Are you getting ready to lay a patio in your backyard?
Are you trying to figure out how to measure the number of bricks you need?
Just how important is it to know how many bricks in a square foot patio, anyway?
It’s actually very important, and in this article, we’re going to help you learn everything you need to know about how to calculate this number properly so you don’t have to worry about your project going awry.
We’ll walk you through the steps in this simple math equation so you’ll understand not only what the steps are but why you need to perform each one, too. You’ll understand which measurements you need to take and what, exactly, it is you’re trying to calculate.
By the time you finish reading, you’ll be able to figure out the right number of pavers or bricks for your patio no matter what type of bricks you’re using and what size patio you want to lay. So let’s get started learning!
Steps for Computing Bricks Needed
- 1First, measure the bricks you’re going to be using. You will need to know the square inches in your paver brick. To calculate this, measure the length of the brick, then the width, and multiply these two numbers together.
- 2Next, understand that there are 144 square inches in a square foot. This is because a square foot measures 12 inches long by 12 inches wide, and 12x12 is 144.
- 3Divide 144 by the number of square inches in the paver you’re working with. Write this number down and save it for later.
- 4Measure the length and width of the patio space you’re going to be working with. You’re going to need the square footage of this area, so the calculation is the same: length times width.
- 5Multiply the number of square feet in your patio (100) by the number you got in step 3 (4.5). This shows you how many bricks per square foot you need to cover the total number of square feet in the patio.
- 6Keep in mind that you don’t have to account for grout space between bricks when laying them in your yard. You’ll simply sweep a filler in between the small spaces that are left when you install the bricks fairly close to each other, so there isn’t any need to figure this into your calculation.
- 7With that said, however, you’re going to need to buy some extra bricks in case something goes wrong with the ones you buy, or in case you make a mistake somewhere along the way. Inexperienced DIYers should plan to buy ten percent more bricks than you might need based on your calculations—so if your calculations tell you to buy 450 bricks, multiply this by 0.10 to get 45. You should buy at least 45 more bricks, just in case.
Here is one more example:

Conclusion
As you can see, it can time some to get the hang of figuring out numbers like this. However, the overall calculations required for this type of project aren’t very complicated, and with a little practice, you’re sure to be able to understand it and complete the measurements properly. Don’t be afraid to practice a few made-up patio laying scenarios before you go out there and start trying to measure your own yard!
And keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes sometimes. It’s a good idea to anticipate common problems in figuring out numbers like these and try to determine how to get around these issues when they arise. What are some factors that can contribute to errors in this calculation? Can they be avoided?

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to a correct measurement every time. This can go a long way toward helping you get the right number of bricks or pavers the first time without having to go back to the hardware store for more in the middle of your project—and without risking the store running out of the type you’ve been using, too!