Paver Calculator: Pavers, Base & Sand
Enter a patio or driveway and get the pavers by size, plus the compacted base and bedding sand at the CMHA thicknesses.
By Marko VisicBSc Physics, University of Ljubljana
1,800pavers
4 × 8 in for 400 sq ft
4.5 per sq ft
Base and sand
- Compacted base, 4 in (1.85 t/yd³)
- 4.94 yd³, 9.14 tons
- Bedding sand, 1 in (1.35 t/yd³)
- 1.23 yd³, 1.67 tons
- Polymeric joint sand (50 lb bags)
- 5–7
Base depth 4 in for a patio or walk (CMHA). Joint sand from one product's coverage, 65–85 sq ft per bag (Alliance Gator Maxx G2).
Next: size the base as gravel, or compare concrete vs pavers.
1,800 pavers for 400 sq ft
A 20 by 20 ft patio is 400 square feet, so in 4 by 8 inch pavers it takes about 1,800 pieces at 4.50 per square foot. Under them go about 4.94 cubic yards of compacted base at 4 inches and 1.23 cubic yards of bedding sand.
This patio paver calculator also sizes the layer underneath. For that base as bulk stone, use the gravel calculator; to compare surfaces first, see concrete vs pavers for a patio.
Estimate only: paver counts use nominal sizes and the base follows CMHA thicknesses on well-drained soil. Confirm the paver size and base with your supplier and site.
How many pavers per square foot
Paver count is pure geometry: the area in square feet times 144, divided by the paver's length times width in inches. A 4x8 paver is 4.50 per square foot. Makers' actual sizes differ slightly from nominal, so the calculator lets you override the pieces per square foot from a product sheet.
Base and sand under pavers
CMHA's interlocking-pavement note sets the build. On well-drained soil the compacted base is at least 4 inches under patios and walks and at least 6 inches under residential driveways, built up in 4 to 6 inch lifts and compacted to at least 98% of standard Proctor density.
On top goes 1 inch of screeded bedding sand graded to ASTM C33, with joint sand to ASTM C144. Wet, weak or cold-climate soils need a thicker base.
Patio pavers versus driveway pavers
The pavers are often the same: CMHA builds both patios and driveways with 2⅜-inch units, and ASTM C936 pavers carry an average compressive strength of at least 8,000 psi. What changes is the base: a patio rides on 4 inches of compacted stone, a residential driveway on 6 inches. Set the use in the calculator and it sizes the base to match.
Joint sand and polymeric sand
Pavers lock up through sand-filled joints, kept to 1/16 to 3/16 inch wide (CMHA). Polymeric sand sets firmer than plain sand.
Coverage is product-specific: one product, Alliance Gator Maxx G2, puts a 50-lb bag at about 65 to 85 square feet over 2⅜-inch pavers with narrow joints. Check the bag you buy, because the figure changes with the joint width and paver thickness.
Paver installation cost calculator
Used as a paver patio installation cost calculator, this tool multiplies your own prices by the quantities: a price per paver for the pavers and a price per ton for the base. No public source publishes a national installed paver price, so cost lines appear only once you enter a price. The total covers those two lines only, not labor, edge restraint or sand.
Paver weight
Paver weight is product-specific: it depends on the paver's thickness and the mix, which makers publish on each product sheet, so there is no single figure to default to here. Use the maker's stated weight for a pallet or delivery total.
Worked example: a 20 by 20 foot patio
A 20 by 20 ft patio is 400 square feet. In 4 by 8 inch pavers that is 1,800 pavers at 4.5 per square foot. The base at 4 inches is about 4.94 cubic yards compacted, and the bedding sand at 1 inch is about 1.23 cubic yards.
Paver calculator FAQ
How many pavers do I need?
Divide the area by the paver size: a 4x8 paver is 4.50 per square foot, so a 400-square-foot patio takes about 1,800 pavers. Add a few percent for cuts.
How many pavers for a 20 by 20 patio?
A 20 by 20 foot patio in 4x8 pavers works out to about 1,800 pieces, over about 4.94 cubic yards of base and 1.23 cubic yards of bedding sand.
How much paver base for a 200-square-foot patio?
At the CMHA patio base of 4 inches, about 2.47 cubic yards compacted. A driveway at 6 inches needs half again as much.
How much does a paver patio cost?
No public source publishes a national installed paver price, so this calculator has no default. Enter your price per paver and per ton of base for a cost of those two materials.
Sources
- Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA, formerly ICPI). Tech Note PAV-TEC-002-22, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (Revised March 2022). Revised Mar 2022
- Alliance Designer Products. GATOR MAXX SAND G2 Technical Data Sheet (Update May 6, 2025). Update May 6, 2025
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Wisconsin Highway Research Program). Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates of Wisconsin, WHRP 0092-22-05 (G22-05): Executive Summary Table E2, p. iv; Table 1.2. December 2023
- Headquarters, Department of the Army. TM 3-34.62/MCRP 3-40D.9 Earthmoving Operations, Table 1-2 (Material weight, swell percentages, and load factors), pp. 3–4. 30 May 2025, incl. Change 1 (29 July 2026)
- Gravel Calculator: Cubic Yards, Tons & CostSize the compacted stone base under the pavers in cubic yards and tons.
- Concrete vs Pavers for a PatioCompare a poured slab with unit pavers before you pick a patio surface.
- How Big Should a Patio Be?Size a patio to the furniture and the use before you order any pavers.