Paver Base Calculator
A paver patio is 4″ of compacted ¾″ minus (6″ on clay or for a driveway), 1″ of concrete bedding sand, then the pavers. This tool sizes the base layer; the linked sand calculator does the bedding.
Order 4.50 t — quarries sell by the ton; a tri-axle carries about 20 tons per load.
- Area
- 192 ft²
- Volume (64.0 ft³)
- 2.37 yd³
- Net weight @ 1.50 t/yd³
- 7,111 lb · 3.56 t
- Waste / settling 20%
- + 0.71 t
- Order quantity
- 4.27 tons
- Truckloads
- 1 × tri-axle dump (≈20 t)
- Metric
- 1.81 m³ · 3.87 tonnes
- 50 lb bag (0.5 ft³)
- 154 bags
- Materials + delivery$20–$50 / ton · Sep 2026
- $175 – $310
- Installed (with labor)typ. $336
- $239 – $481
Quantities follow the ticket. Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; they never change a number.
What will this crushed stone job cost?
See the installed price range for these quantities and get up to 3 quotes from local contractors. Free, no obligation.
How to calculate crushed stone by hand
Tons = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Compacted depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.5 t/yd³ × 1.20 compaction
Worked example
- Area: 16 ft × 12 ft = 192 ft².
- Compacted volume: 192 ft² × (4 in ÷ 12) = 64 ft³ = 2.37 yd³.
- Weight: 2.37 yd³ × 1.5 t/yd³ = 3.56 tons compacted.
- Compaction and waste 20%: 3.56 × 1.20 = 4.27 tons → order 4.5 tons.
- 1 ton ¾″ minus at 4″ compacted
- ≈ 45 ft²
- 1 ton ¾″ minus at 6″ compacted
- ≈ 30 ft²
- Loose-to-compacted
- × 1.15–1.20
- 1 yd³ crusher run
- ≈ 3,000 lb · 1.5 t
Questions crews ask
How much base do I need for a paver patio?
4 inches compacted under foot traffic, 6 inches for a driveway or on clay soil. A 16 × 12 ft patio at 4″ needs about 4.3 tons of ¾″ minus after compaction allowance — one small dump load or a heavy pickup trip.
What goes under pavers, in order?
Excavate to 4″ base + 1″ sand + paver thickness. Optional geotextile fabric on the subgrade. Then 4–6″ of ¾″ minus compacted in 2″ lifts, 1″ of screeded concrete sand, pavers, edge restraint, polymeric sand swept into the joints.
Do I need fabric under a paver base?
On clay, silt or any soil that stays wet, yes — woven geotextile stops the base sinking into the subgrade. On well-drained sandy soil it is optional.