How this paver base calculator works
Everything under the pavers is two separate orders — a structural crushed-stone base and a thin sand screed — and each is its own volume × density:
sand tons = area × 1″ ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.35 · + waste, up to the ¼ ton
Worked example: base for a 12 × 12 paver patio
144 ft² at 4 in of base is 48 ft³ — 1.78 yd³, or 2.49 tons of crushed stone; with 10% compaction waste the order is 2.75 tons. The 1 in sand course adds 0.75 tons. Together about $154 at the default prices, before the pavers.
How much gravel and sand under pavers?
| Patio | Area | Base | Sand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 | 100 ft² | 2 t | 0.5 t |
| 12 × 12 | 144 ft² | 2.75 t | 0.75 t |
| 16 × 16 | 256 ft² | 5 t | 1.25 t |
| 20 × 20 | 400 ft² | 7.75 t | 2 t |
| Use | Base | Sand |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway | 4″ | 1″ |
| Patio | 4–6″ | 1″ |
| Driveway | 8–12″ | 1″ |
Paver base FAQ
How much paver base do I need?
A 4 in compacted base under a 12 × 12 ft patio takes 2.75 tons of crushed stone with 10% waste, plus 0.75 tons of bedding sand for the 1 in screed course. The calculator scales both layers from your dimensions and depth, in tons and in 0.5 ft³ bags.
How deep should paver base be?
4–6 inches of compacted gravel for patios and walkways, 8–12 inches where vehicles drive, always on top of undisturbed or compacted subgrade. The sand on top stays at 1 inch no matter what — it beds the pavers, it doesn’t add structure.
What kind of gravel goes under pavers?
¾ in minus crushed stone with fines — sold as paver base, dense-grade aggregate, or road base (CA-6 / Class 5 / 21A depending on your region). The angular pieces and stone dust lock tight under a plate compactor. Round pea gravel never locks and doesn’t belong under pavers.
Can I lay pavers on just sand without gravel?
Not if you want them flat next spring. Sand alone shifts, washes out, and ruts under point loads; the compacted gravel base is what spreads loads and drains water. The exception is a stepping-stone path where movement doesn’t matter.
How many bags of paver base do I need?
The default patio takes about 106 bags of base and 27 of sand at 0.5 ft³ a bag — which is why bulk delivery wins past roughly a ton. The bag line under the drawing recomputes for your job; compare the pallet price against a bulk drop before loading carts.
How much does paver base cost?
Crushed base typically runs $35–60 a ton and bedding sand $30–50 in 2026, delivery extra. The default 144 ft² patio lands around $154 in base materials at the editable default prices — the pavers themselves are the bigger line.
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