Enter the size of your paver patio, walkway or driveway to see how much crushed base rock (paver base gravel) to order, in cubic yards and tons.
Quick answer: for a patio or walkway, plan on 4 in of compacted crushed base. That is 33.3 cubic feet (1.23 cubic yards, about 1.7 tons at 2,700 lb per yd³) for every 100 ft², or 67 bags of 0.5 cu ft paver base, before you add extra for compaction.
How to use the paver base calculator
- Pick a rectangle or a circle and enter the size of the area. Break L-shapes and curves into simpler pieces and add the results.
- Enter the depth you want once the material is spread and levelled. Depth is usually easiest in inches.
- Keep an allowance for settling and low spots unless the ground is already flat and firm.
- Check the weight per cubic yard against your supplier’s figure, then add a price to get a cost estimate.
Paver base formulas
Volume (ft³) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 Tons = cubic yards × weight per yd³ (lb) ÷ 2,000 With extra = volume × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)
Suppliers price paver base by the ton or by the cubic yard, so the calculator gives both. Enter the weight per cubic yard your yard quotes if it differs from the default, because that number is what turns yards into tons.
Worked example: 12 × 12 ft at 6 in deep
- Volume: 12 ft × 12 ft × 0.500 ft = 72.0 ft³.
- Add 10% extra: 72.0 × 1.10 = 79.2 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 79.2 ÷ 27 = 2.93 yd³.
- Tons: 2.93 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 3.96 tons.
How deep to go
A patio or walkway normally gets 4 in of compacted base; a driveway gets 8–12 in. Cold climates with deep frost usually add a few inches more. Bedding sand sits on top of this and is a separate 1 in layer.
Coverage at each depth
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | One ton covers | Per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 120 ft² | 0.62 yd³ |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 80 ft² | 0.93 yd³ |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 60 ft² | 1.23 yd³ |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 40 ft² | 1.85 yd³ |
Figures use 2,700 lb per cubic yard. Change the weight in the calculator and the numbers move with it.
Questions
How thick should a paver base be?
About 4 in of compacted crushed base for a patio or walkway, and 8–12 in under a driveway. Soft subgrade and deep frost call for more.
Do I need sand under pavers as well as base rock?
Yes. The crushed base carries the load; a 1 in layer of bedding sand on top levels the pavers. Use the sand calculator for that layer — 1 in over 100 ft² is about 0.31 cubic yards.
How much does a yard of paver base weigh?
About 2,500–2,900 lb delivered loose, roughly 1.35 tons, per North Bay Materials’ density chart.
Should I add extra for compaction?
Yes. Crushed base loses roughly 10–20% of its loose volume once it is compacted in layers, so order on the high side rather than coming up short mid-job.
How much paver base do I need for 100 square feet?
At 4 in deep, 100 ft² takes 33.3 cubic feet, or about 1.23 cubic yards of compacted base. At 6 in it is about 1.85 cubic yards.
How many bags of paver base do I need?
Divide the cubic feet of base by the volume on the bag. Bagged paver base is commonly sold in 0.5 cu ft bags (Pavestone’s is one), which works out to 54 bags per cubic yard. A 10 × 10 ft patio at 4 in needs 33.3 ft³, so 67 bags, or 74 with 10% extra. For bigger jobs, compare the price of bulk base by the ton with your supplier. Our cubic yards to tons calculator converts the volume for you.
How much base and sand do I need for a 12 × 12 patio?
144 ft² at 4 in deep is 48 ft³, or 1.78 cubic yards of base (96 half-cubic-foot bags) before extra. The 1 in bedding sand layer on top is another 12 ft³, or 0.44 cubic yards. See how much sand to put under pavers for the sand layer.
What kind of gravel is used for paver base?
Crushed, angular stone that still has its fines, sold as crusher run, road base or 3/4 in minus. It packs down into a firm layer, while round pea gravel rolls and won’t lock together. Size it with the crusher run calculator if that is what your yard sells.
Sources
- Landscape Materials Density Chart, North Bay Materials.
Used for: Typical weights per cubic yard for gravel, crushed rock, soil and mulch. - NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot and cubic yard conversions. - Pavestone 0.5 cu. ft. Paver Base (98001), product listing, The Home Depot.
Used for: Bag volume of common bagged paver base.