How this calculator works. Pavers = (area × (1 + waste)) ÷ paver face area, rounded up. Base gravel and bedding sand are volume calculations (area × depth, converted to cubic yards). Joint sand uses the common polymeric-sand coverage of ≈75 sq ft per 50-lb bag for standard joints — check your bag, as wide-joint products differ.
What a paver patio actually takes
The pavers are the visible 20% of the project. Underneath a patio that stays flat for decades: 4+ inches of compacted crushed gravel (compacted in 2-inch passes — rent a plate compactor, this step is non-negotiable), exactly 1 inch of screeded bedding sand, the pavers, edge restraint around the perimeter, and polymeric sand swept into the joints and misted to lock everything together.
Dig depth surprises everyone: base + sand + paver thickness means excavating 7–8 inches below your finished height — for a 120 sq ft patio, that's about 3 cubic yards of soil to move and dispose of before anything arrives.
The full shopping list
| Layer | Spec |
|---|---|
| Crushed gravel base (¾" minus) | 4" foot traffic, 6–8" driveway/clay |
| Bedding sand (concrete sand) | 1" — never more; thick sand shifts |
| Edge restraint + 10" spikes | Perimeter length, minus house edge |
| Polymeric joint sand | ≈1 bag per 75 sq ft |
Buying tips
Pavers are sold individually, by the band, or by the pallet — pallet pricing is usually 10–20% cheaper, so compare your count against pallet quantities. Buy the waste factor without guilt: cut pavers around edges break, and matching a discontinued color later is a losing game.
Common questions
Do I need landscape fabric?
Geotextile fabric between soil and gravel base is cheap insurance on clay or soft soils — it stops the base from sinking into the ground. On well-draining sandy soil, it's optional.
Regular sand or polymeric for joints?
Polymeric — it hardens when misted, locking pavers and blocking weeds and ants. Plain sand washes out and needs annual topping. The upcharge is worth it once.
Can I lay pavers on just sand or dirt?
You can, and they'll be wavy by next spring. The compacted gravel base is what makes a patio permanent; skipping it is the #1 paver regret.
What slope do I need?
1/4 inch of fall per foot, away from the house. Build the slope into the gravel base, not the sand — the sand layer stays a uniform 1 inch.