Paver base calculator for Hawaii
At compacted depth, this buried layer determines if your patio stays even after five years, with quantities figured in tons.
Enter your project dimensions
The stone beneath pavers costs several times less per square foot than the pavers themselves, but a failed patio usually traces back to that lower layer. Problems reported with pavers commonly begin underneath them. Use this calculator to size compacted crusher run or a comparable mix at 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Allow 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicles, with the +10% compaction allowance already selected. Bedding sand is calculated separately as a strict 1-inch layer.
Base sizing
- Find the paved area in feet. Extend the base 6 inches outside the paver line at each open side, since the edge restraint needs that support.
- For compacted base, plan 4 inches below patios and walkways. Use 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 beneath driveways on soft ground.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for yards. Multiply by 1.5 for tons, with the +10% allowance included.
Excavation depth = base + 1" bedding + paver thickness − reveal
Project base 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 lawn to finished pavers
Your excavation depth comes from adding the layers together. A standard patio has 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver brought flush to the lawn. That makes a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for any reveal above grade. Put the depth mark on a stake and use it while digging. Extra excavation costs for soil removal, and it also means more stone is needed to refill the space. Use the Dirt Calculator in reverse to find how many yards come out of the hole.
Installation practices that help the base stay in place
- Work in 2-inch lifts with a plate compactor. Mist each lift as you go, since slightly damp base compacts tighter than dry material.
- Grade the compacted base 2-3% away from the house. The bedding sand and pavers will follow that same slope.
- Place edge restraint over the compacted base, not on lawn soil. The 6-inch extension supports it.
- Where you have clay, install woven geotextile beneath the base. On saturated windward ground, it keeps stone from working down into the subgrade through wet seasons.
- A deep sand bed cannot replace needed base depth. Sand shifts, and that can create a wavy patio.
Reinstalling old pavers: check the base first
Rebuilding an existing patio can mean keeping the base. Remove the pavers, rake away the old bedding sand, then check the base. If it remains flat, firm, and drains well, add a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone order to a tenth of what a new installation needs. Remove the base too if you find low areas, soft spots, or standing water. Leaving part of a failed base in place can cause the same issue beneath the replacement pavers.
Example calculation: a 16 x 12 patio
Start with 192 square feet of paving. Adding the 6-inch extension along three open edges brings the base footprint to 210. For 4 inches of compacted material: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or about 3.9 tons and 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. Arrange the drop after digging is finished, because a stone pile left on grass for two weeks can kill a rectangular patch.
Questions about 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?
For a paver base, crusher run or screenings?
Can pavers go down without a base?
Other calculators
Pavers are visible. The base supports the result.
Order crusher run and screenings by the ton with bedding sand, with free delivery.