Paver Base Calculator – Gravel Base and Sand for a Paver Patio

A paver patio needs a compacted gravel base under a thin layer of bedding sand. Enter the patio size and base depth to get the tons of paver base to order; the default adds 20% because the base compacts.

Area	144 sq ft
Cubic feet	57.6
Cubic yards	2.13
Cubic meters	1.63
Tons (US)	3.09
Pounds	6,187

0.5 cu ft bag (about 50 lb)	116

Make the base about 6 inches wider than the patio on every side so the edge pavers are fully supported.

How much paver base do you need?

Walkways and patios: 4 inches of compacted base.
Driveways: 6–8 inches, compacted in layers.
Then 1 inch of bedding sand — use the sand calculator at 1 inch.
Compact every 2 inches with a plate compactor.

How much paver base for common areas (cubic yards / tons, no extra added)

Area	4 in deep	6 in deep	8 in deep
100 sq ft	1.23 yd³ / 1.79 t	1.85 yd³ / 2.69 t	2.47 yd³ / 3.58 t
200 sq ft	2.47 yd³ / 3.58 t	3.7 yd³ / 5.37 t	4.94 yd³ / 7.16 t
500 sq ft	6.17 yd³ / 8.95 t	9.26 yd³ / 13.43 t	12.35 yd³ / 17.9 t
1,000 sq ft	12.35 yd³ / 17.9 t	18.52 yd³ / 26.85 t	24.69 yd³ / 35.8 t

Tons assume 2,900 lb per cubic yard. Add extra for waste and settling when you order.

How to use this calculator

Measure the length and width (or the diameter of a round area). Use any unit — feet, inches, yards or meters.
Split odd shapes into rectangles, circles and triangles, and add each one with “Add another area”.
Enter the depth. Results update as you type: cubic yards, tons and bags.
Optionally enter a price to estimate the cost.

Add this calculator to your website

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Frequently asked questions

How much paver base do I need for a 12×12 patio?

At 4 inches deep with 20% extra for compaction, about 57.6 cubic feet — 2.1 cubic yards or roughly 3 tons of base.

Why add extra for compaction?

Loose crushed base shrinks by 15–25% in height when compacted, so you need more loose material than the finished depth suggests.

Is it cheaper to buy bags or bulk?

For anything over about 1 cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper per cubic yard than bags, though you pay a delivery fee. Bags make sense for small jobs, top-ups and places a truck can’t reach.