Paver base calculator for North Dakota
Determine the tonnage for the compacted layer beneath a paver surface, helping it remain level over time.
Enter your project dimensions
Stone below the pavers costs far less per square foot, yet that lower layer is often where a failed patio begins. Use this calculator to size compacted crusher run or a similar material at 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Allow 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicle traffic. The +10% compaction allowance is selected by default. Calculate the separate, fixed 1-inch bedding-sand layer on its own.
Planning the base
- Find the paved area's dimensions in feet. Extend the base 6 inches beyond each exposed paver side so the edge restraint has support.
- For patios and walkways, use a compacted depth of 4 inches. Plan for 6 on driveways or clay soil, and 8 on soft-ground driveways.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get yards. Multiply by 1.5 for tons, then switch on the +10% allowance.
Excavation depth = base + 1" bedding + paver thickness − reveal
Project depth 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 |
Excavation layers from turf to finished pavers
Excavation depth comes from adding every layer. For a typical patio, allow 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver finished flush with the lawn. That equals a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the reveal you want above grade. Mark the target on a stake and check it while digging. An over-dug area costs for soil removal, with the Dirt Calculator run backward to find yards leaving the hole, and then for stone needed to rebuild the grade.
Paver base installation notes
- Use a plate compactor in 2-inch layers. Lightly mist each layer before compacting, since damp material packs more tightly than dry base.
- Slope the completed base 2-3% away from the house. The sand bed and pavers will follow that grade.
- Install edge restraint over the compacted base instead of lawn soil. The 6-inch extension provides the support beneath it.
- For clay ground, put woven geotextile below the base. In the Red River Valley, it helps keep stone from being pushed into the subgrade through wet seasons.
- Do not make the sand layer thicker to make up for missing base. Sand shifts, and the result can be a wavy patio.
Assessing base before relaying pavers
When you lift and relay an existing patio, examine the base first. Remove the pavers, rake away old bedding sand, then check for a flat, firm, drained surface. If it remains in good condition, install a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone order to a tenth of a new installation. Remove and rebuild the base where there are low areas, soft sections or standing water. Otherwise, the same issue can return beneath the replacement pavers.
Example: 16 x 12 patio
The paved section is 192 square feet. A 6-inch extension along three exposed sides makes the base area 210. With 4 inches compacted, 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or roughly 3.9 tons and 4.3 with the allowance. Order 4.5 tons of crusher run and 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator, in one free delivery. Schedule the drop after excavation, since a stone pile on the lawn for two weeks can leave a dead rectangle.
Questions on base depth, excavation and tonnage
How can I calculate my paver base amount?
Will 2 inches of paver base work?
What base depth do pavers need?
How far down should I excavate for pavers?
For paver base, crusher run or screenings?
Can pavers be installed without base?
Other calculators
A stable base supports the finished pavers.
Order crusher run, screenings and bedding sand by the ton.