Paver base calculator for Arkansas
The layer under the pavers keeps a patio level over five years. Use compacted depth to find the tons needed.
Enter your project dimensions
The stone base does the work beneath a paver surface, and failures commonly start there rather than at the pavers. Use this calculator to estimate compacted crusher run or an equivalent mix, figured at 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Plan 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicles, while the +10% compaction allowance is already included. Calculate the separate, fixed 1-inch bedding-sand layer with its own tool.
Plan the base
- Take the paved dimensions in feet. Add 6 inches beyond each exposed paver side so the base also supports the edge restraint.
- Use 4 inches of compacted base for patios and paths. Allow 6 for driveways or clay ground, and use 8 under driveways built on soft soil.
- Find yards by dividing cubic feet by 27, then multiply by 1.5 for tons and include the +10% allowance.
Excavation depth = base + 1" bedding + paver thickness − reveal
Project depths and coverage
| Project | Compacted base depth | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or garden path | 4 inches | ≈ 54 sq ft |
| Patio or seating area | 4-6 inches | ≈ 43 sq ft |
| Driveway with cars | 6-8 inches | ≈ 31 sq ft |
| Clay or soft subgrade | add 2 inches + fabric | n/a |
Layers from turf to the paver surface
Calculate excavation by adding each layer. A standard patio uses 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver flush with the lawn. Plan for a 7.5-inch excavation, adjusting for the reveal above grade. Put the depth on a stake and check it during digging. Extra digging means paying to remove soil, using the Dirt Calculator in reverse to find the yards leaving the hole, then buying stone to rebuild the grade.
Installation practices for a lasting base
- Build the base in 2-inch lifts. Run a plate compactor over each lift after a light misting. Slightly damp material compacts tighter than dry base.
- Build the compacted base with a 2-3% pitch directing water away from the house. The bedding sand and pavers take on the same slope.
- Install edge restraint over the compacted base rather than lawn soil. The 6-inch extension provides room for that support.
- For clay, install woven geotextile below the base. In the Delta, it keeps stone from sinking into wet gumbo clay over time.
- Do not make up missing base depth with a deeper sand bed. Sand shifts, and the result can be a wavy patio.
Assessing base beneath old pavers
For a patio being taken up and reset, the existing base can sometimes remain. Remove the pavers, clear away the old bedding sand, then check the base. When it is level, firm, and draining properly, install a new 1-inch bedding layer. That lowers the stone quantity to a tenth of what a new installation takes. Remove the base if it has low spots, soft areas, or pooled water. Covering those issues with replacement pavers can bring back the same failure.
Example: a 16 x 12 patio
The paved surface measures 192 square feet. A 6-inch extension along three exposed edges brings the base footprint to 210. For 4 inches of compaction: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or about 3.9 tons and 4.3 after the allowance. Get 4.5 tons of crusher run and 0.9 tons of bedding sand through the Paver Sand Calculator in one free delivery. Schedule delivery after digging is complete, since a stone pile sitting on grass for two weeks can leave a dead patch.
Paver base depth, digging, and tonnage
How can I calculate the paver base I need?
Will 2 inches of paver base work?
What base depth do pavers need?
What excavation depth is needed for pavers?
Should paver base use crusher run or screenings?
Can pavers go in without a base?
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A stable base supports the finished pavers.
Order crusher run and screenings by the ton with bedding sand.