Face size is the unit you will lay
Measure the finished patio length and width. One paver face is length times width of the unit in your hand — an 8 × 4 in paver is 0.22 ft², not a 12 in square. Patterns that cut every edge need more waste than a running bond.
Always round up to a whole paver. Spares for later repairs belong in the waste input, not a second guess after the pallet leaves.
Base is not the paver
Gravel base, bedding sand and polymeric sand are companion tools. Do not bury them inside the paver count. Metric patios in Qatar should switch units; do not convert a square-foot face into millimetres by eye.
Do it in order
- Enter patio length and width, then the face of one paver.
- Apply a cut-and-spare waste percentage that matches the pattern.
- Round up to whole pavers, then take off base and sand on their own lines.
Worked example — 12 ft × 10 ft patio, 8 × 4 in paver, 10% waste
Patio area is 120 ft². One 8 × 4 in face is 0.22 ft², so the field is 540 pavers before waste. With 10% waste the order is 594 pavers. A herringbone layout is not this ticket — raise waste.
Planning boundary
This is a unit count. It does not design drainage, compaction, edge restraint or a live pallet price.
Does this include the border course?
A soldier-course border is extra linear pavers. Keep it as an allowance or a second line.
Is the base in this count?
No. Open the paver-base calculator for compacted depth.
Can I mix sizes on one takeoff?
No. Split mixed modules into separate counts.