Paver Calculator — how many pavers for a patio

How it works

Covering an area with pavers is a tiling problem, so it comes down to two rectangles, per Wolfram MathWorld's area formula A = length × width:

1. Area to pave = length × width (in square feet).
2. Coverage per paver = paver length × paver width (in square inches), divided by 144 to convert to square feet — a 12 × 6 in paver covers 72 ÷ 144 = 0.5 ft².
3. Pavers = area ÷ coverage per paver, then multiplied by (1 + waste %) and rounded up, since you can only buy whole pavers.

A waste allowance of about 5% covers straight cuts; add closer to 10% for a diagonal or herringbone pattern, curves, or a driveway, where more pavers are cut. The calculator also shows the total area so you can order sand and edging to match.

Worked example

For a 20 × 12 ft patio, the area is 240 ft². With 12 × 6 in pavers, each covers 0.5 ft², so before waste you need 240 ÷ 0.5 = 480 pavers. Adding 5% waste gives 480 × 1.05 = 504, so you need 504 pavers.

Frequently asked questions

How many pavers do I need?

Divide the area you are covering by the area of one paver, then add a waste allowance and round up. For 240 ft² with 0.5 ft² pavers and 5% waste, that is 240 ÷ 0.5 × 1.05 = 504 pavers.

How do I convert paver size to square feet?

Multiply the paver's length and width in inches, then divide by 144 (the number of square inches in a square foot). A 12 × 6 in paver is 72 ÷ 144 = 0.5 ft².

How much waste should I add for pavers?

About 5% for a simple straight (running-bond) layout, and up to 10% for diagonal, herringbone or curved designs, where more pavers must be cut. Driveways also tend toward the higher end.

Do I need sand and edging too?

Yes. Pavers sit on a compacted base and a bedding layer of sand, and need edge restraints to stop them spreading. Use the area figure to estimate base gravel and bedding sand separately.

How many pavers are in a square foot?

It depends on the paver size: a 12 × 12 in paver is 1 per square foot, a 12 × 6 in paver is 2 per square foot, and a 6 × 6 in paver is 4 per square foot.

What if my area is not a simple rectangle?

Split it into rectangles, find each area with length × width, and add them together before dividing by the paver coverage. For circles or triangles, estimate the area and add extra waste for the curved or angled cuts.