Paver Base Calculator

Calculate the exact amount of crushed stone base and leveling sand required for your patio, walkway, or driveway paver project.

Project length feet Please enter a positive number

Project width feet Please enter a positive number

Crushed stone base depth inches Standard is 4" for patios, 6"+ for driveways Please enter a valid depth

Leveling sand depth inches Industry standard is 1" of sand Please enter a valid depth

Calculation Results

Crushed Stone Base Needed

— tons

For the structural foundation layer.

How to use this paver base calculator

Measure your project footprint

Enter the total length and width of the patio or walkway area in feet. If your shape is irregular, average out the dimensions to form a rectangle.

Set your crushed stone depth

Enter how thick your gravel base will be. A 4-inch compacted base is standard for foot traffic, while vehicular driveways require 6 to 8 inches.

Confirm your sand depth

A 1-inch layer of coarse concrete sand is the standard leveling bed placed directly under the pavers. Avoid making this layer thicker, as too much sand can cause pavers to shift.

Get your material list

The calculator instantly provides the precise tonnage and cubic yardage for both your crushed stone and leveling sand orders.

Paver Base & Sand Tonnage Matrix (Standard 1-Inch Sand Bed)

Patio/Walkway Area	Gravel Base Depth	Crushed Stone Needed	Leveling Sand Needed
50 sq ft	4 inches	0.9 Tons	0.2 Tons
50 sq ft	6 inches	1.3 Tons	0.2 Tons
50 sq ft	8 inches	1.7 Tons	0.2 Tons
50 sq ft	10 inches	2.2 Tons	0.2 Tons
50 sq ft	12 inches	2.6 Tons	0.2 Tons
100 sq ft	4 inches	1.7 Tons	0.4 Tons
100 sq ft	6 inches	2.6 Tons	0.4 Tons
100 sq ft	8 inches	3.5 Tons	0.4 Tons
100 sq ft	10 inches	4.3 Tons	0.4 Tons
100 sq ft	12 inches	5.2 Tons	0.4 Tons
200 sq ft	4 inches	3.5 Tons	0.8 Tons
200 sq ft	6 inches	5.2 Tons	0.8 Tons
200 sq ft	8 inches	6.9 Tons	0.8 Tons
200 sq ft	10 inches	8.6 Tons	0.8 Tons
200 sq ft	12 inches	10.4 Tons	0.8 Tons
400 sq ft	4 inches	6.9 Tons	1.7 Tons
400 sq ft	6 inches	10.4 Tons	1.7 Tons
400 sq ft	8 inches	13.8 Tons	1.7 Tons
400 sq ft	10 inches	17.3 Tons	1.7 Tons
400 sq ft	12 inches	20.7 Tons	1.7 Tons
800 sq ft	4 inches	13.8 Tons	3.3 Tons
800 sq ft	6 inches	20.7 Tons	3.3 Tons
800 sq ft	8 inches	27.7 Tons	3.3 Tons
800 sq ft	10 inches	34.6 Tons	3.3 Tons
800 sq ft	12 inches	41.5 Tons	3.3 Tons
1200 sq ft	4 inches	20.7 Tons	5.0 Tons
1200 sq ft	6 inches	31.1 Tons	5.0 Tons
1200 sq ft	8 inches	41.5 Tons	5.0 Tons
1200 sq ft	10 inches	51.9 Tons	5.0 Tons
1200 sq ft	12 inches	62.2 Tons	5.0 Tons

Frequently asked questions

How deep should a paver base be?

For pedestrian patios and walkways, a 4-inch compacted base is standard. For residential driveways supporting vehicles, you need 6 to 8 inches of base material to prevent rutting.

How much sand do I need under pavers?

A 1-inch layer of bedding sand is the industry standard. It provides a smooth leveling surface to bed the pavers into without compromising the solid structural base below. Never use more than 1.5 inches of sand.

What material is best for a paver base?

Crushed stone (often called crusher run, modified stone, or 3/4-inch minus) is the best choice. This mix contains angular stones and fine stone dust, which compacts tightly together to form a rock-solid, locking foundation.

Can I use regular sand for the whole paver base?

No. Sand alone does not compact rigidly enough to serve as a structural foundation. If you use only sand for your base, it will eventually wash out or shift under weight, leading to sunken, uneven, and disjointed pavers over time.

About this calculator

This paver base calculator is designed to help landscapers, contractors, and DIYers generate accurate material orders for hardscaping projects. A successful paver patio relies entirely on its foundation—if the base fails, the pavers will fail.

The estimator utilizes standard volume conversions and aggregate densities to calculate both required layers:

Area = Length × Width

Base Volume (Cubic Yards) = Area × (Base Depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Base Tons = Base Volume × 1.4 (Density of crushed stone)

Sand Volume (Cubic Yards) = Area × (Sand Depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Sand Tons = Sand Volume × 1.35 (Density of concrete sand)

Pro Tip: We recommend adding a 5% to 10% waste and compaction factor to your order. When crushed stone is run over with a heavy plate compactor, it compresses significantly. If you order the exact raw mathematical volume, your final base layer will likely end up too thin.