How to size a paver base
A paver base is two layers — a thick bed of compacted crushed stone with about an inch of bedding sand on top. Sizing each one is a volume problem:
Cubic yards = patio area (sq ft) × layer depth (ft) ÷ 27, then tons = cubic yards × 1.4
Depth is measured in inches, so divide by 12 first. Crushed stone packs down as you compact it, so this calculator adds your compaction allowance (15% by default) to both layers, then prices each by the ton and adds delivery.
How deep should each layer be?
| Patio use | Compacted gravel base | Bedding sand |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian patio, stable soil | 4 in | 1 in |
| Clay or freeze-thaw climate | 6 in | 1 in |
| Light vehicles (golf cart, etc.) | 8 in | 1 in |
Full driveways need a deeper, often engineered base — check local guidance before paving for cars.
Why the base matters most
Almost every failed paver patio is a base failure, not a paver problem — sunken, heaved, or rutted pavers trace back to a base that was too thin, not compacted, or built on soft soil. Spending the effort here is what makes the patio stay flat for decades. Over soft or clay subgrade, lay a geotextile separation fabric first so the soil and base stone don't mix.
Dense-graded vs. open-graded base
- Dense-graded (traditional). Crusher run / 3/4-inch minus with fines, compacted hard, topped with ~1 in of bedding sand. The most common method.
- Open-graded (permeable). Clean angular stone (like #57) with a #8 chip bedding layer and no fines — it drains freely and resists frost heave, and is increasingly popular for permeable patios.
How much does paver base cost?
Crushed-stone base runs about $25–$65 per ton and bedding sand about $30–$70 per ton, plus a delivery fee that's usually a flat charge per load. Bulk delivery is far cheaper than bagged base once you need more than about a cubic yard — which is almost any real patio.
Tips
- Use the right stone. Angular, compactable crushed stone with fines (3/4-inch minus, crusher run, Class II) locks together; smooth pea gravel doesn't.
- Compact in lifts. Tamp the base in 2–3 inch layers with a plate compactor so it's solid all the way down.
- Screed sand thin and even. Keep bedding sand near 1 inch; thick sand lets pavers rut and settle.
- Slope for drainage. Pitch the base about 1/4 inch per foot away from the house.
- Add edge restraint. Without it the pavers spread and the joints open up.
Need the pavers themselves? Use the paver calculator. For bulk stone elsewhere on the project, see the gravel calculator, or follow the full how to install a paver patio guide.