Paver base calculator for Utah
Calculate the tons needed for the compacted layer below pavers, helping the finished surface stay level over five years.
Enter your project dimensions
The stone beneath pavers costs much less per square foot than the finished surface, yet base problems are often behind a failed patio. Reports of paver repairs commonly trace back to what is below. Use this calculator to size compacted crusher run or a comparable blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicle use. The +10% compaction allowance is preselected. Calculate the separate 1-inch bedding-sand course with its own calculator.
Calculating base size
- Start by measuring the paver area in feet. Where an edge is open, extend the base 6 inches beyond it to support the edge restraint.
- Use 4 inches of compacted depth for patios and walks. Choose 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 for driveways over soft ground.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get yards; multiply that result by 1.5 to get tons, with the +10% allowance included.
Excavation depth = base + 1" bedding + paver thickness − reveal
Project depths and coverage
| Project | Compacted base depth | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or garden path | 4 inches | ≈ 54 sq ft |
| Patio or seating area | 4-6 inches | ≈ 43 sq ft |
| Driveway with cars | 6-8 inches | ≈ 31 sq ft |
| Clay or soft subgrade | add 2 inches + fabric | n/a |
Layers to excavate beneath finished pavers
Calculate excavation by combining every layer. For a typical patio, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver finished even with the lawn. This comes to a 7.5-inch dig, with adjustment for the reveal above grade. Put the target depth on a stake and measure during excavation. Digging too deep means paying to remove soil, with the Dirt Calculator used backward to determine the yards leaving the hole, then paying for stone to bring the level back up.
Paver base installation steps
- Build the base in 2-inch lifts, compacting each one with a plate compactor and misting it as needed. A damp base compacts more tightly than a dry one.
- Build the compacted base with a 2-3% slope leading away from the house. Sand and pavers will take on the base slope.
- Place edge restraint over the compacted base, not directly on lawn soil. The 6-inch extension supports that restraint.
- For clay ground, install woven geotextile beneath the base. It keeps stone from gradually pushing down into the subgrade through wet seasons.
- A deeper sand bed is not a replacement for base thickness. Because sand can shift, that approach can produce uneven patios.
Assessing base beneath old pavers
Rebuilding an existing patio? Start by lifting the pavers and removing the old bedding sand, then assess the base. A level, compacted base that drains can remain in place with a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone order to a tenth of a full rebuild. Remove the base too if there are depressions, soft areas, or water that does not drain. Installing replacement pavers over a failing base repeats the issue.
Example: a 16 x 12 patio
Start with 192 square feet of paved area. A 6-inch extension on three exposed sides brings the base footprint to 210. For 4 inches of compacted material: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or roughly 3.9 tons and 4.3 with the allowance. Order 4.5 tons of crusher run plus 0.9 tons of bedding sand using the Paver Sand Calculator, in one free delivery. Arrange delivery after digging, as a stone pile left on grass for two weeks can create a dead rectangle.
Questions about base depth and tonnage
How can I calculate my paver base amount?
Will 2 inches of paver base work?
What depth of base do pavers need?
How far down should I dig for pavers?
For paver base, crusher run or screenings?
Can pavers go in without base material?
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Paver base information
Order crusher run and screenings by the ton along with bedding sand, with free delivery.