What You Need to Lay Pavers: Tools and Materials Checklist
A paver patio needs more tools for the base than for the pavers. You dig out, compact the gravel in layers, screed a bed of sand, lay and cut the pavers, then compact them and sweep in the joint sand. The plate compactor and the saw are the two tools most people rent. A 12 × 12 ft patio takes 423 pavers (6 × 9 in), 3.0 tons of base gravel, 0.60 tons of bedding sand, 48 ft of edging and 3 bags of polymeric sand; the paver patio materials calculator does your own size.
Part of the project planner: Planning a paver patio or garden path.
The tool checklist, stage by stage
1. Mark out and dig
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Tape measure, string line and stakes | Setting out the patio and the finished height | Own |
| Line level or a laser level | Setting the slope, about 1/4 in per foot away from the house | Own, or rent a laser |
| Marking paint | Drawing the outline | Own |
| Sod cutter | Lifting grass from a large area | Rent |
| Square-nose shovel and a mattock | Digging out to depth | Own |
| Wheelbarrow | Moving soil out and gravel in | Own or borrow |
2. Build the base
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Plate compactor | Compacting each 2 in layer of base, then the pavers | Rent |
| Landscape rake | Spreading the gravel evenly | Own |
| 4 ft level and a long straight board | Checking the base for flat and for slope | Own |
| Utility knife | Cutting the landscape fabric | Own |
3. Screed and lay
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Screed rails | Two 1 in pipes or rails set in the sand to give an even bed | Own |
| Screed board | Drawn along the rails to level the sand | Own |
| Rubber mallet | Tapping pavers into line without chipping them | Own |
| Masonry saw, or a paver splitter | Cutting pavers at the edges | Rent |
| Hammer and masonry chisel | Small trims, and marking cut lines | Own |
| Knee pads | Hours of kneeling on gravel | Own |
4. Edge, compact and fill
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Edging and spikes, and a sledgehammer | Holding the outer row so the patio cannot spread | Own |
| Rubber pad for the compactor | Settling the pavers without marking them | Rent with the compactor |
| Push broom | Sweeping the joint sand in | Own |
| Leaf blower | Clearing the surface before you wet polymeric sand | Own or borrow |
| Hose with a shower nozzle | Wetting polymeric sand gently so it sets | Own |
Safety kit
- A respirator for fine dust (N95 or better) and safety glasses whenever you cut. Cutting concrete pavers makes silica dust, which is harmful to breathe, so cut outside with a wet saw or a saw with dust control.
- Ear protection for the saw and the compactor.
- Gloves and steel-toe or sturdy boots: pavers are heavy and have sharp edges.
- Lift with your legs, and move a pallet of pavers with a hand truck or in several trips.
- Call 811 a few days before you dig.
Materials for other patio sizes
6 × 9 in pavers on a 4 in base, with 10% extra pavers. A bigger patio means more trips with the wheelbarrow, not more kinds of tool: the 320 sq ft patio needs 6.6 tons of base, so book a delivery that can tip close to the work.
| Patio | Pavers | Base gravel | Bedding sand | Edging | Polymeric sand (50 lb bags) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 ft | 235 | 1.7 tons | 0.33 tons | 36 ft | 2 |
| 10 × 10 ft | 294 | 2.1 tons | 0.42 tons | 40 ft | 2 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 423 | 3.0 tons | 0.60 tons | 48 ft | 3 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 564 | 4.0 tons | 0.80 tons | 56 ft | 3 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 939 | 6.6 tons | 1.33 tons | 72 ft | 5 |
For how each quantity is worked out, see the paver patio materials list, how much paver base do I need and how much polymeric sand. The paver patio planner takes you through the job in order. Estimates only: check the product labels.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need to lay pavers?
A tape measure, string line, shovel, wheelbarrow, rake, level, a plate compactor (rented), screed rails and a board, a rubber mallet, a masonry saw or splitter for cuts, a push broom and knee pads.
Do I need a plate compactor for pavers?
Yes. The base has to be compacted in layers, and the finished pavers are run over with the compactor and a rubber pad to settle them into the sand. A hand tamper is only practical for a small path.
How do I cut pavers?
With a masonry saw or a cut-off saw with a diamond blade, ideally with a water feed to keep the dust down, or with a paver splitter, which makes no dust but leaves a rougher edge. Both can be rented.
How many pavers for a 12x12 patio?
423 pavers of 6 × 9 in with 10% extra for cuts, on 3.0 tons of base gravel and 0.60 tons of sand.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.
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