Paver Base Calculator
A paver base calculator turns area × base depth ÷ 27 into cubic yards, then × 1.4 tons. A 20 × 10 ft patio with a 4 in base needs 3.46 tons, or 3.80 with waste.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
2.47 yd³ · 3.5 tons
34 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
5 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
Paver base calculator: tons of gravel under your pavers
A paver base calculator sizes the compacted gravel layer that holds up a patio, walkway, or driveway. Multiply area by base depth to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply by 1.4 tons per cubic yard. A 20 × 10 ft patio with a 4-inch base needs 2.47 yd³, which is 3.46 tons, or 3.80 tons with the 10 percent allowance.
The base is the first of three layers: gravel base, then bedding sand, then pavers. It does the structural work.
The formula in plain words
Think of the base as the foundation of a house, laid flat. The amount of stone is the footprint times the thickness.
- Depth in feet = inches ÷ 12
- Cubic yards = length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27
- Tons = cubic yards × 1.4
- With waste = tons × 1.10 when the box is ticked
- Cost = tons × price per ton
Loose stone shrinks when it is compacted, which is why the allowance matters.
Worked examples
- Patio, 20 ft × 10 ft, 4 in base, $45 per ton
- Depth: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
- Volume: 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 ft³ = 2.47 yd³
- Tons: 2.47 × 1.4 = 3.46 tons, or $155.56
- With waste: 3.80 tons, or $171.11
- Driveway apron, 12 ft × 20 ft, 6 in base
- Volume: 12 × 20 × 0.5 = 120 ft³ = 4.44 yd³
- Tons: 4.44 × 1.4 = 6.22 tons, or $280.00
- With waste: 6.84 tons, or $308.00
Example 2 uses 50 percent more stone per square foot than example 1, because the base is 6 inches deep instead of 4. If the stone were crusher run at 1.5 t/yd³, the same volume would weigh about 6.67 tons.
Base needed per 100 square feet
| Base depth | Tons per 100 sq ft | With 10% waste |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 1.73 | 1.90 |
| 6 in | 2.59 | 2.85 |
| 8 in | 3.46 | 3.80 |
| 12 in | 5.19 | 5.70 |
Choosing a base depth
| Use | Typical base | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or patio | About 4 in | Over firm, well-drained soil |
| Driveway | 6 in or more | Vehicles load the base harder |
| Soft or clay soil | Deeper base | Consider a geotextile under the stone |
| Cold climates | Deeper base | Drainage reduces frost heave |
Always follow the paver manufacturer’s guide and local rules.
How to measure your area
- Measure the excavation, not the pavers. The base typically runs wider than the paved surface, commonly about 6 inches past each edge, so it can support the edge restraint.
- Dig to a consistent depth. Mark your excavation depth with stakes and a string line.
- Account for slope. A patio should drain away from the house, so the base follows the slope.
- Split irregular shapes. Run each rectangle separately and add the tons.
- Check the subgrade. Remove topsoil and organic material, then compact the soil before adding stone.
Common mistakes
- Skipping compaction. Loose stone settles under foot traffic and the pavers go with it.
- Adding the base in one thick lift. Compact in layers of about 4 inches or less.
- Forgetting to extend past the edges. A base cut to the paver line leaves the outer row unsupported.
- Using the wrong stone. Rounded gravel does not lock. Angular, graded stone compacts firm.
- Forgetting the sand layer’s height. The bedding sand takes about 1 inch of depth on top of the base, so excavate deeper to make room. See the paver sand calculator.
How deep to dig
The excavation has to hold every layer. For a patio, add the base depth, the roughly 1 inch of bedding sand, and the thickness of the paver, which is often in the range of 2 to 3 inches.
With a 4 inch base, that totals about 7 to 8 inches below the finished surface. A driveway with a 6 inch base needs about 9 to 10 inches. Check your pavers for their exact thickness before you dig.
Related calculators
Count the pavers themselves with the paver calculator. For other base materials, the crusher run calculator uses a heavier density, and the gravel base calculator handles slab and shed bases. Joint filling is covered by the polymeric sand calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between paver base and paver sand?
The base is a thick layer of compacted gravel, commonly 4 inches or more, that carries the load and drains water. The sand is a thin bedding layer of roughly 1 inch on top that the pavers are set into. They are separate steps with separate calculators.
How deep should the gravel base be for pavers?
About 4 inches is a common figure for pedestrian projects like patios and walkways. Driveways and any area carrying vehicles typically need a thicker base, often 6 inches or more, and soft soil may need more. Check the manufacturer's installation guide and local practice.
What are the layers in a paver installation, from bottom to top?
Compacted subgrade, then the gravel base layer (this calculator), then a roughly 1-inch bedding sand layer, then the pavers, with joint sand swept into the gaps last. An edge restraint holds the outside row in place.
Do I compact the base before adding sand?
Yes. Compact the gravel base with a plate compactor before screeding the bedding sand on top. For deeper bases, add and compact the stone in lifts of about 4 inches or less, rather than all at once. Skipping compaction is a common cause of pavers settling later.
Why does this use the same density as a gravel calculator?
The calculator uses the generic gravel density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Dense-graded base such as crusher run is heavier, about 1.5 tons per cubic yard on this site, so a base of crusher run would weigh roughly 7 percent more. Ask your supplier for the exact figure.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.