Paver Base Calculator

The base layer is what separates a paver patio that still looks great in twenty years from one that heaves, settles, and grows weeds by year three. Most failed paver installations are not paver failures — they are base failures: the gravel layer was too thin, the wrong material was used, the base wasn't compacted in lifts, the edge restraint had no solid gravel to bite into, or the contractor forgot the 20% compaction factor and came up two tons short on delivery day. This calculator solves all of those problems before your truck shows up. Crushed stone is sold loose by weight but installed compacted by depth — and those are not the same number. A cubic yard delivered loose shrinks roughly 20% under a plate compactor in 2-inch lifts. Order exactly the compacted volume and you will be a full cubic yard short on a typical patio.

Bedding sand is a different animal. The 1-inch screeded sand layer directly under the pavers must be ASTM C33 concrete sand (washed concrete sand, 2NS, sharp sand) — never mason sand, never play sand. Angular grains lock together when pavers are vibrated in; rounded sands shift forever. The layer must be exactly 1 inch — thicker layers settle differentially and pavers rock within the first year. Our calculator outputs the bedding sand quantity in cubic yards, tons, and 0.5 cu ft retail bag count so you can order bulk or pick up at a big-box store.

Depth Recommendation Table

The Formulas Explained

Every paver base calculation comes down to four formulas. Master these and you can sanity-check any contractor estimate or DIY plan.

How to Use This Calculator

1. 1. Pick a Size or Project Preset: Tap a common preset like 10×12 Patio or 20×40 Driveway to auto-fill dimensions and recommended depths. Or enter custom length × width.
2. 2. Choose Project Type: Walkway, patio, light driveway, heavy driveway, or pool deck. Each preset sets industry-standard gravel and sand depths so you don't have to memorize them.
3. 3. Adjust for Site Conditions: Toggle Depth Override if you want to specify custom gravel or sand depths (deeper bases for clay or freeze-thaw zones). Set edge overage (default 6") for edge restraint support, and a waste factor (default 10%).
4. 4. Enter Material Costs: Use your quarry's actual price per ton or cubic yard. Default values are typical 2026 retail prices.
5. 5. Calculate, Order, Build: Hit Calculate to see loose cubic yards (order this), compacted cubic yards (final in-place), tonnage, sand bag count, total project weight, and total material cost. Export the report or share to your phone.

Common Use Cases

Pro Tips for a 20-Year Paver Base

• • Compact in 2-inch lifts. A 100 lb plate compactor only reaches 95% density on 2-3 inches at a time. For a 6-inch base, compact in two 3-inch lifts. For a 9-inch driveway base, three lifts.
• • Use geotextile fabric. A 4-6 oz non-woven fabric between subgrade and gravel stops fines from migrating up and causing long-term settlement. Mandatory over clay or freeze-thaw zones.
• • Slope at 1/8 inch per foot away from structures. Both the gravel and the screeded sand must be laid at this slope — pavers stay flat to one another but the whole field tilts.
• • Always use edge restraint. The gravel base must extend at least 6 inches past the paver edge so spikes have something solid to anchor into — which is why our calculator adds edge overage by default.
• • Never compact bedding sand. Screed it to 1 inch flat, lay pavers directly. Compaction happens to the paver field after laying, once, with joint sand swept in first.
• • Mist gravel before compacting. A light water mist between lifts lubricates the aggregate and produces noticeably tighter compaction. Do not soak — just damp.

Material Quick Reference

• • 3/4" Crushed Stone: Standard paver base — angular, dense-graded, drains well, compacts to 95% Proctor. Also called road base, Item 4, Class 5, DGA.
• • ASTM C33 Concrete Sand: The only correct bedding sand. Angular grains lock together. Also called washed concrete sand, sharp sand, 2NS, torpedo sand.
• • Mason Sand: Do not use under pavers. Too fine, washes out, pavers rock.
• • Polymeric Sand: Joint sand only — swept into paver joints after laying. Not for the bedding layer.
• • Stone Dust / Screenings: Too fine for the base. Acceptable as a 1/4" leveling skim only, in well-drained climates.

A good paver installation is 70% base prep, 30% laying pavers. This calculator handles the 70% — the part that determines whether your hardscape lasts twenty years or three. Bookmark it, share it with your crew, and use it every time the question "how much stone and sand do I need?" comes up on a paver job.