Paver Calculator

For pedestrian patios and walkways, the industry standard is 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone gravel subbase (such as 3/4-inch minus or crusher run) topped with exactly 1 inch of uncompacted sharp bedding sand (concrete sand ASTM C33). For vehicular driveways, increase the compacted gravel subbase to 8 to 12 inches to withstand heavy automotive axle loads without rutting.

First, calculate the total square footage of your project area (Length × Width). Next, determine the surface area of one paver in square feet (Paver Length in inches × Paver Width in inches ÷ 144). Divide the total project area by the single paver area, and add 5% to 10% for rectangular layouts (or 10% to 15% for curved cuts, herringbone patterns, or circular borders) to account for cut-off scrap and edge trimming.

A standard 50-pound bag of polymeric sand covers approximately 60 to 85 square feet for standard brick pavers (4"x8") with narrow joints (1/8 inch wide). For larger patio slabs (12"x12" to 16"x16"), one bag covers 80 to 120 square feet because there are fewer linear joints. For wide joints (up to 1/2 inch) or false joint pavers, coverage drops to 25 to 45 square feet per 50-lb bag.

Bedding sand provides a smooth grading bed and fills into the bottom paver joints during initial mechanical plate compaction. If bedding sand is laid thicker than 1 to 1.5 inches, it will shift, wash out under heavy rain, and create uneven dips and surface rutting over time. The structural load-bearing capacity comes entirely from the compacted crushed gravel subbase, not the sand layer.

All paver installations require rigid perimeter edge restraints—either commercial heavy-duty PVC/aluminum paver edging anchored with 10-inch steel spikes every 12 to 18 inches, or a 45-degree poured concrete troweled edge bond beneath the turf line. Without rigid edge restraints, the outer row of pavers will migrate outward under foot and wheel traffic, causing joints to open and polymeric sand to wash away.