How Much Paver Base Do I Need?
The base is what keeps a patio or path flat for years. Order too little and the surface settles unevenly; order too much and you pay for material and hauling you did not need. Here is how to estimate base material in cubic yards and tons.
Start with area and depth
Base volume is area multiplied by depth. Measure the paved area in square feet, then multiply by the base depth in inches divided by 12 to get cubic feet. A 200 square foot patio with a 6-inch base needs 200 × (6 ÷ 12) = 100 cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards: 100 ÷ 27 = 3.70 cubic yards.
Base depth is not one-size-fits-all. Patios and walkways often use 4 to 6 inches of compacted aggregate; driveways that carry vehicles usually need more. Soil type, climate, and drainage all matter. For choosing a depth, see How Deep Should Paver Base Be?
Account for compaction
Crushed base is delivered loose and compacted in place. A 6-inch loose layer typically compacts to roughly 5 inches after tamping, so to end up with 6 inches of compacted base you usually need to install and compact more than 6 inches of loose material — often installed in two lifts. A compaction allowance of 10 to 20% covers this. For 100 cubic feet at 15% compaction: 100 × 1.15 = 115 cubic feet = 4.26 cubic yards.
Ordering by the loose volume you actually place and compact is safer than ordering by the finished compacted volume. Ask your supplier how their pricing relates to loose versus compacted measure.
Convert to tons for ordering
Many suppliers sell base material by the ton. Weight depends on density: typical crushed stone base runs about 100 to 110 pounds per cubic foot, so a cubic yard weighs roughly 1.4 to 1.5 tons. Multiply cubic yards by about 1.4 for a rough tonnage, then confirm the density with your supplier. The Gravel Calculator handles volume, weight, and tons with an adjustable density.
| Project | Typical compacted base |
|---|---|
| Garden path (foot traffic) | 4 in |
| Patio (foot traffic) | 4–6 in |
| Driveway (vehicles) | 6–12 in |
Worked example
A 12 by 16 foot driveway apron (192 sq ft) with an 8-inch compacted base and 15% compaction allowance: 192 × (8 ÷ 12) = 128 cu ft; × 1.15 = 147.2 cu ft = 5.45 cu yd. At about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that is roughly 7.6 tons of base material.
Practical cautions
- Extend the base a few inches beyond the paver edge so the edge restraint has solid ground to anchor into.
- Compact in lifts of 2 to 4 inches rather than one deep layer — a thick loose layer rarely compacts evenly.
- A geotextile under the base on soft soil reduces mixing and settling.
- Order a little extra; running short by half a yard costs more in delivery fees than the material saves.
The Paver Calculator includes an optional base material estimate from your area and depth, and pairs with the bedding sand and paver count in one result.