Gravel Calculators

Paver Base Calculator

Pavers are only as good as what's under them. This tool estimates the compacted crushed-stone base for a patio or walkway — a structural layer, not decorative gravel. It's pre-set to crusher run at a 4-inch depth; adjust both to match your plan.

Step 1 · Area & shape
Step 2 · Dimensions
Step 3 · Base material

Heads-up: pea gravel and washed stone don't compact — they're listed for comparison, not because they belong under pavers.

Base gravel is not decorative gravel

The stone under pavers has one job: stay dense and immovable. That means angular crushed stone with fines (crusher run / road base), which interlocks and compacts into something close to solid under a plate compactor. Decorative gravels — pea gravel, washed round stone — are chosen for how they look and feel, which is exactly why they fail as a base: round particles roll instead of lock, and the patio slowly goes wavy.

A typical paver patio section, from the bottom up: compacted soil or subgrade → geotextile fabric (optional but wise) → 4–6" compacted crushed stone → ~1" bedding sand → pavers → polymeric sand in the joints. This calculator covers the crushed-stone layer — the bulk of the material cost.

Worked example: a 16×12 ft patio (192 ft²) with a 4-inch crusher-run base: 192 × ⅓ ft = 64 ft³ = 2.37 yd³ ≈ 3.8 tons — order around 4.2–4.4 tons to cover 10–15% compaction loss.

Paver driveways are a different animal: they need deeper bases (often 6–8"+) and sometimes engineered sub-bases. For a driven surface, see the gravel driveway calculator for layered thinking, and talk to a contractor about paver-specific specs.

Gravel Driveway Calculator

Two-layer quantities for driveways and other driven surfaces.

Crushed Gravel Calculator

Crusher run and graded-stone quantities with the grading-code reference.

Gravel Types and Sizes Guide

What each stone size and grading code means, and where it belongs.

Gravel Cost Calculator

Price this base at your supplier's per-ton rate.

Paver base FAQ

How deep should a paver base be?

Patios and walkways for foot traffic typically need 4–6 inches of compacted angular crushed stone, plus about 1 inch of bedding sand on top. Driveways with pavers need more — often 6–8 inches or an engineered design. Enter your planned depth in the calculator above to get quantities.

What kind of gravel do you use under pavers?

Angular crushed stone with fines — often called crusher run, road base, or ¾-inch minus — because it compacts into a dense, stable layer. Do not use pea gravel or washed stone under pavers: round and clean stone doesn't lock together and will shift under load.

Does the paver base need to be compacted?

Yes — compaction is the whole point. Loose base settles unevenly over time, which shows up as dipping pavers. Compact in lifts (a few inches at a time) with a plate compactor. Because compacted base occupies less space than loose gravel, order 10–15% more than the loose-volume estimate.