Make sure to use this paver calculator before you start working on your patio project! If the question “how many pavers do I need?” has ever crossed your mind, this tool is going to be of invaluable help to you. By providing the pavers cost, you will be able to calculate the total cost of your patio.
The patio paver calculator will also allow you to estimate the perfect amount of materials for your project and will, as a consequence, save you money, as not a single paver will go to waste.
How to use the paver calculator?
Using the patio paver calculator is very simple. Here’s a short set of instructions:
1. Determine the area of your patio. Start by choosing whether your patio is a single rectangle or if it has a different shape, in which case you need to divide it into identical rectangles to make the calculation easier.
- NOTE: Don’t worry if the shape of your patio is impossible to divide into rectangles of the same size. If the sizes of its subareas differ, just calculate the material in each one by choosing the single rectangle option, and then sum the results up.
- For a single rectangle, input the length and the width of the patio, and you will get its area.
- For several identical rectangles, add the number of the subareas, and the calculator will show you the total area of the patio.
2. Now you need to determine the paver brick size. Provide a single brick’s width and a single brick’s length to get the area it covers. In the next section of this article, you will find a table of the most common paver brick sizes.
3. With all these values ready, the calculator will show you how many bricks are needed to cover one square foot, as well the total number of patio pavers you will need for your project.
4. All that’s left to do is to calculate the costs:
- To estimate the total pavers cost, simply state the price of a single brick, and the paver calculator will do the work for you.
- To get the estimated cost of installation, put in the cost of installation per square foot. Typically, it costs somewhere between $8 and $20, but the prices will vary depending on your location.
- The pavers cost calculator will sum up the two values above up and show you the total estimated expenses of the project, both for the pavers’ cost and their installation by professionals.
Common paver sizes
The most commonly used paver brick size is 4″ × 8″ (10 cm × 20 cm in the metric system). However, other sizes are not rare at all.
Here’s a table of the most widely used paver brick sizes, along with their corresponding dimensions in the metric system:
| Size (in) | Size (cm) | Area (ft²) | Area (cm²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 | 10 × 20 | 0.22 | 200 |
| 6 × 6 | 15 × 15 | 0.25 | 225 |
| 6 × 9 | 15 × 23 | 0.38 | 245 |
| 8 × 8 | 20 × 20 | 0.44 | 400 |
| 12 × 12 | 30 × 30 | 1.00 | 900 |
| 14 × 14 | 36 × 36 | 1.36 | 1296 |
| 12 × 18 | 30 × 46 | 1.50 | 1380 |
If you need to calculate a brick’s volume, the thickness is usually 2″ (5 cm). The only exceptions are the 14″ × 14″ and the 12″ × 18″ bricks. In their case, the thickness is typically 3″ (7.6 cm) and 1.5″ (4 cm), respectively.
Using the paver calculator — example
Let’s go through an example using the patio paver calculator together.
John decided to have his patio paved with bricks. Naturally, his first thought was, “How many pavers do I need?” His calculations went as follows:
1. John measured the total area of the patio. John’s patio is a shape resembling a four-armed star, so he can divide it into five 15’×15′ squares. To count this, he uses the following equation:
patio area = subarea width × subarea length × number of subareas- So, in our example’s case:
patio area = 15 ft × 15 ft × 5 = 1,125 ft²
2. Next, John has to calculate the area of a single patio paver covers and the number of pavers per square foot. He opted for square 6″×6″ pavers.
- After multiplying the brick’s length by its width, John knows that the area of a single paver is 36 in².
- To calculate how many patio pavers fit in one square foot, the following formula is needed:
pavers per square foot = 144 / single brick's area - The reason why the numerator is 144 is that there are 144 square inches in one square foot. In John’s example:
pavers per square foot = 144 / 36 = 4
3. What’s left to do is to calculate the total number of pavers needed. To do this, John uses this equation:
total number of pavers = pavers per square foot × total project area(rounded up – if you don’t get a full number, you might need to round it up and adjust the extra brick around the edges of the project)- So the actual calculation goes like this:
total number of pavers = 4 × 1,125 = 4,500
4. John also wants to estimate the total pavers cost. He wants to buy pavers that are $0.50.
pavers cost = 4,500 × $0.50 = $2,250- He would also like to have the pavers installed by a professional. In his area, the cost of such service is $9 per square foot, so:
installation cost = patio area × cost per ft² = 1,125 × $9 = $10,125
A note on using the paver calculator
As is the case with all construction works, paving is prone to mistakes. To avoid having to waste gasoline going back and forth to the store for additional materials, consider buying at least 10% more of everything.
Patio pavers are not the only thing you need to buy for your project. Remember to take into account paver sand and gravel, which are very important materials when paving your patio.
