Paver base calculator for Vermont

The hidden layer that keeps a patio level after five years, calculated by compacted depth and tons.

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 pavers are only the finish surface, while the stone underneath does the supporting. When a patio settles or shifts, the trouble usually began below it. This calculator estimates compacted crusher run or a comparable blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Plan 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicles, with the +10% compaction allowance already selected. Calculate bedding sand separately as a strict 1-inch layer.

Calculating base material

Find the paved area in feet and extend the base 6 inches beyond each exposed paver side. This extra base supports the edge restraint.
Use 4 inches of compacted base for patios and walkways, 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, then add the +10% allowance.

Tons = (Base area sq ft × Compacted depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.5 × 1.10
Excavation depth = base + 1" bedding + paver thickness − reveal

Project base depths 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

Add the layer depths together to determine how far to excavate. For a typical patio, allow 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver set flush to the lawn. That comes to a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the reveal you want above grade. Put the target depth on a stake and refer to it while digging. Digging too deep costs twice: extra soil must be hauled away, and more stone is needed to restore the grade. Use the Dirt Calculator in reverse to find how many yards come out of the excavation.

Installer practices for lasting paver bases

Build the base in 2-inch layers, lightly misting and plate-compacting every layer. A damp aggregate base compacts more firmly than a dry one.
Before adding sand, finish the base with a 2-3% pitch away from the house. Pavers and sand will follow its grade.
The 6-inch base extension supports the edge restraint, so place it on compacted aggregate instead of lawn soil.
In Champlain Valley clay, put woven geotextile down first and build the base over it. This keeps stone from sinking into the subgrade during wet seasons.
Base depth cannot be replaced with a deeper bed of sand. Sand shifts, which is how patios end up uneven.

Re-laying old pavers: checking the base

When resetting an existing patio, the base may still be usable. Remove the pavers, rake away the old bedding sand, then check the base. If it remains level, firm, and drains well, add a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone order to a tenth of what a new installation needs. If there are low areas, soft spots, or standing water, remove and rebuild the base as well. Leaving those problems in place leads to the same failure beneath the replacement pavers.

Example: a 16 x 12 patio

For a 192 square foot paved area, adding the 6-inch extension along three exposed sides brings the base footprint to 210. With a 4 inches compacted depth: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or about 3.9 tons and 4.3 with the allowance. Order 4.5 tons of crusher run plus 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator in one free delivery. Arrange the drop after excavation, since a stone pile left on grass for two weeks can create a dead rectangle.

Questions about depth, excavation and tonnage

How can I calculate the paver base I need?

Add a 6-inch border to the paved area, multiply by the compacted depth in feet, divide by 27, multiply by 1.5 tons, then include 10%. For a 10 x 10 patio with 4 inches of base, the result is about 2.2 tons, so order 2.5.

Will 2 inches of paver base work?

No. Two inches works as a leveling course, not structural base. Foot traffic needs at least four compacted inches; using less is a common reason pavers dip or rock.

What depth of base is needed for pavers?

Use four compacted inches below patios and paths. Anything carrying cars needs 6-8, with 2 extra inches for wet or clay ground. Vermont frost and freeze-thaw cycling make proper depth worth the effort before the surface goes down.

How far should I dig down for pavers?

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

For paver base, crusher run or screenings?

Use crusher run, also called road base, as the structural course through the full 4-plus inches. Spread screenings only as a thin leveling layer over compacted base. Screenings alone trap water and can pump when loaded.

Can pavers go down without a base?

Yes over a sound concrete slab, using a bedding layer and drainage gaps. No over soil. Pavers placed directly on dirt move with frost heave and rain, which can become visible in one season.

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A solid base supports the finished pavers.

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