Gravel Calculators
Paver Base Calculator
Pavers are only as good as what's under them. This tool estimates the compacted crushed-stone base for a patio or walkway — a structural layer, not decorative gravel. It's pre-set to crusher run at a 4-inch depth; adjust both to match your plan.
A note on this estimate
Compact in lifts — a single thick layer never reaches the density of two compacted ones. The 1-inch bedding sand layer is extra and not computed here. This page is not sized for driveways, which need deeper, engineered bases.
Last updated: 7 November 2026 · Report an error
Base gravel is not decorative gravel
The stone under pavers has one job: stay dense and immovable. That means angular crushed stone with fines (crusher run / road base), which interlocks and compacts into something close to solid under a plate compactor. Decorative gravels — pea gravel, washed round stone — are chosen for how they look and feel, which is exactly why they fail as a base: round particles roll instead of lock, and the patio slowly goes wavy. Before choosing stone, check your total gravel volume first — the main calculator sizes the base in one pass.
A typical paver patio section, from the bottom up: compacted soil or subgrade → geotextile fabric (optional but wise) → 4–6" compacted crushed stone → ~1" bedding sand → pavers → polymeric sand in the joints. This calculator covers the crushed-stone layer — the bulk of the material cost.
Worked example: a 16×12 ft patio (192 ft²) with a 4-inch crusher-run base: 192 × ⅓ ft = 64 ft³ = 2.37 yd³ ≈ 3.8 tons — order around 4.2–4.4 tons to cover 10–15% compaction loss.
Base depth by use
The base is the paver job. Pavers themselves are just a wearing surface — everything that keeps them flat for a decade happens in the crushed stone underneath, and depth is how that stone buys insurance against soil movement and frost.
| Project | Compacted base depth | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path, pedestrian only | 4 in | Foot traffic only; the minimum that bridges soil variation |
| Patio with furniture | 4–6 in | Point loads from furniture and gatherings; 6 in on clay |
| Hot tub or heavy static load | 6 in+ | Tons of static weight on a small footprint — many builders pour concrete instead |
| Any base on soft or wet soil | Add 2 in and woven fabric | Depth and separation keep the stone out of the mud |
Worked example: a 10 × 12 ft patio base at 4 inches is 120 ft² × 0.333 ft = 40 ft³ = 1.48 yd³ ≈ 2.37 tons of crusher run. The same patio at 6 inches takes 60 ft³ = 2.22 yd³ ≈ 3.56 tons — the extra 1.2 tons is the whole difference between a patio that survives clay soil and one that doesn't. On top of the compacted base goes the bedding layer this calculator does not size: 1 inch of coarse sand, which for this patio is 10 ft³ (0.37 yd³ ≈ 0.50 tons).
Where bases fail: one thick lift tipped in and compacted once, instead of two lifts compacted separately — the bottom half never reaches density; washed #57 substituted for crusher run, which cannot compact because it has no fines to lock; bedding sand laid 2–3 inches thick "to make levelling easier", which settles unevenly under load; and edges left unrestrained, so the whole field creeps outward a fraction each year.
Related tools & guides
Gravel Driveway Calculator
Two-layer quantities for driveways and other driven surfaces.
Crushed Gravel Calculator
Crusher run and graded-stone quantities with the grading-code reference.
Gravel Types and Sizes Guide
What each stone size and grading code means, and where it belongs.
Gravel Cost Calculator
Price this base at your supplier's per-ton rate.
Patio Gravel Calculator
Surface and base quantities for gravel patios.
Retaining Wall Gravel Calculator
Drainage backfill behind a wall.
French Drain Gravel Calculator
Trench volumes for drainage runs.
Fence Post Gravel Calculator
Per-post drainage layers in bags.
Shed Foundation Gravel Calculator
Compacted pads sized past the shed.
Paver base FAQ
How deep should a paver base be?
Patios and walkways for foot traffic typically need 4–6 inches of compacted angular crushed stone, plus about 1 inch of bedding sand on top. Driveways with pavers need more — often 6–8 inches or an engineered design. Enter your planned depth in the calculator above to get quantities.
What kind of gravel do you use under pavers?
Angular crushed stone with fines — often called crusher run, road base, or ¾-inch minus — because it compacts into a dense, stable layer. Do not use pea gravel or washed stone under pavers: round and clean stone doesn't lock together and will shift under load.
Does the paver base need to be compacted?
Yes — compaction is the whole point. Loose base settles unevenly over time, which shows up as dipping pavers. Compact in lifts (a few inches at a time) with a plate compactor. Because compacted base occupies less space than loose gravel, order 10–15% more than the loose-volume estimate.