Yards and tons for the base material by depth and stone type.
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Paver Calculator
Yard & patioQuick answer: a paver patio is three materials, not one — pavers, crushed-stone base, and bedding sand. This calculator sizes all three plus the total cost. A 10×10 ft patio with standard 4×8 in brick pavers needs 495 pavers, 1.23 cubic yards of base gravel (1.73 tons) and 0.31 yards of bedding sand with a 10% cutting allowance.
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Pavers to buy
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Base gravel (yd³)
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Base gravel (tons)
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Bedding sand (yd³)
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Bedding sand (tons)
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Total est. material cost
Total cost covers pavers, base gravel and bedding sand at the prices you enter. Edge restraints, polymeric joint sand and geotextile fabric are extra — budget roughly $0.50-$1.00 per square foot for those.
How it works — the formula
Patio area (ft²) = Length × Width · Paver area (ft²) = (Paver length in × Paver width in) ÷ 144 Pavers = ⌈ Area ÷ Paver area × (1 + waste %) ⌉ Base gravel (yd³) = Area × Base depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 · Tons = yd³ × 1.4 Bedding sand (yd³) = Area × Sand depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 · Tons = yd³ × 1.35Four inches of compacted base is the standard for a walkway or patio; use six inches where vehicles will drive. The densities used here — about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone and 1.35 for sand — are the standard estimating figures stone yards use. Compact the base in lifts; the calculator's depths are finished, compacted depths, so loose material settles roughly 20–25% — most yards know this, mention it when you order.
Worked examples
| Project | Pavers | Base gravel | Bedding sand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft patio, 4×8 in pavers, 10% waste, 4 in base, 1 in sand | 495 | 1.23 yd³ · 1.73 t | 0.31 yd³ · 0.42 t |
| 12 × 12 ft patio, 12×12 in pavers, no waste, 4 in base, 1 in sand | 144 | 1.78 yd³ · 2.49 t | 0.44 yd³ · 0.60 t |
| 20 × 10 ft patio, 16×16 in pavers, 5% waste, 4 in base, 1 in sand | 119 | 2.47 yd³ · 3.46 t | 0.62 yd³ · 0.83 t |
Check the first row: a 4×8 in paver covers 32 ÷ 144 = 0.222 ft², so 100 ft² needs 450 pavers exactly; with 10% for cuts and breakage, 495. Base: 100 × (4 ÷ 12) = 33.3 ft³ = 1.23 yd³.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers do I need for a 10x10 patio?
450 × 4×8 in pavers before waste, 495 with 10%. With 12×12 in pavers: 100, or 110 with waste.
How deep should the gravel base be?
4 in compacted for patios and walkways; 6 in for driveways. Add depth on clay or in freeze–thaw climates.
How much sand goes under pavers?
A 1 in screeded layer of coarse bedding sand — ≈0.31 yd³ (0.42 t) per 100 ft². Joint sand afterwards is separate.
Why add 10% extra pavers?
Edge cuts, curves, breakage, and future colour-matched repairs. A later dye lot may not match.
What does a paver patio cost in materials?
10×10 ft at the example prices: ≈$1,238 pavers + $95 gravel + $19 sand ≈ $1,350, plus edging, fabric and joint sand.
Related tools
Bedding and joint sand in tons and bags.
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Compare a poured slab against pavers for the same footprint.
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Finish the beds around the new patio.
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See the full list on the Home & DIY Calculators page.
Estimates only. Base depth requirements vary with soil and climate; check local practice and your paver manufacturer's installation guide. Quantities are planning figures, not a substitute for a site assessment.