Paver base calculator: how much paver base do I need?
1.24 cubic yards of base
plus 0.31 cubic yards of bedding sand · base 33.3 cu ft at 4 in, sand 8.33 cu ft at 1 in · for a 10 × 10 ft area, base 4 in and sand 1 in
Run your own numbers
Enter it the way you measured it: 4.5, 4 1/2,
3/8 or 10' 6".
1.24 cubic yards of base
plus 0.31 cubic yards of bedding sand · base 33.3 cu ft at 4 in, sand 8.33 cu ft at 1 in
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute), read October 2, 2026. Data sheet (PDF)
A 10 by 10 ft patio needs 1.24 cubic yards of base aggregate at 4 inches deep, the ICPI minimum over well-drained soil, plus 0.31 cubic yards of bedding sand at a nominal 1 inch. Pick your use to set the base thickness.
A worked example
A 20 by 12 ft driveway, 6 inch base and 1 inch bedding sand needs 4.45 cubic yards of base, plus 0.75 cubic yards of bedding sand. A 20 by 12 ft driveway is 240 square feet; at the ICPI's 6 inch minimum base that is 120 cubic feet, 4.45 cubic yards, and the 1 inch sand layer adds 0.75.
How thick should a paver base be?
ICPI Tech Spec 2 sets the compacted base at a minimum 4 inches for a patio, walkway or other pedestrian area over well-drained soil, and at least 6 inches for a residential driveway. In cold climates, or on continually wet or weak soils, it calls for 2 to 4 inches more, and residential streets run 8 to 10 inches. On top of the base goes an uncompacted nominal 1 inch of bedding sand, screeded flat, with the pavers set into it. Pick your use above to set the base thickness, and the calculator returns the cubic yards of base and sand to order. The base figure is the compacted thickness, so order a little extra loose aggregate: it shrinks as it is tamped.
What else it is called
Paver base is the compactable crushed aggregate under a paver patio or driveway, sold as paver base, road base, or dense-grade aggregate, which is DGA or “crusher run”. The bedding layer on top is concrete sand. The cubic yards you need is geometry, so it does not change with the brand on the bag; in bulk both are delivered by the cubic yard.
Common sizes
| Area | Base, 4 in (patio) | Base, 6 in (driveway) | Bedding sand, 1 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft | 0.80 | 1.19 | 0.20 |
| 10 × 10 ft | 1.24 | 1.86 | 0.31 |
| 10 × 12 ft | 1.49 | 2.23 | 0.38 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 1.78 | 2.67 | 0.45 |
| 12 × 16 ft | 2.38 | 3.56 | 0.60 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 3.96 | 5.93 | 0.99 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 4.94 | 7.41 | 1.24 |
Cubic yards, rounded up. Base thickness after compaction from ICPI Tech Spec 2: 4 in over well-drained soil for patios, 6 in for residential driveways, more in cold or wet ground. Bedding sand is a nominal 1 in.
Where the numbers come from
- Base and bedding thickness: ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) Tech Spec 2, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements. The base, after compaction, is a minimum 4 in over well-drained soil for sidewalks, patios and pedestrian areas, at least 6 in for residential driveways, and 2 to 4 in thicker in cold climates or on wet or weak soils; residential streets run 8 to 10 in. The bedding sand is spread and screeded to an uncompacted nominal 1 in. Read October 2, 2026. Data sheet (PDF)
- Volume is geometry: each layer is its area times its thickness, and 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, exact by definition. The base and the bedding sand are counted separately because they are two different materials, each delivered by the cubic yard.
This counts the base aggregate and the bedding sand for a flat area at the thickness you pick. It does not count the pavers, the edge restraints or the joint sand swept between them. The base figure is the compacted thickness: loose aggregate shrinks as it is tamped, so order a little extra, and buy the sand as concrete sand (ASTM C33), not mason or stone-dust.
By Javier Miralles · Last updated . How this site is made.
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