Most online paver calculators get the base depth wrong, ignore the perimeter edging, and don't account for waste on cuts. After running this math by hand for five years on real jobs, here's what actually goes on a quote.
If you want to skip the math, our Paver Patio Calculator does this exact breakdown in real time.
The 7 line items every paver patio quote needs
- Pavers — units, with waste
- Base gravel — usually 3/4" clear or road base
- Setting sand — HPB or mason sand, 1" compacted
- Polymeric joint sand — for the joints between pavers
- Edging restraint — plastic or aluminum
- 12" spikes — for the edging (usually one every 12")
- Geotextile fabric — between subgrade and base (cheap insurance)
If you're missing line 4, 5, or 7, you're losing 5–8% margin to "we'll figure it out on site."
The math
Area and pavers
Area = length × width (in feet)
Pavers = (Area ÷ paver_coverage) × waste_factor
Common paver coverage:
- Holland 6×9: 0.375 sqft per paver
- Holland 4×8: 0.222 sqft per paver
- Square 12×12: 1.0 sqft per paver
Waste factor:
- 5% — simple rectangle, no cuts
- 10% — standard residential with one or two corners
- 15–20% — curves, multiple borders, complex cuts
Base gravel
Base depth depends on use:
- 4" compacted for residential walking patio
- 6" for driveways or patios that may host cars
- 8–10" for commercial or freeze-prone soil
Volume in cubic yards:
Base yd³ = (Area × (depth_in / 12) × 1.10) ÷ 27
The 1.10 is your compaction loss — gravel loses about 10% volume when compacted. Order accordingly.
Conversion to tons (most yards sell by ton):
Tons ≈ yd³ × 1.4
Setting sand
Standard 1" compacted setting bed. Not concrete sand — use HPB (high-performance bedding) or coarse mason sand.
Sand yd³ = (Area × (1/12) × 1.10) ÷ 27
Conversion: roughly 1.35 tons per yd³.
Polymeric joint sand
For 2 3/8" pavers with 1/8" joints, you need approximately 1 bag (50 lb) per 100 sqft. For wider joints (1/4") or thicker pavers, double it.
Edging
Linear feet of edging = exposed perimeter × 1.05
Don't include sides where the patio meets a foundation or a curb. Spikes: one per linear foot of edging is overkill — one every 12 inches is standard for residential.
Geotextile
Buy enough fabric to cover the full excavated area plus 12" overhang on each side. Cheap, wins lawsuits, prevents pumping.
Worked example: 20 × 15 ft Holland 6×9 patio
| Line | Calculation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 20 × 15 | 300 sqft |
| Pavers | 300 / 0.375 × 1.10 | 880 pavers |
| Base (4" compacted) | 300 × 0.333 × 1.10 / 27 | ≈ 4.1 yd³ (5.7 tons) |
| Setting sand | 300 × 0.083 × 1.10 / 27 | ≈ 1.1 yd³ (1.5 tons) |
| Polymeric (50lb bags) | 300 / 100 × 1.10 | 4 bags |
| Edging | 70 × 1.05 | 74 linear ft |
| Geotextile | 300 × 1.15 | 345 sqft |
Plug those numbers into your supplier quote, add labor, add markup, send the estimate. That's the whole job.
The mistakes that kill margin
1. Quoting before measuring perimeter separately. The edging line is where you bleed money if you use "rough perimeter."
2. Ordering pavers without color-lot insurance. Always order at least 1 extra pallet — dye lots drift in 18–24 months and matching for a repair becomes impossible.
3. Skipping the 10% compaction allowance on gravel. You'll come up short on the day of the job, send someone to the yard, lose 90 minutes.
4. Using mason sand instead of HPB for the setting bed. It works but doesn't drain as well. In freeze regions, HPB pays for itself in two seasons.
5. Forgetting the polymeric. It's a $40 line item that makes the patio look pro. Always include it.
The field notes
Buy an extra pallet of pavers. It costs you $400 today and saves you a $4,000 callback in three years when you can't match the dye lot for a repair.
Compact in 2-inch lifts. Three 2" lifts compacted properly beats one 6" dump and a single pass.
Wet polymeric sets fast. Don't apply it on a hot dry day unless you can keep the surface moist for 24 hours.
Always overestimate base depth on heavy-clay soil. Order an extra inch. The gravel that doesn't get used can be returned or used on the next job.
Need to skip the spreadsheet?
This entire calculation runs in our free Paver Patio Calculator — punch in your dimensions, the calculator returns the order list with waste factors built in. Print it for the lumber yard.
If you want the math and the labor and the markup folded into a customer-facing quote in under a minute, that's our AI Estimator at $49/month. Built off the exact assumptions in this post, trained on Ontario regional pricing.