Hub
Hardscape calculators
Pavers, segmental retaining walls and everything that goes underneath them. Every tool returns quantities you can hand straight to a supply yard: pieces, tons, cubic yards and bags.
Core hardscape tools
- Paver calculatorWork out how many pavers you need plus cubic yards of base gravel, tons of bedding sand and joint sand bags. Handles every common paver size and laying pattern.
- Retaining wall calculatorCalculate retaining wall blocks, capstones, leveling pad gravel and drainage backfill from wall length and height. Works with any segmental block size.
- Deck calculatorFree deck calculator: enter your deck size and get the board count, linear feet, joists, beams, footings, fasteners and an installed cost estimate for pressure-treated, cedar, composite or PVC decking.
- Deck board calculatorWork out how many deck boards you need. Enter deck size, board width and length, and the layout — straight, diagonal or picture frame — for a board count, linear feet, screws and cost.
- Deck framing calculatorCalculate deck framing: joist count at 12, 16 or 24 inch spacing, joist size against the span table, beam and post layout, rim boards, hangers, blocking and structural screws.
- Deck footing calculatorCalculate deck footings: how many you need, the diameter, the depth for your frost line, and how many 80 lb bags of concrete or cubic yards each footing takes.
- Deck cost estimatorEstimate what a deck costs to build. Pressure-treated, cedar, composite and PVC priced per square foot with framing, footings, railing, stairs and labour, plus the DIY versus installed split.
Aggregate and stone calculators
- Crushed Stone1.35 tons / cu ydFor driveways, drainage layers and paver base.
- Pea Gravel1.3 tons / cu ydFor pathways, patios, playgrounds and dog runs.
- River Rock1.35 tons / cu ydFor dry creek beds, borders and decorative ground cover.
- Crushed Limestone1.35 tons / cu ydFor driveways, farm lanes and compacted base.
- Decomposed Granite1.49 tons / cu ydFor pathways, patios and xeriscape surfaces.
- Paver Base1.76 tons / cu ydFor the compacted layer under pavers and slabs.
- Bedding Sand1.35 tons / cu ydFor the screeded setting bed under pavers.
- Drainage Stone1.35 tons / cu ydFor French drains, wall backfill and dry wells.
Paver cost by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Pavers & hardscape guides
The written background behind these calculators — specs, depths, cost drivers and the mistakes that cost the most.
Pillar guide · 9 min readThe complete paver patio guideThe full build sequence for a paver patio or driveway, with the quantities and depths a hardscape crew works to.- Paver base build-up, layer by layerExcavation depth, geotextile, dense-graded vs open-graded aggregate, compaction in lifts, and screeding bedding sand to a true 1 inch.
- What actually drives paver patio costWhy paver quotes vary so much — paver type, pattern and cut count, site access, excavation depth and regional labour rates — with 2026 cost ranges.
- Edge restraint and joint sand: the details that hold it togetherWhy paver edges spread, how to detail edge restraint properly, and how to install polymeric joint sand so it hardens instead of hazing or washing out.
- Segmental retaining wall basicsHow segmental retaining walls work: buried base course, levelling pad, drainage aggregate and pipe, geogrid reinforcement and when an engineer is required.
Frequently asked questions
+How many pavers do I need per square foot?
Divide the area by the coverage of one paver: a 4x8 inch unit covers 0.222 sq ft, so 100 square feet needs 450 pieces before waste. Add 5% for straight layouts and 15% for herringbone or curved edges.
+How deep should a paver base be?
4 inches of compacted aggregate on well-drained soil, 6-8 inches on clay or in freeze-thaw climates, and 8-12 inches under a paver driveway — always under exactly 1 inch of screeded bedding sand.
+How much sand goes under pavers?
One inch of screeded bedding sand, which is about 0.31 cubic yards per 100 square feet. Deeper bedding lets pavers settle unevenly and will not level a poor base.
+How high can a retaining wall be without an engineer?
Commonly 4 feet of exposed height, but the limit is set locally and drops when a driveway, slope or structure loads the soil above the wall.