Paver base calculator for Washington

Size the compacted stone layer below the pavers, the part that helps a patio remain level over five years.

Enter your project dimensions

Length (feet)

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Width (feet)

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Diameter (feet)

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Depth (inches)

Enter a depth between 0.25 and 24 inches

Material

Add 10% extra for compaction & spillage

The base layer costs far less than the pavers above it, but patio trouble usually starts underneath. Size the compacted crusher run or comparable material here at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: use 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 beneath vehicles. The +10% compaction allowance is already selected. In western Washington, drainage through hardpan matters, so keep bedding sand separate as a strict 1-inch course and calculate it on its own.

Calculating base size

Find the paved area in feet, then extend the base 6 inches beyond each open paver edge. That extra base supports the edge restraint.
Use 4 inches of compacted material for patios and walkways, 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 for a driveway over soft ground.
To convert, take cubic feet / 27 for yards, then x 1.5 for tons; leave the +10% allowance on.

Tons = (Base area sq ft × Compacted depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.5 × 1.10
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

Layers from lawn level to the finished paver

Work out excavation by combining all layer thicknesses. For a typical lawn-level patio, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver, for a 7.5-inch excavation before allowing for the reveal above grade. Put that mark on a stake and verify it during digging. Going too deep means extra soil leaves the site, which the Dirt Calculator can estimate in reverse, followed by extra stone needed to bring the grade back up.

Base installation practices

Base compacts more tightly when damp, so mist it and use a plate compactor in 2-inch lifts.
Give the completed base a 2-3% slope directing water away from the house. The pavers and sand layer will mirror its contour.
The 6-inch extension supports the edge restraint, so install it over compacted base rather than lawn soil.
Because wet soil can force stone into the subgrade, put woven geotextile beneath the base on clay. This is especially useful where water lingers over hardpan through a wet season.
A deeper sand layer is not a replacement for proper base depth. Because sand shifts, this shortcut can create an uneven patio.

Re-laying old pavers: checking the base

An existing patio being reset may not need a new base. Take up the pavers, remove the old bedding sand, and evaluate what remains. A base that is level, firm, and draining well can receive a fresh 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone quantity to a tenth of a new installation. Remove the base as well when there are low areas, soft spots, or standing water. Covering those issues can lead to the same failure beneath replacement pavers.

Example calculation: a 16 x 12 patio

The paved surface is 192 square feet. Extending the base 6-inch past three exposed edges makes the footprint 210. For a 4 inches compacted layer: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or approximately 3.9 tons, rising to 4.3 with the allowance. Get 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 sitting on grass for two weeks leaves a dead rectangle.

Questions about base depth, excavation and tonnage

How much paver base do I need?

First include a 6-inch border around the paved area. Multiply that area by compacted depth in feet, divide by 27, multiply by 1.5 tons, and add 10%. For a 10 x 10 patio at 4 inches, the result is about 2.2 tons, so order 2.5.

Will 2 inches of paver base work?

No. At two inches, material is only a leveling course, not a base. Foot traffic needs four compacted inches at minimum; less depth commonly results in dips and pavers that rock.

What base depth is needed for pavers?

Use four compacted inches under patios and paths, and 6-8 beneath surfaces used by cars. Add 2 extra inches in clay or wet ground, including areas where water can sit over Westside hardpan. Adequate depth helps avoid rebuilding the surface.

How far down should I dig for pavers?

Calculate base depth with 1 inch of bedding and the paver thickness, then subtract any reveal above grade. Standard 2 3/8 inch pavers over a 4-inch base require digging about 7.5 inches below the finished level.

Should paver base use crusher run or screenings?

Use crusher run, also called road base, for the full structural 4-plus inches. Put screenings only in a thin leveling layer over a compacted base. Used alone as a base, screenings retain water and pump when bearing a load.

Can pavers go down without a base?

Yes over an existing, sound concrete slab, using a bedding layer and drainage gaps. Do not install them directly on soil. Dirt beneath pavers follows frost movement and heavy rain, often becoming visible in one season.

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The visible surface rests on the base below.

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