paver, price per yd³/m³ of gravel, and price per bag of bedding sand with its coverage. The estimate panel shows the total cost split.
- 8 Order the perimeter in edging. The result panel shows the perimeter length — use it to size your edge restraint, polymeric sand, or border course.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should the base be? ▾
4 inches (10 cm) of compacted crushed gravel for patios and walkways in well-draining soil. 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) for driveways, anywhere with frost heave, or anywhere the soil is clay. Always compact in 2-inch lifts — pouring 6 inches and tamping the top will leave a soft layer underneath that sinks within a year.
Why does herringbone need so much extra waste? ▾
Every paver meeting an edge in a herringbone layout is cut at 45° — and the cut-offs are almost always too small or too oddly-shaped to reuse. Running bond and stack let you flip many edge cuts to the opposite wall, so the waste rate is lower. Plan for at least 15% on herringbone, more for small areas.
Should I use polymeric sand or regular sand? ▾
Bedding sand under the pavers is regular coarse "concrete sand" (ASTM C-33). The jointing material between paver faces is what's different — polymeric sand hardens when wetted, lasts longer, and resists weeds and ants, but costs more. For a patio you walk on daily, polymeric is worth it. For temporary or seldom-used surfaces, plain sand is fine.
Do I need an edge restraint? ▾
Yes. Without an edge restraint — plastic, steel, or a concrete toe — the perimeter pavers will spread outward over time and the field will loosen. Use the perimeter length shown in the result panel to buy your edging. Skip it at your peril; failed pavers almost always start at an unrestrained edge.
Why does the bedding sand stay 1 inch thick? ▾
1 inch (25 mm) is the screeded depth that lets pavers seat firmly without the surface "rolling" under traffic. Going deeper means uneven settling — thicker sand layers can shift independently of the base below. Thinner means the pavers sit on the base's high points. Stick to 1 inch.
What does "compacted yd³" actually mean? ▾
The calculator shows the volume in place after compaction. Loose gravel compresses roughly 20% when tamped, so when you order, ask the supplier to deliver enough loose material to achieve your compacted depth — most suppliers quote "loose" yards. Many will gladly help you do the math.
Can I lay pavers over an existing concrete slab? ▾
Yes, with caveats. The slab must be sound, drain properly, and have at least 4 inches of clearance below adjacent door thresholds for the pavers + sand bed. Skip the gravel base on a slab overlay and just use the 1-inch sand layer. The calculator's "Base gravel" line is irrelevant in this case — ignore it.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere? ▾
No. Everything runs in your browser. Project dimensions, paver sizes, prices, and pattern choice never leave your device and nothing is stored on a server.