How to install a paver patio
A paver patio is one of the highest-impact upgrades a DIYer can take on — and just like a retaining wall, the magic is in the base, not the pavers. Get the excavation, the compacted gravel, and the slope right, and the surface stays flat and weed-free for decades. Here's the whole process, plus how many pavers to buy.
It's all about the base
A paver patio is a layer cake, and most failures come from skimping on the lower layers. From the bottom up:
- Compacted gravel base — about 4–6″ of crushed stone for a patio (more for anything that bears vehicles). This is the structural layer.
- Bedding sand — roughly 1″ of coarse sand, screeded smooth, that the pavers sit in.
- Pavers, then polymeric sand swept into the joints to lock them and block weeds.
Build in a slope of about ¼″ per foot (1–2%) away from the house so water always drains off the surface. And call 811 before digging.
How many pavers (and how much base)?
Enter your patio size and paver size and our calculator gives the pavers you need, plus the base to plan and the cost.
Open the Paver CalculatorWhat you'll need
- Pavers (plus ~5–10% for cuts and breakage)
- Crushed-stone paver base and coarse bedding sand
- Polymeric sand for the joints
- Plastic edge restraint and spikes
- A plate compactor (rented), and two screed rails (pipe) plus a screed board
- A masonry saw or splitter for cutting borders, plus a rubber mallet and level
- String line, stakes, marking paint, and a wheelbarrow
Step by step
- Lay out and call 811. Mark the patio, set string lines to your finished height, and build in the drainage slope away from the house.
- Excavate. Dig down the paver thickness plus about 1″ of sand plus 4–6″ of base — usually around 7–9″ total — keeping the slope consistent.
- Build and compact the base. Add the crushed stone in 2–3″ lifts, compacting each lift with the plate compactor and holding the slope.
- Screed the bedding sand. Lay screed rails, fill with about 1″ of coarse sand, and pull a board across to level it. Don't compact or walk on the screeded sand.
- Lay the pavers. Set pavers in your pattern from a corner, working off the string line. Place each one straight down — don't slide it — and tap it home with a mallet.
- Install edge restraint. Lock the perimeter with plastic edging spiked into the base so the pavers can't spread.
- Cut the borders. Mark and cut the edge pavers with a masonry saw or splitter for a clean perimeter.
- Compact the pavers. Run the plate compactor across the whole surface (a mat protects the faces) to seat the pavers into the sand.
- Lock the joints. Sweep polymeric sand into the joints, compact again, sweep off the excess, then mist with water to set it hard.
Mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Skimping on the gravel base | The patio ruts, sinks, and heaves — the base does the work |
| No slope | Water puddles on the patio and runs toward the house |
| Compacting the bedding sand | Screed it level and leave it — compacting first makes it uneven |
| No edge restraint | The field spreads outward and the joints open up |
| Plain sand in the joints | Washes out and grows weeds — use polymeric sand |
| Not compacting in lifts | A thick layer compacted once keeps settling later |