Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Base stone needed
3.98
tons
Compacted cubic yards
2.47
Area covered
200
sq ft
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter patio/path area (sq ft).
- 2Enter compacted base depth (in).
- 3Enter base stone density (tons/cu yd).
- 4Enter compaction allowance (%).
- 5Read your base stone needed on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
A stable paver patio or walkway depends on a properly compacted crushed stone base layer beneath the sand bedding and pavers themselves, and that base is typically the largest material quantity in the whole project by weight. This calculator takes your patio or path area and your target compacted base depth, commonly 4 inches for walkways and light-traffic patios or 6-8 inches for driveways and areas with vehicle loads, then converts to cubic yards and multiplies by crushed stone's density (around 1.4 tons per cubic yard) to get the tonnage to order. Because base material is spread and then compacted with a plate compactor, the calculator includes a compaction allowance since the loose delivered volume needs to exceed your finished, compacted depth target by roughly 15-20% to account for how much crushed stone settles under a vibrating plate. Skimping on base depth is one of the most common causes of paver settling and unevenness down the road, so it's worth ordering slightly generous rather than exactly to the calculated minimum.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Patio/path area: 200 sq ft
- Compacted base depth: 4 in
- Base stone density: 1.4 tons/cu yd
- Compaction allowance: 15 %
Results
- Base stone needed: 3.98
- Compacted cubic yards: 2.47
- Area covered: 200
What each field means
Inputs
- Patio/path area (sq ft)
- The patio/path area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 200 sq ft so you have a working example on load.
- Compacted base depth (in)
- The compacted base depth used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 4 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 2–12 in.
- Base stone density (tons/cu yd)
- The base stone density used in the calculation, measured in tons/cu yd. Starts at 1.4 tons/cu yd so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–2 tons/cu yd.
- Compaction allowance (%)
- The compaction allowance used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 15 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–30 %.
Results
- Base stone needed
- tons
- Compacted cubic yards
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Area covered
- sq ft
FAQ
How deep should paver base be?
4 inches compacted is the general minimum for pedestrian patios and walkways; driveways or areas with vehicle traffic should use 6-8 inches or more, often in two compacted lifts.
What type of stone is used for paver base?
Crushed, angular stone with fines (often called crusher run, road base, or Class II base) compacts and locks together far better than clean, rounded gravel, which won't form a stable interlocking layer.
Why order extra for compaction?
Loose base material takes up noticeably more volume than it will once run over with a plate compactor, so ordering only the finished depth's volume will leave you short once it's compacted down.
Do I still need a sand layer on top of the base?
Yes, a thin 1-inch bedding sand layer goes on top of the compacted base to allow pavers to be leveled precisely; the base itself provides structural support while the sand layer provides fine adjustment.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Paver Base Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/paver-base-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/paver-base-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paver Base Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Paver Base Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/paver-base-calculator) (2026).