Home › Guides › How Many Pavers Do I Need?
How Many Pavers Do I Need?
Quick answer: Divide the patio's square footage by one paver's coverage (a 4×8-in paver = 0.22 sq ft, so ~4.5 pavers per sq ft) and add 5–10% for cuts and breakage.
Paver math is two steps: your patio's square footage, and how many pavers fit in each square foot. The second number is where people get burned — it changes with paver size and laying pattern. This guide gives you the charts, the waste factors, and the base material math in one place.
The formula
To get a paver's face area in square feet, multiply its face dimensions in inches and divide by 144. A 6 × 9 paver: 54 ÷ 144 = 0.375 sq ft, so 2.67 pavers per square foot.
Skip the arithmetic with our Paver Patio Calculator — it also totals the gravel base and jointing sand.
Pavers per square foot (common sizes)
| Paver size (face) | Area each | Pavers per sq ft | For 100 sq ft* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4" × 8" (Holland) | 0.22 sq ft | 4.5 | 473 |
| 6" × 6" | 0.25 sq ft | 4.0 | 420 |
| 6" × 9" | 0.375 sq ft | 2.67 | 281 |
| 8" × 8" | 0.44 sq ft | 2.25 | 237 |
| 12" × 12" | 1.0 sq ft | 1.0 | 105 |
| 16" × 16" | 1.78 sq ft | 0.56 | 59 |
| 24" × 24" (slab) | 4.0 sq ft | 0.25 | 27 |
*Includes 5% waste, rounded up. Order by the full band/pallet where possible — broken pavers are common in delivery.
Pattern waste factors
The laying pattern determines how many pavers die as edge cuts:
| Pattern | Waste to add | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stack bond / grid | 5% | Cuts only at edges |
| Running bond | 5–7% | Half cuts at alternating rows' ends |
| Herringbone (90°) | 10% | Cuts along every edge |
| Herringbone (45°) / diagonal | 15% | Every perimeter paver is an angle cut |
| Circles, fans, curves | 15%+ | Constant trimming |
The same logic applies to tile — our Tile Pattern Waste Guide covers it in depth.
Don't forget the base and sand
The pavers are usually less than half the material bill. A proper installation needs:
- Compacted crushed stone base: 4–6 inches for patios and walkways, 6–8 inches for driveways. A 100 sq ft patio at 4 inches needs about 1.25 cubic yards (~1.7 tons) — size it with the Gravel Calculator.
- Bedding sand: 1 inch of coarse concrete sand (not play sand, not stone dust). ~0.31 cubic yards per 100 sq ft — see the Sand Calculator.
- Polymeric jointing sand: one 50 lb bag covers roughly 50–100 sq ft depending on joint width.
- Edge restraint: the full perimeter, spiked into the base — without it the field spreads and joints open.
Worked example: 12 × 15 ft patio, 6 × 9 pavers, herringbone
- Area: 12 × 15 = 180 sq ft
- Pavers per sq ft for 6 × 9: 2.67
- Base count: 180 × 2.67 = 480 pavers
- Herringbone waste 10%: 480 × 1.10 = 528 pavers → order 540 (next full band)
- Gravel base (4 in): 180 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 2.2 cu yd ≈ 3 tons
- Bedding sand (1 in): 180 × 0.083 ÷ 27 = 0.56 cu yd
What pavers cost in 2026
- Concrete pavers: $2–$6 per sq ft material. The workhorse choice.
- Clay brick: $4–$8 per sq ft — colorfast forever, smaller size means more labor.
- Natural stone (bluestone, travertine): $6–$15+ per sq ft.
- Installed by a contractor: $12–$30 per sq ft all-in, driven mostly by excavation and base labor.
Frequently asked questions
How many pavers per square foot?
Divide 144 by the paver's face area in square inches. A 4×8 paver: 144 ÷ 32 = 4.5 per sq ft. A 12×12: exactly 1.
How many 12×12 pavers for a 10×10 patio?
100 exactly — order 105–110 to cover waste and breakage.
How much waste should I add?
5% for straight grid layouts, 10% for 90° herringbone, 15% for diagonal patterns and curves.
What goes under pavers?
4–6 inches of compacted crushed stone (never pea gravel), then 1 inch of coarse bedding sand. Driveways need 6–8 inches of base.
Should I buy pavers by the pallet?
Usually yes — pallet pricing beats per-piece pricing by 10–20%, and you want spares from the same dye lot for future repairs. A typical pallet covers 100–120 sq ft.