How to Calculate How Many Pavers to Use

Building a patio made of stone pavers is a common project undertaken by do-it-yourself homeowners. A key factor in determining the cost of this type of project are the material needs, especially that of the pavers themselves. This is generally the most significant expense of the project and thus needs to be carefully considered. Follow the easy steps below to accurately calculate the number of pavers to use for your patio project.

Things You'll Need

• Landscaping paint in a can
• Measuring Tape
• Graph paper
• Pencil
• Ruler or straight edge
• Calculator

Instructions

1. Mark the perimeter of your planned patio on the ground by using landscaping paint in a can. Measure each of the individual sides of this area and record them, using feet as the units.

2. Using the dimensions of these sides, make a top view drawing of your patio area to scale on the graph paper.

3. Determine the mathematical area of your patio in square feet (we'll call the area of the patio "P") . You may want to use the area calculation tool in the resources section. For more complex patio shapes, divide the shape into simpler shapes, calculate their individual areas, and then add the areas together.

4. Measure the sides of the paver you will be using for the patio and calculate its area (we'll call the area of one paver "p"). If you measured the paver in inches, convert any square-inch calculations to square feet.

5. Take the total calculated square feet of area of your patio (P) and divide this by the area in square feet of one paver (p).

   P/p = # of pavers needed

   This will give you the total number of pavers needed to complete your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Order a few extra pavers to account for any that you may accidentally break as you work with them.

Resources

• Area Calculation Tools