Paver Costs Calculator
Don’t be surprised by the hidden costs of installing interlocking pavers by using our paver cost calculator. Our calculator will provide you with a ballpark estimate to help you plan for your paver project. Learn about the different costs that go into installing pavers in your home today.
Interlocking concrete pavers are durable and fit together tightly without the need of mortar. They are perfect for a driveway, patio, walkway or pool deck and instantly increase your curb appeal and property value. The cost outlined here is for the most common residential grade, 60mm thick, unsealed paving stones, available with a variety of different color/style options.
Bedding Sand
Class II Road Base
Class II Road Base is an aggregate of crushed rock from 3/4" all the way down to fine dust. On top of the base a 1-inch layer of sharp angled bedding sand is screeded. This is not round beach sand that you would find at your local beaches but rather sharp and angular in design.
After the borders have been cut, the areas that are abutting up against soft-scape surfaces (i.e. grass, dirt, asphalt, etc.) are trenched and concrete is poured to make a footing. This concrete bond beam secures the perimeter of the pavers.
Prior to the base preparation, a geotextile fiber is installed which will inhibit the native soils (your dirt) from mixing with the Class II Road Base. One of the main reasons pavers undulate and fail later down the line is when you skip this step. The fiber retains the integrity of the foundation and system and the foundation is vital to the longevity of a paver installation. This is highly recommended for clay conditions.
A plate compactor is used to compact the pavers down into the bedding sand, bringing the sand 1/4 inch up on the stone. At this point, the stones are now interlocked. Joint sand is swept into the 1/16-inch paver joints and a plate compactor is used to compact the sand from top down.
These fees are for truck loads of dirt and concrete. Each 500 square feet may use about 2 truckloads of concrete and 1 truckload of dirt.
Delivery fees apply to the delivery of materials to the job site, which is affected by distance and the manufacturer chosen. A standard truck can hold approximately 1,400 square feet of pavers.
In addition to delivery fees and dump fees, the trucks have a fueling fee which comes out higher or lower depending on distances.
A portable bathroom is a good investment for a larger paving job. The portable bathroom for a crew to use during the project depends on the size of the project and the amount of days the portable bathroom will be on site.
The paver manufacturer charges the company an added fee for the use of their pallets to help transport the pavers.
This is usually a flat fee for the company to extract all leftover materials like pallets and excess pavers. Clean up can also mean landscaping areas that have been agitated by the installation process. Again this varies based on paver manufacturers and truck driving distances.
Check with your municipality to see if you require a permit for this work. Local governments may require paperwork to be filed as well as a full site inspection.
The crew should take about five days to finish this project as long as they put together the five or so qualified people necessary to take on this kind of work. If someone suggests a smaller crew, be wary - or if their timeline is significantly greater than five days (depending on aspects like delivery) - you might want to consider another source for your labor.
These are any administrative costs including including standard worker fees such as General Liability and Workers Comp Insurance should someone get hurt on your property. In addition, there are things like accounting fees for payroll, licensing/certification fees for fully bonded crews and other associated fees.
The expertise of a sales/design consultant can make a project fit ideally into your space. They often have ideas and experience to maximize the attractiveness and use of your project.
A landscape architect might be necessary to design aesthetically pleasing elements and match greenery to a paver project.
Project managers can be an invaluable resource as an advocate for you when pricing seems as though it might reach overruns. Paying a small amount for a manager will likely save you a significant amount of money in the end.
How to Calculate the Number of Pavers Required
Planning your project involves determining the number of pavers you’ll need. Follow these straightforward steps to estimate your materials accurately.
Step 1: Determine the Patio Area
To estimate the number of pavers for your patio, walkway, or driveway, start by measuring the area. Measure the length and width of the space in feet.
Find the square footage by multiplying these dimensions, or use a square footage calculator for irregular shapes.
Patio Square Footage Formula:
sq ft = length (ft) × width (ft) sq ft = length (ft) × width (ft)
Thus, the square footage equals the length in feet times the width in feet.
Step 2: Measure the Paver Size
Next, calculate the square footage of your chosen paver. Measure the paver’s length and width in inches, then use the following formula:
Paver Square Footage Formula:
paver sq ft = [length(in) × width(in)] / 144
So, the paver’s square footage is the length in inches times the width in inches, divided by 144.
Step 3: Calculate the Total Number of Pavers
Finally, with the square footage of both the project area and the individual paver, you can determine the number of pavers required. Divide the total square footage of the patio by the square footage of a single paver.
Formula to Estimate Pavers:
pavers needed = patio sq ft / paver sq ft
By following these steps, you’ll be able to accurately estimate the number of pavers needed for your project.
How to Estimate Pavers for a Multi-Piece Pattern
When using a multi-piece pattern, calculating the number of pavers you need becomes more complex due to the varying shapes and sizes involved. Follow these steps to estimate the required materials accurately.
Step 1: Determine the Pattern’s Square Footage
For patterns forming a repeating square or rectangle, measure the total length and width of the pattern. Multiply these dimensions together and divide by 144 to convert the area to square footage.
Formula for Pattern Square Footage:
pattern sq ft = [length(in) × width(in)] / 144
Step 2: Calculate Individual Paver Square Footage for Irregular Patterns
If the pattern does not form a neat square or rectangle, such as a pattern using multiple paver sizes, calculate the square footage of each individual paver and then sum these areas.
For example, a 3-piece pattern using two 4″ x 8″ pavers and one 8″ x 8″ paver would have a total area of 0.89 sq ft per pattern repeat.
Individual Paver Formula:
paver sq ft = [length(in) × width(in)] / 144
Sum the areas of the individual pavers to get the total area per pattern repeat.
Step 3: Calculate Total Patterns Needed
Divide the total area of your project by the area of one pattern repeat to find the number of pattern repeats required.
Formula to Estimate Patterns:
total patterns needed = total project area (sq ft) /pattern area (sq ft)
Step 4: Determine the Total Number of Pavers
Multiply the number of pattern repeats by the number of each type of paver in the pattern to find the total quantity needed for each size.
Step 5: Account for Waste
As with any paver project, order at least 20% more material to cover waste and cutting errors. Additionally, be aware that patterns sold as sets may require you to purchase minimum quantities, so round up to the nearest full set.
By following these steps, you can accurately estimate the number of pavers required for a project using a multi-piece pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate how many pavers I need?
To calculate the number of pavers needed for a project, measure the total area to be covered, such as a 20 x 10 foot space, resulting in 200 square feet. Determine the size of each paver, for example, 12 x 12 inches, which covers one square foot. Divide the total area by the area of one paver, yielding 200 pavers for 200 square feet. To account for waste, breakage, and cuts, add an extra 10%, resulting in a need for 220 pavers. So, for a 20 x 10-foot area using 12 by 12-inch pavers, 220 pavers should be needed.
How much does a 20 x 20 paver patio cost DIY?
The cost to install a 20 x 20 feet (400 square feet) paver patio as a DIY project is $2,255.30. This includes only the cost of materials. But, we recommend leaving the heavy lifting (and digging, and paver laying) to the professionals. The team at Install-It-Direct is here to help!
How do I estimate paver installation?
Estimating paver installation involves calculating the costs of materials, labor, operational fees, and additional company overhead and profit. Start by measuring the area to be paved, such as a 400 square foot patio. Calculate the material costs, including pavers, base materials, geotextile fabric, bedding sand, concrete for bond beams, and joint sand, which for a 400 square foot area totals approximately $2,255.30. Include operational fees like dumping, fueling, delivery, portable bathroom, pallet fees, clean-up, and excavation, which can add up to around $2,202.50. Skilled labor is crucial, with experienced crews costing about $6.01 per square foot, totaling $2,404. Factor in company overhead (10% of total materials, operations, and labor costs) and profit (10%), which for this example would be $686.18 and $754.80 respectively. Summing all these costs, the estimated total for a 400 square foot patio would be approximately $8,302.80.