The paver count is the easy part — running short on base gravel is what stalls projects. This calculator covers both: pavers by size and joint gap, plus the compacted gravel and bedding sand underneath.
Quick answer: Divide your patio area in square inches by the paver's pitch area (paver size plus joint gap, squared). A 10 × 10 patio with 6 × 6 in pavers and 1/8-in joints: 14,400 / (6.125 × 6.125) = 383.8 → 384 pavers net, 423 with 10% waste. Underneath, budget 4 in of compacted gravel (~1.23 yd³) and 1 in of bedding sand (~0.31 yd³).
Ballpark, not gospel. Actual paver sizes vary slightly by manufacturer, and cuts never land exactly on whole units — confirm the final count against your layout before the delivery truck arrives.
| Project size | Pavers (net) | Order (10% waste) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 x 8 (small patio) | 246 | 271 |
| 10 x 10 (patio) | 384 | 423 |
| 10 x 12 (large patio) | 461 | 508 |
| 12 x 12 (entertaining) | 553 | 609 |
Counts use the 6.125-in pitch (paver plus 1/8-in joint). Different sizes and patterns change the numbers — run the calculator above for your exact layout.
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
It depends on paver size and joint gap. Divide 144 by the paver's pitch area in square inches (paver size plus joint on each side). For 6 × 6 in pavers with 1/8-in joints: 144 / (6.125 × 6.125) = 3.84 pavers per square foot, before waste. Smaller pavers and wider joints both raise the count.
A 10 × 10 patio is 100 sq ft, or 14,400 sq in. With 6 × 6 in pavers and 1/8-in joints, each paver occupies a 6.125-in pitch: 14,400 / 37.5156 = 383.8, so 384 pavers net. Add 10% for cuts and breakage: 384 × 1.10 = 422.4, so order 423 pavers.
Plan on 4 inches of compacted gravel base plus 1 inch of bedding sand for patios and walkways. A 10 × 10 patio needs (100 × 0.333) / 27 = 1.23 cubic yards of gravel and (100 × 0.083) / 27 = 0.31 cubic yards of sand. The calculator above computes both from your actual dimensions.
Ten percent is the standard for square and rectangular layouts — it covers edge cuts, chipped units, and keeping a few spares for future repairs. Go to 15% for diagonal, herringbone, or fan patterns, where every edge cut throws away half a paver.
1/8 inch is the default for interlocking concrete pavers — it lets the joint sand lock the surface together. 1/16 inch suits saw-cut dimensional pavers, 3/16 to 1/4 inch for natural or tumbled pavers with irregular edges. Wider joints use more joint sand and slightly more pavers per square foot.
For the full base-prep walkthrough, read the paver base sand and gravel guide, and for bulk aggregate math on its own use the gravel calculator.