A paver patio is three orders in one: the pavers, the gravel base under them, and the sand between. Here’s all three from one measurement.
Patio details
sq ft
Pavers to buy (incl. 5% waste)
—
Gravel base—
Base in tons—
Bedding sand (1 in)—
Joint sand (polymeric bags)—
Excavate to base depth + 1 in sand + paver thickness so the surface lands at grade. Compact the gravel in 2-in lifts — the base does the structural work; pavers are just the skin.
The patio sandwich
From the dirt up: 4–8 inches of compacted gravel base, 1 inch of bedding sand screeded flat, then the pavers with polymeric sand swept into the joints. Each layer has its own order, and the base is where quantity (and quality) actually matters — a patio fails from below, never from the pavers.
pavers = ceil(area ÷ paver sq ft × 1.05) · base yards = area × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Worked example
A 200 sq ft patio in 4 × 8 Hollands with a 4-in base: 945 pavers, 2.5 yards (~3.5 tons) of gravel, 0.6 yards of bedding sand, and 4 bags of polymeric sand. Note the ratio — the stone under the patio outweighs the patio. That's correct, and skimping there is why patios wave and sink by year three.
Edges and slope
Pitch the whole assembly about 1 inch per 8 feet away from the house so water sheds. Edge restraint (spiked plastic or concrete curb) around the perimeter is non-negotiable — without it the field slowly spreads and joints open. Wet the polymeric sand per the bag; it hardens into flexible joints that lock everything and starve the weeds.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel base goes under pavers?
4 inches of compacted base for patios and walkways, 6 on soft or clay soils, 8 or more under anything a vehicle touches — compacted in 2-inch lifts. Plus a 1-inch bedding sand layer directly under the pavers.
How many 4x8 pavers per square foot?
4.5 pavers per square foot — each covers 0.222 sq ft. A 200 sq ft patio runs about 900 before the 5% cut-waste allowance.
What is polymeric sand and do I need it?
Joint sand with binders that hardens after wetting, locking pavers together while staying slightly flexible. It resists washout, ants and weeds far better than plain sand — one bag does roughly 60 sq ft of typical joints.