Pavers needed is area divided by paver area, plus waste
Work in one unit. A 12 × 8 inch paver covers (12÷12) × (8÷12) = 0.67 sq ft. Divide your patio's square footage by that, then multiply by one plus your waste factor and round up. The waste covers edge cuts and breakage, so it is not optional.
Coverage by paver size
| Paver size | Sq ft each | Per 100 sq ft | Per 400 sq ft patio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8″ × 3.625″ brick | 0.20 | 500 | 2,000 |
| 12″ × 8″ concrete | 0.67 | 149 | 596 |
| 12″ × 12″ concrete | 1.00 | 100 | 400 |
| 18″ × 12″ concrete | 1.50 | 67 | 268 |
| 18″ × 18″ stone | 2.25 | 44 | 176 |
| 24″ × 24″ porcelain | 4.00 | 25 | 100 |
These are before waste. Larger pavers cut the count and the number of joints, but a single broken one is a bigger loss.
Waste depends on the pattern
| Pattern | Add for waste |
|---|---|
| Running bond | 5–7% |
| Basket weave | 7–10% |
| Herringbone | 10–15% |
| Circular / fan | 15–25% |
Diagonal patterns force more angled cuts at the borders, which is where the extra material goes.
Do not forget the base
- Base depth. A typical patio wants about 4″ of compacted base — 2 to 3″ of gravel plus 1 to 2″ of leveling sand. That is roughly 1.24 cubic yards per 100 sq ft.
- Drainage slope. Fall of 1/8″ per foot away from the house keeps water off the surface without being visible.
- Edge restraint. Without a border the pavers creep outward over time; budget for edging along every open side.
Common questions
How many pavers do I need for a 12 by 16 foot patio?
The area is 192 square feet. With standard 12 by 8 inch pavers (0.67 sq ft each) that is 287 pavers, and adding 10% for cuts and breakage rounds up to about 320.
What waste factor should I add?
Between 5 and 15% depending on the pattern. Running bond needs about 5 to 7%, herringbone 10 to 15% because of the angled edge cuts, and circular layouts 15 to 20%. Always round up so you have spares for repairs.
Do I count the joint gaps in the paver size?
For a close estimate you can ignore them, but a quarter-inch joint on a small paver adds a few percent of coverage. Adding the joint width to each paver dimension before dividing gives a slightly lower, more accurate count.
