Estimate the base stone, bedding sand and number of pavers for a patio or walkway. Enter your own depths and paver size.
How the paver base calculator works
A 12 x 12-foot patio is 144 square feet. At a 6-inch base depth, base volume is 144 x 6 / 324 = 2.6667 cubic yards before extra. With our 10% added-volume example it becomes 2.9333 cubic yards. At example base density 1.4 US short tons per cubic yard, that is 4.1067 US short tons. One-inch bedding sand is 0.4889 cubic yards with the same allowance. Eight-by-four-inch pavers give 713 pieces with 10% extra.
Base or sand cubic yards = area in square feet x depth in inches / 324.
Allowance-adjusted volume = base volume x (1 + percent / 100).
Pavers = round up [area x 144 / (paver length x width in inches) x (1 + percent / 100)]. CalculatorSoup documents rectangular volume and the 27-cubic-feet-per-cubic-yard conversion.1 All quantities use unrounded intermediate values.
Compacted base is not loose delivery volume
The depth input is the selected compacted base thickness. The geometry result is its placed volume, not automatically the loose volume to buy. The allowance multiplies by 1.10 at 10%; it does not infer a material-specific loose-to-compacted ratio. Ask the supplier or installer for that conversion before ordering.
A genuine 10% loose-volume loss would require target / 0.90 = 1.1111 times the target, not 1.10. This is our arithmetic illustration, not a claim that your aggregate loses 10%. The single allowance applies to base volume, bedding sand volume and paver count. If they need different allowances, calculate those takeoffs separately rather than assuming one percentage fits all three.
Bedding sand and joint sand are different
Belgard’s concrete-paver quick-reference guide specifies a nominal 1-inch uncompacted bedding-sand layer in its installation sequence.2 That is the cited guide’s bedding example, not a requirement for every permeable or specialty paver system. The calculator does not choose the base depth, drainage design or bedding material for your site.
Bedding sand lies beneath the pavers. Joint sand fills the gaps between them and is a separate product takeoff. The bedding result does not count joint sand or polymeric sand. We do not estimate bedding-sand weight because the base-stone density is not automatically valid for sand. Obtain its own density if you need a sand-weight quote.
Free base-volume chart
Our calculated volumes below are before allowance or a loose-to-compacted conversion. Depth columns are calculation inputs, not recommended patio or driveway specifications.
| Paved area | 4-inch base | 6-inch base | 8-inch base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 1.235 cu yd | 1.852 cu yd | 2.469 cu yd |
| 144 sq ft | 1.778 cu yd | 2.667 cu yd | 3.556 cu yd |
| 200 sq ft | 2.469 cu yd | 3.704 cu yd | 4.938 cu yd |
| 400 sq ft | 4.938 cu yd | 7.407 cu yd | 9.877 cu yd |
| 600 sq ft | 7.407 cu yd | 11.111 cu yd | 14.815 cu yd |
Three checked examples
1. The default 12 x 12-foot patio
Area: 144 square feet. Six-inch base: 144 x 6 / 324 = 2.6666667 cubic yards. Add 10%: 2.9333333 cubic yards. At entered example 1.4 US short tons per cubic yard: 4.1066667 US short tons. One-inch bedding: 144 / 324 x 1.10 = 0.4888889 cubic yards. Eight-by-four-inch pavers: 144 x 144 / 32 = 648; 648 x 1.10 = 712.8, round up to 713 pavers.
2. A 20 x 10-foot walkway
Area: 200 square feet. At an example 4-inch compacted base and 5% extra: 200 x 4 / 324 x 1.05 = 2.5925926 cubic yards. One-inch bedding with the same allowance: 200 / 324 x 1.05 = 0.6481481 cubic yards. With actual 12 x 12-inch paver faces: 200 x 1.05 = 210 pieces. Confirm the site’s required base rather than copying this example depth.
3. A 10 x 10-foot area with 6 x 6-inch pavers
Area: 100 square feet. Each face is 36 square inches, or 0.25 square foot. Base piece quotient: 100 / 0.25 = 400. At 10% extra: 440 pavers. A 6-inch base at the same allowance is 100 x 6 / 324 x 1.10 = 2.0370370 cubic yards. This count does not prove that a chosen pattern or border fits into 440 pieces.
Paver counts need the actual layout
The face-area count ignores joints, borders, mixed sizes, edge cuts and reusable offcuts. Use actual product dimensions and compare the result with the manufacturer’s stated square-foot or pallet coverage. For a mixed-size pattern, use the pattern’s takeoff rather than an average paver size. A whole-pallet order also needs the supplier’s actual pieces or coverage per pallet.
The form handles one rectangle. Split an irregular area into nonoverlapping sections and calculate their volumes separately if depth changes. Do not count an outer bounding rectangle as the complete paved area. Edge restraint, excavation, drainage, geotextile and joint sand are not included in these outputs.
Density and metric inputs
The density input applies to base stone only. The default 1.4 US short tons per cubic yard is our example, not a universal aggregate weight. Ask the supplier for the selected material’s density and moisture condition. Metric mode converts the dimensions and base density to tonnes per cubic meter. Equivalent entries should give the same physical volume and mass.
FAQ
How much paver base for 100 square feet?
At a selected 6-inch depth: 100 x 6 / 324 = 1.8519 cubic yards before allowance. At 10% extra it is 2.0370. That is a volume calculation, not a loose-delivery quantity or a base-depth recommendation.
Does the sand weight use the stone density?
No. Bedding sand shows volume only. The entered density is for base stone, and those materials can have different weights per cubic yard. Joint sand is not included at all.
Does 10% account for compaction?
Not automatically. It is a visible added-volume allowance. Confirm the material’s loose-to-compacted relationship; a percentage volume loss and an added percentage use different formulas.
Can I enter zero sand or base depth?
Yes. Zero omits that layer from the calculated volume. Negative or blank depths are rejected. Omitting a layer in the calculator does not certify that your paver system can be installed without it.
Turn the takeoff into a complete patio quote
Use the results as quantity checks, not an installed-price estimate. Our quote checklist below separates the materials from the work needed to place them. Compare quotes for the same footprint, pattern, base design and finished scope.
- Base stone: ask which material the quote includes, the loose quantity to deliver for the specified compacted depth, its billing unit and any delivery charge. Do not treat the calculator’s allowance as a measured compaction conversion.
- Pavers: confirm the product, pattern, borders and manufacturer coverage per package or pallet. Ask whether the quote includes cuts, extra pieces, unused-material returns and an allowance for repairs.
- Sand and edges: list bedding material, joint material and edge restraints separately. The calculator estimates bedding volume, not joint sand or edge-restraint length.
- Site work: ask for excavation, hauling and disposal, access, drainage work and finished elevations to be stated. Confirm the installation and compaction scope rather than comparing material totals alone.
- Final total: check delivery, equipment, labor, taxes and any permit-related work. Ask what is excluded and how a change in site conditions would be priced.
For a broader way to compare line items and set aside a project contingency, use our home improvement budget and quote checklist. It does not replace a site-specific paver design or contractor quote.
Related guides
Paver base depth guide, bedding sand quantity, pavers per square foot, gravel calculator.
Sources
- CalculatorSoup: Cubic Yards Calculator (rectangular volume and cubic-yard conversion)
- Belgard: Concrete Pavers Quick Reference Install Guide (manufacturer installation sequence; nominal 1-inch uncompacted bedding layer)
What you’ll need
A plain checklist. Needs vary by project, so follow the instructions on your materials.
- Plate compactor (often rentable) – each base layer needs compacting.
- Screed pipes or rails and a straight board – to level the bedding sand.
- Edge restraint – keeps pavers from spreading.
- Rubber mallet – to seat pavers.
- Polymeric or regular joint sand – fills the gaps between pavers.
- Masonry saw or splitter – for cuts at the edges.
- Gloves, eye and ear protection – cutting pavers makes dust and noise.
Popular tools: Concrete | Gravel | Mulch | Paint | Tile | Flooring | Topsoil | Sod | Roofing | Drywall | All calculators
Share this calculator
Linking to this page is welcome. Copy the snippet below to add a link to your site, forum post or newsletter.
Guide: How deep should a paver base be for a patio?
Estimates only. Confirm quantities and product details with your supplier before you order.
Guide: How much sand for pavers?