How pallets are calculated
Field pavers use install area minus border area, then add waste and divide by supplier coverage per pallet. Border pavers use border LF, waste, and LF per pallet.
Free contractor tool
Paver material takeoff calculator
Quantities for pallets, CY, bags, edge LF, and haul-off before the supplier quote turns into a jobsite surprise.
1
Area & geometry
sf
Current total: 850 sf
2
Border / soldier course
LF
3
Field paver
sf
in
4
Polymeric sand
sf
5
Edge restraint
LF
6
Excavation & haul-off
×
Derived dig depth: 7.375"
7
Base rock
in
t
8
Bedding sand
in
t
9
Modifiers
%
Default is 8%. Increase for curves, diagonal patterns, or cut-heavy edges.
Grand quantity
8 pallets · 11 CY base · 11 bags poly
How the math works
A paver takeoff should read like an order list, not a spreadsheet.
These formulas keep every material line tied to the same job assumptions: area, border length, depth, compaction, and waste.
Base rock and bedding sand depth
Depth inputs convert square feet to cubic yards, then multiply by tons per cubic yard so the same takeoff can match either supplier unit.
Polymeric sand coverage
Polymeric sand bags are rounded up from total paved area divided by bag coverage. Coverage stays editable because joint width and paver texture change yield.
Excavation and haul-off
Excavation depth is derived from base depth, bedding depth, and paver thickness. Haul-off applies a fluff factor and rounds up to protect truck capacity.
FAQ
Can I use this for a driveway?
Yes for a first-pass material list, but driveway loads need supplier and engineering confirmation for base depth, compaction, drainage, and edge restraint.
Why does the calculator split field pavers from border pavers?
Field pavers are ordered by area coverage. Soldier-course and sailor-course borders are ordered by linear feet, so they need a separate pallet calculation.
Should waste be higher than 8 percent?
Use higher waste for curves, diagonal layouts, small patios with many cuts, or mixed paver sizes. Straight rectangular work can often stay near the default.
Does this replace supplier takeoff advice?
No. It gives you a contractor-facing order list before quoting. Confirm final pallets, tons, and bag counts with the supplier before purchasing.
Why are base rock and bedding sand shown as CY and tons?
Suppliers may quote bulk material by cubic yard or ton. Showing both prevents unit confusion when a quote comes back in a different unit.
What is haul-off fluff factor?
Excavated soil expands after digging. The fluff factor estimates that expansion so haul-off capacity is not undercounted.