Paver Patio Calculator: How Many Pavers & Pallets Do I Need? (2026 Cost Guide)
Interlocking concrete pavers for patios, walkways and fire-pit areas.
Concrete pavers are laid on 1 inch of bedding sand over a 4–6 inch compacted gravel base, then locked with polymeric joint sand. Pavers are sold by the piece, by the square foot or by the pallet (typically 100–120 sq. ft). Herringbone patterns lock together best under foot and vehicle traffic but require more cuts at the edges.
1Measure the space
2Paver size & layout
Recommended: 10% for straight/offset, 15% for diagonal & herringbone.
3Packaging & price
Printed on the pallet. 0 = sold individually.
Your Paver Patio estimate
Area incl. waste
158.4 sq. ft
pavers needed
681
pallets to buy
2
Material cost
$700
- DIY — materials only$700
- Installation labor (pro)$1,440 – $2,880
- Hire a pro — total installed$2,140 – $3,580
Labor at $10–$20 per sq. ft (US average). Doing it yourself saves roughly $1,440–$2,880.
Material shopping list
| Paver Patio (4" × 8")681 pavers · 200 sq. ft purchased | 2 pallets |
| Crushed stone base (4")Compacted in 2" lifts | 2.04 cu. yd |
| Bedding sand (1") | 0.49 cu. yd |
| Polymeric joint sand (50 lb bags) | 2 bags |
144 sq. ft · Offset / Brick · 10% waste. Buy all pallets from the same lot.
How many pavers do I need? Quick-reference table
Based on 4" × 8" pavers with 1/8" joints, 100 sq. ft per pallet and $3.50/sq. ft material. "Offset / Running bond" uses 10% waste; diagonal/herringbone uses 15%.
| Size | Area + 10% | pavers | pallets | pavers @ 15% | Material | Installed (pro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 ft (100 sq. ft) | 110 sq. ft | 473 | 2 | 495 | $700 | $1,700–$2,700 |
| 12×12 ft (144 sq. ft) | 158.4 sq. ft | 681 | 2 | 712 | $700 | $2,140–$3,580 |
| 16×12 ft (192 sq. ft) | 211.2 sq. ft | 908 | 3 | 949 | $1,050 | $2,970–$4,890 |
| 20×16 ft (320 sq. ft) | 352 sq. ft | 1,513 | 4 | 1,582 | $1,400 | $4,600–$7,800 |
| 20×20 ft (400 sq. ft) | 440 sq. ft | 1,891 | 5 | 1,977 | $1,750 | $5,750–$9,750 |
The paver patio formula, step by step
- Measure the area. Multiply length × width in feet. Measure each section separately and add them for L-shapes.
- Add waste. Add 10% for straight or offset layouts and 15% for diagonal or herringbone.
- Find coverage per paver. (paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint) ÷ 144 = sq. ft per paver.
- Count pavers. Divide the area including waste by the coverage per paver and round up.
- Convert to pallets. Divide the area including waste by the sq. ft per pallet and round up to whole pallets.
Worked example — a 12 × 12 ft area is 144 sq. ft. Adding 10% gives 158.4 sq. ft. Each 4" × 8" paver with a 1/8" joint covers 0.233 sq. ft, so you need 681 pavers — 2 pallets at 100 sq. ft each.
Paver Patio cost guide (2026)
- Material: $2.00–$8.00 per sq. ft (calculator default $3.50).
- Professional labor: $10–$20 per sq. ft. Includes excavation, compacted gravel base, bedding sand, cutting and polymeric sand. Material here is pavers only — use the landscape calculator for base gravel and sand.
- Typical 12×12 project: $700 DIY vs. $2,140–$3,580 professionally installed.
Pro tips for paver patio
- Excavate 7–8 inches for a patio: 4–6" compacted base + 1" sand + paver thickness.
- Slope the patio 1/8"–1/4" per foot away from the house.
- Install a rigid edge restraint before sweeping in polymeric sand.
- Order your base gravel and bedding sand using the Landscape Material Calculator.
Paver Patio FAQ
How many 4×8 pavers do I need for a 12×12 patio?
A 12×12 ft patio is 144 sq. ft. With 1/8" joints each 4×8 paver covers about 0.23 sq. ft, so you need about 681 pavers with 10% waste — 2 pallets at 100 sq. ft each (or just under 1.6 pallets' worth).
How much does a paver patio cost?
Pavers cost $2–$8 per sq. ft for material. Professionally installed paver patios, including excavation and base, typically run $12–$28 per sq. ft in total.
What base do I need for a paver patio?
4 inches of compacted crushed stone (6 inches in freeze-thaw climates or for driveways), topped with 1 inch of screeded concrete sand.
Which paver pattern is strongest?
45° or 90° herringbone interlocks best and resists shifting under load, which is why it's recommended for driveways. Running bond is fine for patios and walkways.