Paver Base and Sand Calculator
Estimate the crushed-stone base and bedding sand for a paver patio or walkway in cubic yards and tons, including a compaction allowance for the base.
Base to order
2.96 cu yd
2.27 m³
What does a paver base and sand calculator tell me?
A paver surface sits on two layers: a compacted crushed-stone base that carries the load, and a thin bedding sand layer that the pavers rest on. This calculator sizes both from the paved area and each layer’s depth, and gives cubic yards and tons so you can order in whatever unit the supplier uses.
The base is where most of the material goes. A patio or walkway usually needs about 4 inches of compacted base, while a driveway needs 6 inches or more. Because crushed stone arrives loose and loses volume when it is compacted, you order more than the finished thickness implies; the compaction allowance adds that extra.
The bedding sand is a thin, consistent layer, about an inch, screeded over the compacted base. It is there to seat the pavers, not to fix the grade, so keep it uniform and use a clean, sharp sand that meets the paver standard rather than fine mason’s sand.
How does this calculator size paver base and sand?
Formula
Base in place (cu yd) = area x (base depth in inches / 12) / 27. Base to order = base in place x (1 + compaction / 100) x (1 + waste / 100). Sand (cu yd) = area x (sand depth in inches / 12) / 27. Tons = cubic yards x material weight.
The base and the sand are sized separately. For each, multiply the area by the layer depth and convert to cubic yards. The base then gets a compaction allowance, because crushed stone is delivered loose and shrinks when it is compacted, so the amount to order is larger than the finished thickness. Multiply each volume by its material weight for tons. In metric mode you enter square meters and millimeters and read cubic meters and tonnes alongside cubic yards and tons.
Why the base needs a compaction allowance
Loose crushed stone loses roughly 20 percent of its volume when it is compacted to a solid base. If you order only the finished thickness, you come up short, so the calculator multiplies the in-place base by a compaction factor to get the amount to order. Thicker bases and softer ground can need a larger allowance; there is also an optional waste percent for irregular edges and cuts.
Base versus bedding sand
The base carries the load and is compacted in lifts of a few inches. The bedding sand is a thin, uniform layer, about an inch, that seats the pavers and is not compacted before laying. Because the two do different jobs, they use different materials and weights, so the calculator keeps them as separate quantities to order.
Example
- 1Base in place200 x (4 / 12) / 27 = 2.47 cu yd.
- 2Base to order2.47 x 1.20 = 2.96 cu yd; 2.96 x 1.4 = 4.15 tons.
- 3Sand200 x (1 / 12) / 27 = 0.62 cu yd; 0.62 x 1.25 = 0.77 tons.
FAQ
How deep the base and sand go, why the base needs a compaction allowance, and how much to order.
How do I figure out the base and sand for a paver patio?
Size the base and the sand separately from the area and each depth, then add a compaction allowance to the base. For a 200 sq ft patio with a 4 in base at 20% compaction and 1 in of bedding sand, order about 2.96 cubic yards (4.15 tons) of base and about 0.62 cubic yards (0.77 tons) of sand.
How deep should the base be?
A compacted crushed-stone base of about 4 in works for patios and walkways with foot traffic. Driveways and areas that carry vehicles need 6 in or more, and soft or clay soils need extra. Compact the base in lifts of a few inches for a firm result.
Why add a compaction allowance?
Crushed stone is delivered loose and loses roughly 20 percent of its volume when it is compacted to a solid base, so you order more than the finished thickness suggests. The allowance covers that loss; increase it for deeper bases or softer ground.
How much bedding sand goes under pavers?
Screed a consistent bedding layer about 1 in thick over the compacted base; do not use it to correct base grade. Use a clean, sharp bedding sand that meets the paver standard, not fine mason's sand, so the layer stays stable.
Can I plan in meters and millimeters?
Yes. Switch to Metric and enter the area in square meters and the depths in millimeters. Base and sand come back in cubic meters and tonnes alongside cubic yards and tons.
Sources
1. PAV-TEC-002: Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements
Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA)
Industry construction guidance for aggregate base, bedding sand, and paver installation.
https://www.cmha.org/resource/pav-tec-002/2. CMHA Tech Note PAV-TEC-010 (interlocking concrete pavement)
Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA)
Additional interlocking concrete pavement guidance for base and bedding practice.
https://www.cmha.org/resource/pav-tec-010/3. ASTM C33: Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates
ASTM International
Aggregate gradation reference for the crushed-stone base.
https://www.astm.org/standards/c334. ASTM C144: Standard Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar
ASTM International
Sand gradation reference relevant to bedding sand selection.
https://www.astm.org/standards/c144
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