Brick Paver Calculator
Enter your patio or walkway’s length, width, and openings to find out how many brick pavers and bags of paver base sand you need. The calculator adjusts for standard and large-format brick paver sizes.
Total area of doors, windows or other openings to subtract.
Covers cuts, breakage and layout waste. 5–10% is normal.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.
Ordering tips
—
Coverage & waste
Material profile
For a 15 ft × 12 ft patio (180 sq ft) with no openings, you need 198 sq ft of net paver coverage after a 10% waste allowance. Using standard 4×8in brick paver at 0.35 sq ft each, that comes to 566 pavers, plus 10 bags of paver base sand — about $571.10 total at $0.85 per paver and $9 per bag.
How many brick pavers do common patio sizes need?
These figures use standard brick paver (0.35 sq ft each) and a 10% waste allowance.
| Patio size | Openings | Pavers needed | Sand bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 10 ft | 0 sq ft | 315 pavers | 6 bags |
| 12 ft × 14 ft | 0 sq ft | 529 pavers | 9 bags |
| 20 ft × 16 ft | 20 sq ft | 943 pavers | 16 bags |
| 24 ft × 20 ft | 30 sq ft | 1,415 pavers | 24 bags |
| 30 ft × 20 ft | 0 sq ft | 1,972 pavers | 33 bags |
| 40 ft × 25 ft | 40 sq ft | 3,018 pavers | 51 bags |
Brick paver sizes and coverage per unit
| Type | Coverage / unit | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard brick paver (4 x 8in) | 0.35 sq ft | 4 x 8in | Patios, walkways |
| Large format brick paver (6 x 9in) | 0.5 sq ft | 6 x 9in | Driveways, larger patios |
How to calculate how many brick pavers you need
- Measure the patio area Multiply length by width in feet to get gross patio area.
- Subtract openings Deduct the square footage of any fixed features, fire pits, or planters that won’t be paved.
- Add your waste allowance Multiply net area by 1 plus your waste percentage (10% is typical) to cover cuts around edges and borders.
- Divide by coverage per paver Divide by the coverage of your chosen paver size — 0.35 sq ft for standard 4×8in, 0.5 sq ft for large-format 6×9in — and round up.
- Calculate paver base sand bags Divide the paver count by roughly 60 pavers per bag of bedding sand and round up.
Worked example
Here’s the math for a 15 ft × 12 ft patio with no openings using standard brick paver.
- Patio length × width15 ft × 12 ft = 180 sq ft
- Openings deducted0 sq ft
- Net paver area180 sq ft
- Area with 10% waste198 sq ft
- Pavers needed (0.35 sq ft each, standard)566 pavers
- Sand bags (1 per 60 pavers)10 bags
- Estimated material cost566 × $0.85 + 10 × $9 = $571.10
Typical patio and walkway sizes and paver quantities
| Project | Net area | Quantity needed |
|---|---|---|
| Small paver walkway (3×20 ft) | 60 sq ft | 189 pavers |
| Backyard patio (12×12 ft) | 144 sq ft | 453 pavers |
| Courtyard patio (15×15 ft) | 225 sq ft | 708 pavers |
| Pool deck surround (20×18 ft) | 360 sq ft | 1,132 pavers |
| Driveway apron (10×24 ft) | 240 sq ft | 755 pavers |
Ordering brick pavers by the pallet
Brick pavers typically ship on pallets of around 400–500 units for standard 4×8in size, or 300–350 for large-format pavers. Order from the same production run when possible — clay paver color can shift between batches, and a mismatched patio border is hard to disguise. Add extra pavers beyond your calculated total to cover future repairs or replacements.
- Small jobs (under 500 pavers)Order from a single lot so color and texture match throughout
- Medium jobs (500–2,000 pavers)Confirm pallet count and set aside 3–5% extra from the same run for repairs
- Large jobs (2,000+ pavers)Order by the full pallet and ask your supplier to hold the lot or dye number
Common mistakes
- Not deducting fixed features from the patio areaFire pits, planters, and steps reduce the area that actually needs pavers
- Using the wrong coverage figure for paver sizeStandard and large-format pavers cover different square footage per unit — mixing them up skews the count
- Underestimating waste for cuts along bordersCurved edges, running-bond patterns, and herringbone layouts use more material than a simple grid
- Skipping the paver base sand layerA proper bedding sand layer keeps pavers level and prevents shifting or settling over time
- Mixing pavers from different lotsColor and texture variation between batches is very noticeable on a finished patio
- Not ordering extra for future repairsDiscontinued paver styles make matching replacements difficult years later — keep 3–5% in reserve
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Coverage per paver (0.35 sq ft for standard 4×8in, 0.5 sq ft for large-format 6×9in) assumes standard butt joints with polymeric sand.
- Openings for fire pits, planters, and other fixed features are subtracted from gross area before waste is applied.
- The default 10% waste allowance covers cuts, breakage, and border trimming.
- Paver base sand bags are estimated at roughly 1 per 60 standard pavers; large-format pavers may need proportionally more sand coverage.
- Paver and sand bag counts are rounded up to the nearest whole unit.
- Pricing is a regional estimate — confirm current paver and sand prices with your supplier.
Common questions
How many brick pavers per square foot?
Standard 4×8in brick paver needs about 2.9 pavers per sq ft (1 ÷ 0.35), including waste.
Standard vs large-format paver — how does size change the count?
Large-format 6×9in paver needs about 30% fewer units than standard, since each paver covers more area.
How much paver base sand do I need?
Roughly 1 bag covers 60 standard pavers, though this varies with bedding depth and paver size.
How many pavers come on a pallet?
Standard 4×8in brick paver typically ships around 400–500 pavers per pallet.
Should I deduct fire pits or planters from the patio area?
Yes. Subtract the footprint of any fixed features from your gross patio area before calculating paver count.
How much waste should I add for brick pavers?
10% is standard for a simple grid pattern. Increase to 15% or more for herringbone, basketweave, or curved borders.
What base do brick pavers need under them?
A compacted aggregate base topped with about 1 in of paver base (bedding) sand is standard for patios and walkways.
How much do brick pavers cost per square foot installed?
At $0.85 per paver and roughly 2.9 pavers per sq ft, material alone runs about $2.47 per sq ft before labor, base, and sand.
Can I mix standard and large-format pavers on one patio?
Yes, many designs combine sizes for visual interest, but calculate each size’s area separately for an accurate material count.
Do I need edge restraints for a paver patio?
Yes. Plastic or metal edge restraints anchor the outer row of pavers and prevent the whole field from spreading over time.
Embed this calculator
Related calculators
Brick Paver Calculator Estimate
—
materialcalculate.com/tools/brick-paver-calculator/
Project
| Wall size | — |
| Openings deducted | — |
| Net area | — |
| Material | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Shopping list
| Units needed | — |
| Mortar / mix | — |
| Estimated total cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.