How many pavers do I need?
Divide the area by the area of one paver, then add pattern waste. A 4 × 8 in brick paver covers 0.222 sq ft, so there are 4.5 of them per square foot — a 240 sq ft patio needs about 1,080 before waste.
Pattern drives waste more than shape does. Running bond wastes about 5%, basketweave 8%, and a 45° herringbone 12% because every perimeter piece is a diagonal cut. Curved edges push it to 15%.
The base is the bigger order. A 240 sq ft patio on a 4 in base needs about 3.6 cubic yards of gravel — roughly 5 tons — plus another 0.75 yards of bedding sand. That is usually more weight than the pavers themselves.
How the calculation works
Pavers = area × (1 + waste) ÷ paver area, rounded up. Paver area in square feet = (width × length in inches) ÷ 144.
Base gravel is calculated at the compacted depth then increased by 20%, because crushed stone loses roughly a fifth of its loose volume under a plate compactor. Ordering the compacted figure leaves you short.
Base depth follows traffic: 4 in for foot traffic, 8 in for cars, 12 in over clay or poorly draining soil. Bedding sand stays at 1 in regardless — thicker bedding is not better, it just gives the pavers somewhere to sink into.
Total excavation is base depth + 1 in bedding + paver thickness, which is typically 2⅜ in for standard pavers.
Typical paver project cost, mid-2026
| Material | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers | per sq ft | $3.00 – $9.00 |
| Clay brick pavers | per sq ft | $5.00 – $14.00 |
| Natural stone | per sq ft | $10.00 – $30.00 |
| Crushed stone base | per ton | $20.00 – $45.00 |
| Coarse bedding sand | per ton | $25.00 – $55.00 |
| Polymeric sand | per 50 lb bag | $20.00 – $35.00 |
| Plastic edge restraint | per linear ft | $1.50 – $4.00 |
| Installed patioLabour, base and materials | per sq ft | $12.00 – $30.00 |
What goes wrong on this job
- The base is the project. Almost every failed paver patio failed underneath — insufficient depth, poor compaction, or no compaction at all. Compact in 3–4 in lifts, not all at once.
- Use coarse concrete sand for bedding, never play sand or mason sand. Fine sand migrates, washes out through the joints, and the surface goes wavy within a season.
- Slope away from the house at ¼ in per foot minimum. A perfectly level patio against a foundation directs water into the basement.
- Edge restraint is not optional. Without it the perimeter pavers creep outward, the joints open, and the field slowly unravels from the edges inward.
- Order 5–10% extra and keep the offcuts. Pavers come in production batches with slight colour variation, and a replacement pallet ordered next year will not match.
Frequently asked questions
How many 4x8 pavers per square foot?
4.5. Each 4 × 8 in paver covers 0.222 sq ft, so a 100 sq ft patio needs 450 pavers before waste.
How deep should a paver base be?
Four inches of compacted crushed stone for patios and walkways, 8 in for driveways, and 10–12 in over clay or poorly draining soil. Add 1 in of bedding sand on top in every case.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
One inch of coarse bedding sand across the area, which works out to about 0.3 cubic yards per 100 sq ft. Joint sand is separate — roughly one 50 lb bag of polymeric sand per 75 sq ft.
Can I lay pavers directly on dirt?
You can, and they will sink, shift and heave within a year. The compacted stone base is what spreads load and lets water drain away from the underside.