Paver Calculator

This paver calculator works for rectangular, square, circular, and triangular project areas. It handles standard concrete pavers, brick pavers, and natural stone pavers of any size. You can also enter a known square footage directly if you've already measured your space.

1. Choose whether you know the project dimensions or already have the total square footage.
2. If using dimensions, select the area shape and enter measurements in feet.
3. Choose a common paver size from the dropdown, or select "Custom" and enter your paver length and width in inches.
4. Set a waste factor. Start at 10% for simple rectangular layouts. Increase to 15% or more for curves, borders, diagonal patterns, or herringbone layouts.
5. Enter an optional price per paver to estimate paver-only material cost.
6. Click "Calculate pavers" to see the base count, waste count, and total pavers to order.

Pro tip: measure the actual paved footprint, not the full yard or furniture area. Uneven edges often add 2 to 3 feet of waste beyond what you'd expect. Measure at multiple points and average your numbers to avoid under-ordering.

Order extra pavers from the same production batch when possible. I ordered a second batch of Belgard pavers for a patio repair and the color was noticeably different under direct sunlight. You'll want a few spares from the original run for repairs after settlement or staining years down the road.

This paver calculator estimates paver quantity only. For base gravel and bedding sand, use the paver base calculator. Depths, compaction rates, and local installation practices affect those materials separately.

Common paver sizes and coverage

Waste factor by layout pattern

Straight running bond patterns waste the least material. Brick paver herringbone and basketweave patterns require extra pavers for angled cuts at the edges.

The paver calculator converts your project area into a paver count using the individual paver's coverage area, then adds a waste factor for cuts and breakage.

Area calculation

The calculator supports four shapes. For rectangles, it multiplies length by width. For squares, it squares the side length. For circles, it uses π × (diameter / 2)². For triangles, it uses 0.5 × base × height. If you already know your total square footage, enter it directly.

Paver coverage

Each paver's area in square feet is calculated by multiplying paver length (inches) by paver width (inches), then dividing by 144 to convert square inches to square feet. A standard 4 × 8 inch paver covers 32 / 144 = 0.222 sq ft, so you need about 4.5 pavers per square foot.

Paver count and waste

The base paver count divides project area by paver area, rounded up to whole pavers. The final order quantity multiplies the base count by (1 + waste factor), also rounded up. A 10% waste factor is standard for rectangular running bond layouts. Increase it for diagonal, curved, or multi-piece patterns where you'll cut more pavers at the edges.

Example

A 10 × 12 ft patio using 12 × 12 inch pavers with 10% waste:

• Project area = 10 × 12 = 120 sq ft
• Paver area = 12 × 12 / 144 = 1.0 sq ft
• Base pavers = 120 / 1.0 = 120 pavers
• Total with 10% waste = 120 × 1.10 = 132 pavers

You would order 132 pavers. The 12 extra pavers cover edge cuts, breakage during installation, and a small reserve for future repairs.

Assumptions

• Pavers are laid without spacing gaps. For designs with joints wider than 3/8 inch, actual coverage per paver decreases slightly. Order 2% to 3% extra to compensate.
• This calculator estimates paver quantity only. It does not calculate base gravel, bedding sand, or polymeric joint sand.
• Paver counts round up to whole units. Suppliers sell whole pavers, not fractions.
• Multi-size pattern layouts need a per-repeat calculation rather than a single paver size.