How many bricks for a patio?
Multiply the patio length by its width to get the area, then multiply by the number of bricks per square foot or square meter for your paver. A standard 4 × 8 in brick paver gives about 4.5 per ft², and a 200 × 100 mm paver about 50 per m². Add waste for your pattern.
Example: a 12 × 10 ft patio is 120 ft². With 4 × 8 in pavers and ⅛ in sand joints that's 516 pavers — 542 with 5% waste in running bond, or 593 with 15% for herringbone. The base needs about 1.7 yd³ (2.4 tons) of crushed stone at 4 in deep and 0.37 yd³ (0.5 tons) of bedding sand.
Bricks needed for common patio sizes
| Patio size | Area | 4 × 8 in pavers (+5%) | Base stone, 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft | 64 ft² | 289 | 0.9 yd³ |
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 ft² | 452 | 1.4 yd³ |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 ft² | 650 | 2.0 yd³ |
| 12 × 16 ft | 192 ft² | 867 | 2.7 yd³ |
| 16 × 20 ft | 320 ft² | 1,444 | 4.5 yd³ |
| 3 × 3 m | 9 m² | 452 (200 × 100 mm) | 1.0 m³ |
| 4 × 5 m | 20 m² | 1,005 (200 × 100 mm) | 2.3 m³ |
Paver counts assume ⅛ in (3 mm) joints in running bond with 5% waste; base stone includes 15% for compaction.
Choosing a patio pattern
- Running bond — the easiest to lay and the least waste; run the long side across the main direction of view to make a small patio look wider.
- Basketweave — a traditional look for brick patios; pairs of bricks alternate direction.
- Herringbone — the most interlocking and visually busy; expect more cuts along the edges.
- Circles — use "+ Circle" for a round patio or fire-pit area, and allow extra for cutting.
Laying a brick patio: the layers
- Excavate to allow for the base, sand and paver thickness — usually about 7 in (180 mm) in total for a patio.
- Slope the subgrade about ¼ in per foot (2%) away from the house for drainage.
- Lay and compact the crushed stone base in 2 in layers.
- Screed 1 in (25 mm) of bedding sand — don't compact it before laying.
- Lay the bricks, install edge restraint, compact them into the sand and sweep joint sand in.
Use real paving bricks (pavers) rather than wall bricks for a patio: pavers are made to resist frost, wear and water, while ordinary facing bricks can crack and flake when laid flat outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks do I need for a 10 × 10 patio?
About 452 standard 4 × 8 in brick pavers with 5% waste, or about 495 in herringbone with 15% waste. That assumes ⅛ in sand joints.
How many bricks for a 12 × 12 patio?
A 12 × 12 ft patio is 144 ft², which needs about 620 brick pavers, or 650 with 5% waste.
How much gravel do I need for a brick patio?
For a 4 in base, about 1.4 cubic yards of crushed stone per 100 ft² including compaction, or about 0.115 m³ per m².
Can I use regular bricks for a patio?
It's better to use clay or concrete pavers. Ordinary wall bricks are not designed to lie flat in the weather and may crack or flake in frost. If you use reclaimed bricks, choose hard, frost-resistant ones.
Do I need sand under a brick patio?
Yes — a 1 in (25 mm) layer of coarse bedding sand over a compacted crushed-stone base. The sand lets you set each brick level and firm.