Paver Base Material Calculator Guide
Use this paver base material calculator to estimate cubic yards of compacted gravel base and paver sand for patios and walkways. Enter project dimensions, gravel base depth, and sand bedding depth to order the right sub-base materials.
How to use the paver base calculator
Enter patio or walkway length and width in feet, gravel base depth in inches (typically 4–6 inches), and paver sand bedding depth in inches (typically 1 inch).
Results show separate cubic yard totals for base gravel and leveling sand.
Paver base volume formulas
Area (sq ft) = Length × Width. Gravel volume (cu ft) = Area × (Base depth in ÷ 12). Sand volume (cu ft) = Area × (Sand depth in ÷ 12). Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27 for each layer.
- Gravel yards = (L × W × base in / 12) / 27
- Sand yards = (L × W × sand in / 12) / 27
- Typical base: 4–6 in compacted crushed stone
- Typical bedding: 1 in coarse concrete sand
Worked example
A 12 ft × 10 ft patio with 4 inches of gravel base and 1 inch of sand: Area = 120 sq ft.
Gravel = 120 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 ≈ 1.48 cubic yards. Sand = 120 × (1 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 ≈ 0.37 cubic yards.
Building a stable paver base
Excavate to depth, add and compact gravel base in 2-inch lifts, then screed sand bedding before laying pavers. Proper base prep prevents settling, pooling, and joint failure far more than paver quality alone.
Material selection tips
Use angular crushed stone (often called #57 or road base) for the sub-base — it compacts well. Bedding sand should be coarse and free of clay; polymeric sand goes in joints after pavers are set, not as bedding.
- Slope the base 1–2% away from structures for drainage.
- Add 5–10% extra material for waste and compaction loss.
- Pair with our gravel-rock calculator for decorative top layers.
- Use landscape fabric only where soil migration is a concern — not under compacted structural base.