Updated · Built and checked by the PlinzoTools team, formulas tested against published sources
Calculate how many pavers, how much bedding sand, and how much edge restraint your patio needs.
Edge restraint needed: 50 linear ft (patio perimeter).
A patio isn't just pavers -- it's pavers on top of a sand bedding layer, held in place at the edges by edge restraint. This calculator estimates all three from your patio's area, your specific paver's real footprint, and the patio's perimeter.
Enter your patio area and your paver's length and width in inches. Add the patio's perimeter (optional) to also see how much edge restraint you'll need.
Paver Coverage (sqft) = (Length in × Width in) ÷ 144
Pavers = ROUNDUP((Area ÷ Paver Coverage) × (1 + Waste))
Bedding Sand (cu yd) = (Area × 1in) ÷ 324
144 converts square inches to square feet (12in x 12in = 144 sqin per sqft), giving each paver's real footprint in the same unit as the patio area.
Use this for planning a paver patio, walkway, or driveway apron. For the bedding sand alone at a different depth, see the standalone Sand Calculator.
Accuracy starts with the area. For a rectangle, multiply length by width. For an L-shape, split it into two rectangles and add them. For a circular or curved patio, use pi x radius squared for a circle, or approximate curves by breaking them into simple shapes. The perimeter figure works the same way: add up every edge that will need restraint, but do not include sides that butt against a house wall or existing structure if those do not need it.
Take a hypothetical 12 by 15 foot patio, so 180 square feet, with a perimeter of 54 feet. Pavers measure 6 by 9 inches, so each covers 54 / 144 = 0.375 square feet. With 10 percent waste, the count is ROUNDUP((180 / 0.375) x 1.1) = ROUNDUP(528) = 528 pavers. Bedding sand at 1 inch deep is 180 / 324 = 0.56 cubic yards. Edge restraint comes to 54 feet, which you buy in sections such as 10-foot lengths, so 6 sections cover it.
Edge Restraint Sections = ROUNDUP(Perimeter ÷ Section Length)
Bedding Sand (cu yd) = (Area × Depth in inches) ÷ 324
The default 10 percent is a starting point. Simple running bond or grid patterns on a rectangular patio need less waste than herringbone or curved layouts, because more pavers have to be cut. If your patio has many curves, angles, or a border of a different paver, consider a higher waste figure, and calculate the border pavers separately.
The calculator does not size the compacted base layer beneath the sand, which typically makes up the largest volume of material in a paver project. The base depth depends on soil conditions and expected loading. A walkway on stable soil needs less than a driveway. Use the Gravel Calculator or your installer's specification, and follow the paver manufacturer's guidance for depth and compaction.
About 1 inch is standard for most patio and walkway installations, on top of a compacted gravel base layer beneath that.
Edge restraint is a rigid border (plastic, metal, or concrete) installed around a paver patio's perimeter to keep the outer pavers from shifting or spreading apart over time.
Yes. Joint sand fills the gaps between pavers after installation. It is separate from bedding sand and is not part of this estimate.
Calculate the field and the border separately. Subtract the border area from the field area, and count border pavers using their own dimensions.
Cut waste, breakage, and later repairs all draw on spares. Keeping a few from the same lot helps if you need to replace one years later.
No. Only enter the flat surface that will be paved.