Base gravel for patios and walkways · tons, yards, compaction
Paver base calculator
Enter the patio or walkway size and base depth to calculate paver base in cubic yards and US tons. The preset is a published average of 2,700 lb per cubic yard for crushed base gravel; add the compaction allowance your supplier recommends.
How much paver base you need
Enter your dimensions to see cubic yards, tons and bags
Enter your dimensions to see cubic yards, weight and bags, with every assumption explained.
The short answer
How much paver base do I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by depth in inches, then divide by 324 for cubic yards. A 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 in needs 48 ft³, or 1.78 cubic yards, which is about 2.4 US tons at the Pavingstone Supply figure of 2,700 lb per cubic yard (1.35 tons per yard). Published guidance for compaction ranges from 20% (a supplier’s advice) to about 25% (WSDOT’s loose and compacted weights).
The calculation
How to calculate paver base in four steps
- Measure the area.Length × width in feet gives square feet. Split an L-shape into rectangles and add each as a separate area above.
- Convert the depth.Divide depth in inches by 12. Three inches is 0.25 ft; four inches is 0.333 ft.
- Find the volume.Square feet × depth in feet gives cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. Volume does not depend on the material.
- Convert to tons.Multiply cubic yards by the supplier’s pounds per cubic yard and divide by 2,000. At 2,700 lb/yd³ that is 1.35 tons per yard.
Rectangle · US measurements
Length × Width × Depth ÷ 324
Feet × feet × inches → cubic yards
Cubic yards × 2,700 ÷ 2,000
Cubic yards × lb/yd³ → US tons at the reference weight
Read the full calculation method ↗Worked examples
Paver base calculator examples
Each example uses the 100 lb/ft³ reference, no extra allowance and no compaction adjustment. Open one to load its measurements into the calculator, then change the depth or density to match your product.
| Project | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 in | 48 ft³ · 1.78 yd³ | 2.4 US tons |
| 20 × 3 ft walkway at 4 in | 20 ft³ · 0.74 yd³ | 1 US tons |
| 20 × 16 ft patio at 6 in | 160 ft³ · 5.93 yd³ | 8 US tons |
Suppliers sell by the ton or by the cubic yard. Ask which unit the quote uses and which weight per yard they bill by; the calculator’s Bag sizes & cost section accepts either.
Bulk quantities
How much does a ton or a cubic yard of paver base cover?
One cubic yard is 27 ft³ whatever the material. One US ton of this reference product is 20 ft³ (0.74 yd³), so its coverage depends on the published weight.
Coverage by depth
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | One US ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 80 ft² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 60 ft² |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 40 ft² |
| 8 in | 40.5 ft² | 30 ft² |
Material for 100 square feet
| Depth | Cubic yards | US tons |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 0.93 yd³ | 1.25 tons |
| 4 in | 1.23 yd³ | 1.67 tons |
| 6 in | 1.85 yd³ | 2.5 tons |
| 8 in | 2.47 yd³ | 3.33 tons |
Multiply the 100 ft² row by your area ÷ 100. The ton-of-gravel coverage guide explains the arithmetic, and the cubic yards to tons converter compares several published weights side by side.
Why the density matters
Published weights for paver base
A size or grade label does not fix a density. These are the published figures behind this page; each names the supplier and product it describes, and none is a specification for another yard’s material.
| Product | Supplier | lb per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | 10 yd³ weighs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed base gravel (1/4 and 5/8 inch minus paver base) | Pavingstone Supply | 2,700 | 1.35 | 13.5 tons |
| 3/4 inch Minus Crushed Quarry | Landscape Shoppe | 2,500 | 1.25 | 12.5 tons |
| Road Mix (3/4 inch crushed limestone with screenings, CA6) | Tim Wallace Landscape Supply | 3,000 | 1.5 | 15 tons |
Enter your own supplier’s figure under Material & allowance to replace the preset. The full gravel density reference records every figure with its source and date.
Paver base, bedding sand and compaction
A paver installation has at least two material layers: a compacted crushed-stone base and a thin bedding layer on top. Calculate each with its own depth and density. The base is spread and compacted in lifts, so the loose volume you order is larger than the finished volume. Enter an allowance under Material & allowance; the road base calculator shows the loose depth to spread for each compacted depth.
Products sold as paver base go by many names: 3/4 inch minus, crushed quarry, road mix, CA6, Grade 8. Ask for the product’s grading and weight per yard. For a firm decorative surface instead of pavers, see the decomposed granite calculator.
Before you order
Frequently asked questions about paver base
Every answer states the weight per yard it assumes.
Check our formulas & sources ↗How much paver base do I need?
Multiply the patio’s length × width in feet by the base depth in inches and divide by 324 for cubic yards. A 12 × 12 ft patio at 4 in is 1.78 cubic yards, about 2.4 US tons at 2,700 lb per yard. With a 20% compaction allowance, order 2.13 yd³ (2.88 tons).
How much paver base do I need for 100 square feet?
At 4 inches, 100 ft² needs 1.23 cubic yards (1.67 tons); at 6 inches 1.85 yd³ (2.5 tons), at 2,700 lb per yard and before compaction.
How much extra paver base should I order for compaction?
Tim Wallace Landscape Supply advises adding 20% for compaction. WSDOT’s published loose and compacted weights for crushed base course imply about 25.42%. Enter the allowance your supplier recommends under Material & allowance; the calculator adds it to both volume and weight.
How many tons of paver base per cubic yard?
The published figures on this page run from 2,500 lb (1.25 tons) to 3,000 lb (1.5 tons) per cubic yard, loose. Pavingstone Supply describes its 2,700 lb figure as an average that varies by material.
How much does a ton of paver base cover?
At 2,700 lb per cubic yard, one US ton is 20 ft³ loose. It covers about 80 ft² at 3 inches, 60 ft² at 4 inches or 40 ft² at 6 inches, before compaction.
Do I calculate the paver sand separately?
Yes. The bedding layer of sand or fine screenings under the pavers is a separate, thinner layer with its own weight per yard. Add it as a second estimate with its depth and your supplier’s density rather than folding it into the base.
How thick should paver base be?
Use the depth in the paver manufacturer’s installation guide or your plan. Walkways, patios and driveways carry different loads and have different base specifications; the 4- and 6-inch examples here show the arithmetic only.
How is the walkway example calculated?
A 20 × 3 ft walkway is 60 ft². 60 × (4 ÷ 12) = 20 ft³, or 0.74 cubic yards, which weighs 1 US tons at 2,700 lb per yard. Small jobs like this are often bought in 0.5 ft³ bags: 40 bags before allowance.
References
- Crushed base gravel (1/4 and 5/8 inch minus paver base): 2,700 lb/yd³, Pavingstone Supply. Recorded September 23, 2026
- 3/4 inch Minus Crushed Quarry: 2,500 lb/yd³, Landscape Shoppe. Recorded September 23, 2026
- Road Mix (3/4 inch crushed limestone with screenings, CA6): 1.5 US tons/yd³, Tim Wallace Landscape Supply. Recorded September 23, 2026
About these calculations
By Site Measure · Last updated . The 2,700 lb per cubic yard reference is Pavingstone Supply’s published average for its crushed base gravels. The examples are illustrative arithmetic, not measured deliveries, product specifications or installation depths. Content was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the calculator’s arithmetic tests; no independent engineering review is claimed.
See our calculation checks or report a calculation discrepancy with your dimensions, density and units.