How to Build a Paver Patio: Materials List

A 10 x 10 ft paver patio built with standard 4 x 8 in pavers needs 495 pavers (450 plus 10% for cuts), 1.23 cubic yards of crushed stone base at 4 inches (about 1.73 tons), 0.31 cubic yards of bedding sand at 1 inch (about 0.42 tons) and 40 ft of edge restraint. A 12 x 12 ft patio needs 713 pavers, 1.78 cubic yards of base and 0.44 cubic yards of sand.

Those figures match what the Paver Calculator shows with its defaults: 4 x 8 in pavers, 10% waste, a 4 inch gravel base and 1 inch of sand. Below is the full shopping list, how each quantity is worked out, and how to change it for other paver sizes.

Materials List for a 10 x 10 and 12 x 12 Patio

Gravel weight uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard and sand uses 1.35, the same averages as the calculator. Check the weight per yard with your supplier if they sell by the ton.

How Many Pavers?

Divide the patio area by the face area of one paver, then add waste. A 4 x 8 in paver covers 32 sq in, and a square foot is 144 sq in, so it takes 4.5 pavers per square foot.

Use about 5 to 10% waste for straight layouts such as running bond, and 10 to 15% for herringbone, diagonal patterns, curves and circles, where far more pavers are cut. At 15%, a 10 x 10 ft patio in 4 x 8 in pavers needs 518. Many pavers sold as "4 x 8" are slightly smaller in reality, which raises the count a little, so enter the exact size from the product sheet if you have it.

How Much Gravel Base?

The base does the real work: it spreads the load and drains water so the pavers stay level. For patios and walkways with foot traffic, 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone base is common. Soft, clay or poorly drained soil needs more, and driveways much more.

Volume is area × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27. At 4 inches, every 100 sq ft takes 1.23 cubic yards; at 6 inches it takes 1.85. Order 10 to 15% extra because the stone compacts. For depth guidance and the difference between base stone and decorative gravel, see how much gravel you need for a driveway or patio base, or run the numbers in the Gravel Calculator.

Bagged paver base exists, but at 0.5 cu ft per bag a 10 x 10 ft base at 4 inches is 67 bags, and a 12 x 12 ft base is 96. For anything bigger than a small landing, bulk delivery is far less work.

How Much Bedding Sand?

Bedding sand is a thin, even layer, usually 1 inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat between rails. At 1 inch, 100 sq ft takes 8.33 cu ft (0.31 cubic yards). A 0.5 cu ft bag weighs about 50 lb, so that is 17 bags; a 12 x 12 ft patio takes 24. Do not use extra sand to fill low spots in the base. Fix the base instead, because thick sand settles unevenly.

How Deep to Dig

Add up the layers: 4 inches of base, 1 inch of sand and the paver thickness. Standard patio pavers are often about 2 3/8 inches (60 mm) thick, so the total is roughly 7.4 inches below finished height. On a 10 x 10 ft patio that is about 2.28 cubic yards of soil to remove, and 3.28 cubic yards on a 12 x 12 ft patio, before it fluffs up in the wheelbarrow. Plan where it will go.

Build in a slope for drainage of about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house. Over 10 ft, that is roughly 1.25 to 2.5 inches of fall.

Edge Restraint

Without a restraint, the outer pavers creep outward and the joints open up. Plastic or aluminum paver edging held with spikes, or a concrete or masonry border, goes on every edge that is not against a wall or a solid structure. Measure the open sides of the patio for the length, and follow the edging maker's spacing for spikes.

Joint Sand

After the pavers are laid and compacted, sweep sand into the joints. Polymeric sand hardens when wetted and resists weeds, ants and washout; plain joint sand is cheaper but needs topping up. Coverage depends heavily on joint width and paver shape, so use the coverage chart on the bag you buy.

Tools You'll Need

Step-by-Step Overview

Safety and When to Call a Pro

Cutting concrete pavers creates fine silica dust. Wet cutting and a properly fitted respirator help, and so does working outdoors upwind. A plate compactor is heavy and loud, so wear hearing protection and steel-toed boots if you have them. For driveways, steep slopes, retaining walls or yards with standing water, a hardscape contractor can design a base and drainage that will last.

Related Guides

If you are weighing pavers against poured concrete, see how thick a concrete slab should be and how many bags of concrete you need. And if the patio borders new planting beds, how much mulch you need covers the finishing touch.

The Short Answer

For a 10 x 10 ft patio: 495 pavers, about 2 tons of base with compaction allowance, 0.31 cubic yards of sand and up to 40 ft of edging. For a 12 x 12 ft patio: 713 pavers, about 2.9 tons of base, 0.44 cubic yards of sand and up to 48 ft of edging. Put in your own dimensions and paver size with the Paver Calculator.