Field calculator
Paver and brick count calculator (by area)
Ordering pavers or brick comes down to how much area one unit covers and how much you lose to cuts. This calculator takes the area to be paved, the length and width of a single paver, and a waste percentage, then returns the count to order. Each unit covers its length times width, converted from square inches to square feet at 144 per square foot, and the count is the area divided by that coverage with the waste added on top. Enter the area in square feet, the paver dimensions in inches, and a waste percentage. A straight running bond wastes the least; herringbone, basket weave, and other patterns with many diagonal edge cuts need more. Order full bundles, keep attic stock for future repairs, and match the dye lot so a patch years later does not stand out against the field.
Result
Paver or brick count: each unit covers its length times width (converted from square inches to square feet at 144 per square foot), and the count is the area divided by that coverage, plus a waste allowance for cuts and breakage. Enter the area in square feet, the paver length and width in inches, and a waste percentage. Patterns with many diagonal cuts, like herringbone, need more waste than a straight running bond. Order full bundles, keep attic stock, and match the dye lot so a later repair does not stand out.
Worked example
A 400 sq ft patio is set with 8 in × 4 in pavers. How many pavers, with 10% for cuts?
- Area400 sq ft
- Paver size8 in × 4 in
- Waste10%
- Each paver covers (8 × 4) ÷ 144 = 0.222 sq ft.
- Base count = 400 ÷ 0.222 = 1,800 pavers.
- Add 10% for cuts and breakage: 1,800 × 1.10 = 1,980 pavers.
Order about 1,980 pavers. Herringbone and other diagonal patterns need more waste than a straight running bond.
anvilfield.com/calculators/paver-brick-count-calculator · Free field calculators and FieldOS. A planning estimate, verify against the code, the manufacturer, and the engineer of record.
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Paver count FAQ
How thick should a paver base be?
A paver base depends on traffic and soil. Over well-drained soil, ICPI and CMHA guidance commonly puts a pedestrian patio on a minimum 4 in (100 mm) compacted aggregate and a residential driveway on at least 6 in (150 mm), with vehicular and commercial work 8 to 12 in or more set by the geotech and project spec.
How deep do you dig for a paver patio?
Dig to the sum of the layers: paver thickness plus the 1 in bedding plus the compacted base, plus a little for geotextile and tolerance. A 60 mm patio paver on a 4 in base is roughly 7 1/2 in deep. Strip to firm native soil and over-dig past the paved edge so the base supports the edge restraint.
What is bedding sand and how thick should it be?
Bedding sand is the screeded setting course the pavers seat into, a uniform 1 in (25 mm) of washed ASTM C33 concrete sand, per ICPI Tech Spec 2. Keep it exactly 1 in. Do not use stone dust or screenings, and never thicken the sand to fix a high or low base, because uneven sand settles unevenly.
Do you need edge restraint for pavers?
Yes. Without edge restraint the field spreads, the joints open, and the sand washes out from the perimeter in. Use a spiked paver restraint anchored into the compacted base with at least 1 in of vertical contact, not garden edging or soil spikes. Vehicular work needs a concrete haunch or curb, because tires walk spikes loose.
Why do my pavers keep sinking?
Sinking pavers are a base or subgrade problem, not a paver problem. The base was too thin, not compacted in lifts, or built over a soft, unproven subgrade, or the bedding was stone dust that broke down. You cannot fix it from the top. The pavers come up, the base gets rebuilt and compacted, and the units reset.