Paver Base Calculator — Crushed Stone Tonnage

Patios and walkways: calculate the compacted crushed-stone base under your pavers, in tons.

Paver Base Calculator

The base is the patio

Pavers are only as flat as what is under them. The standard build-up is: 4–6 inches of compacted ¾-inch crushed stone, a 1-inch screeded bedding sand layer, then the pavers. Walkways can live with 4 inches of base; a driveway needs 8–12 inches. The calculator assumes you enter the stone depth you plan to compact — order 10–20% extra because crushed stone loses real depth when the plate compactor goes over it.

Two lifts, not one dump

More than 4 inches of stone in a single lift never compacts properly — the top crusts over while the bottom stays loose. Professional practice is two lifts of 2–3 inches, each wetted and compacted with a plate compactor until the screed rails read true.

Geotextile is cheap insurance

On clay or silty soil, lay a non-woven geotextile fabric between the dirt and the stone. It stops the base from punching into the subgrade over the years — a $40 roll versus re-laying the patio in season three.

FAQ

How many tons of base do I need for a 12×12 patio?

At 4 inches: 12 × 12 × ⅓ ft = 48 cu ft ≈ 1.8 cubic yards, which is about 2.5 tons of crushed stone before the compaction allowance.

Can I use pea gravel for the paver base?

No — rounded pea gravel will not compact. Use angular crushed stone (#57 or crusher run) whose edges lock together.

Do I need paver base sand too?

Yes: crushed stone is the structural base, then a 1-inch coarse-sand bedding layer for setting the pavers level. Sand goes on top of the stone, never instead of it.