Paver Base Calculator
The compacted gravel base and 1-inch bedding sand under your pavers – both layers, in tons, yards and bags.
- Yards, tons, bags & cost
- US & metric units
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A paver patio is only as good as what is under it. This paver base calculator works out both layers at once – the compacted crushed-stone base and the 1″ bedding sand – in tons, cubic yards and bags, with a compaction allowance for the base so you do not run short halfway through the job.
How to use the paver base calculator
- Enter the patio or driveway size
Length and width in feet. Add 6″ to each side if you are installing edge restraints outside the paver field – the base should extend beyond the pavers by about the base depth.
- Set the compacted base thickness
4″ for a patio or walkway on well-drained soil, 6″ on clay or where it freezes hard, 8–12″ for a driveway. This is the finished, compacted thickness – the calculator adds the extra loose material needed.
- Choose the base material
Crusher run (also sold as paver base, #411, ABC or road base) is the standard choice – it compacts into a hard, stable layer. 3/4″ minus is similar. #57 clean stone is used for permeable paver systems.
- Set the bedding sand to 1 inch
The sand layer is always about 1″ (never more). Concrete / sharp sand is correct; fine mason’s sand shifts. The calculator adds 10% for screeding waste.
- Read each layer
Results show the total plus a line for each layer, so you can order base stone by the ton from the quarry and sand by the bag or ton as suits the quantity.
Paver base formula
Base (yd³ loose) = Area (sq ft) × compacted depth (in) ÷ 324 × 1.20 (20% compaction)Base tons = base yd³ × 1.7 (crusher run)Sand (yd³) = Area (sq ft) × 1" ÷ 324 × 1.10 · Sand tons = sand yd³ × 1.4
Example: 12 × 16 ft patio, 4″ base, 1″ sand
- Area = 12 × 16 = 192 sq ft
- Base = 192 × 4 ÷ 324 = 2.37 yd³ compacted → × 1.20 = 2.84 yd³ loose = 4.8 tons of crusher run
- Sand = 192 × 1 ÷ 324 = 0.59 yd³ → × 1.10 = 0.65 yd³ = 0.9 tons (about 37 bags of 50 lb)
- Total to order: about 5.7 tons of material for a 192 sq ft patio
How thick should a paver base be?
| Application | Soil / climate | Compacted base | Bedding sand | Base material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patio, walkway, pool deck | Sandy / gravelly, good drainage | 4″ | 1″ | Crusher run / paver base |
| Patio, walkway | Clay, poor drainage, or hard freeze | 6–8″ | 1″ | Crusher run / paver base |
| Residential driveway | Any | 8–12″ | 1″ | Crusher run, in 4″ lifts |
| Driveway, heavy vehicles | Any | 12″+ | 1″ | #3 sub-base + crusher run |
| Permeable pavers | Any | 6–12″ open-graded | 2″ of 1/4″ chip | #57 over #2 stone |
| Stepping stones / light path | Any | 2–3″ | 1″ | Crusher run or stone dust |
Paver base per square foot (quick reference)
| Patio size | 4″ base (tons) | 6″ base (tons) | 8″ base (tons) | 1″ sand (tons / 50 lb bags) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 (100 sq ft) | 2.5 | 3.75 | 5.0 | 0.5 / 20 |
| 12 × 12 (144 sq ft) | 3.6 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 0.7 / 28 |
| 12 × 16 (192 sq ft) | 4.8 | 7.2 | 9.6 | 0.9 / 37 |
| 16 × 20 (320 sq ft) | 8.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 | 1.5 / 62 |
| 20 × 24 (480 sq ft) | 12.0 | 18.0 | 24.0 | 2.3 / 93 |
| Driveway 12 × 40 (480 sq ft) | – | – | 24.0 | 2.3 / 93 |
Includes 20% compaction on the base (crusher run at 1.69 tons/yd³) and 10% waste on sand (1.42 tons/yd³).
Installing the base properly
- Excavate to paver thickness + 1″ sand + base depth, plus a 1/4″ per foot slope away from the house for drainage.
- Compact the subgrade (the soil) before adding anything. Soft spots get dug out and filled with stone.
- Geotextile fabric on clay or wet soil keeps the stone from pumping into the mud – well worth it.
- Base in lifts. Spread crusher run no more than 3–4″ at a time, dampen it, and run a plate compactor over it in two directions. Repeat to full depth. This is where the 20% goes.
- Screed 1″ of sand between pipes or rails, then lift the rails and fill the grooves. Do not walk on screeded sand.
- Lay pavers, cut edges, install edge restraint, then compact the pavers into the sand and sweep in joint sand (polymeric sand hardens with a mist of water).
Cost of paver base materials
Base stone is cheap relative to the pavers themselves – typically $25–$60 per ton for crusher run delivered in bulk – and concrete sand is $20–$50 per ton. For a 200 sq ft patio, base and sand together usually come to a small fraction of the paver cost. Bagged paver base (0.5 cu ft, around 50 lb) costs several times more per ton and only makes sense for a stepping-stone path or a tiny landing.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need under pavers?
For a patio, plan on a 4–6″ compacted base, which is roughly 2.5–3.75 tons of crusher run per 100 sq ft once compaction is included. Driveways need 8–12″ (5–7.5 tons per 100 sq ft).
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1 inch bedding layer – about 0.5 tons or 20 bags of 50 lb per 100 sq ft including 10% waste. Never make the sand layer thicker to make up depth; add base stone instead.
What is paver base made of?
“Paver base” sold in bags is usually crusher run or 3/4″ minus crushed stone – angular stone with fines that compacts into a hard layer. In bulk, ask for crusher run, #411, ABC stone, road base or dense-graded aggregate depending on your region; they are all the same idea.
Can I use #57 stone as a paver base?
Only for permeable paver systems designed for open-graded stone, with a 1/4″ chip bedding layer instead of sand. For a standard sand-set patio, #57 does not compact into a stable surface – use crusher run.
How many bags of paver base do I need?
A 0.5 cu ft bag covers only about 1.25 sq ft at 4″ compacted (allowing for compaction). So a 10 × 10 patio at 4″ needs roughly 80 bags – a strong argument for ordering 2.5 tons in bulk instead. The calculator shows bag counts for both layers.
Do I need to compact the paver base?
Yes – it is the single most important step. Uncompacted base settles unevenly for years, leaving dips and rocking pavers. Rent a plate compactor and compact every 3–4″ lift in two directions, with the stone slightly damp.
