How many pavers do I need?
Divide the patio area by the face area of one paver, then add extra for cuts. A 4" x 8" paver is 0.222 sq ft, so it takes 4.5 per square foot. A 20' x 15' patio is 300 sq ft: 1,350 pavers, or 1,418 with 5% extra for a running bond.
| Pattern | Extra for cuts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Running or stack bond | 5% | Cuts only at the edges. |
| Basketweave | 5–7% | Needs 2:1 pavers like 4" x 8". |
| Herringbone 90° | 10% | Strongest pattern; best for driveways. |
| Herringbone 45° | 15% | Every edge paver is an angled cut. |
What goes under pavers
Pavers sit on 1" of coarse bedding sand, screeded flat but not compacted, over a compacted crushed-stone base. Patios and walks usually get 4" of base; poor or clay soil 6"; driveways 8" or more. Compacted stone takes up less room than it does in the truck, so order about 20% more than the finished volume. Dig deep enough for the base, the sand and the paver, and slope everything about 1/4" per foot away from the house.
Edging and joint sand
Every side that isn't held by a wall or slab needs edge restraint, spiked about every foot, or the pavers slowly spread. Once the pavers are down and compacted, sweep polymeric sand into the joints and mist it. A 50 lb bag covers roughly 40 sq ft with standard 1/8"–3/16" joints — more with tight joints, less with wide ones.
Pouring a slab instead? Try the concrete calculator. Building a deck next to the patio? See the deck board calculator.