Paver calculator: pavers, base gravel, sand and cost
Free tool · from a working hardscape crew
Paver calculator
How many pavers, how much base stone and sand, and what it takes to dig. Enter your size and get the list our crews would order, with the rules spelled out below.
Outside central PA? Groundwork Design Co., our design studio, draws your project to scale with an exact materials list your contractor can price. See plans and prices.
How we calculate it
Crushed stone (2A modified or crusher run), 6 in deep under patios and walks and 10 in under driveways, at about 1.4 tons per cubic yard plus 20% for compaction. Laid in 2–3 in lifts and compacted.
A 1 in bed of concrete sand at about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, screeded, never compacted before the pavers go down. Polymeric joint sand at about 60 sq ft per 50 lb bag.
7% extra for straight patterns, 12% for herringbone, angles and circles. Edge restraint on every open side, spiked every 12 in. Filter fabric 15% wider than the paved area.
Digging: base depth + 1 in of sand + the paver thickness, with 30% added because dug soil fluffs up. Your stone yard can convert tons to their own weights.
Sizes people search for
Full materials lists, drawings and installed prices: 10×10, 12×12, 12×16, 16×16, 20×20 patios, and every other size. Planning the budget? See what a paver patio costs.
Questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 12×12 paver patio?
About 4.5 tons of crushed stone (2A modified or crusher run) for a 6 in compacted base, plus about 0.7 tons of concrete sand for the 1 in bedding layer. The numbers include 20% for compaction.
How deep should the base be under pavers?
6 inches of compacted crushed stone under patios and walkways, 10 inches under driveways and parking pads, laid in 2 to 3 inch lifts. In freeze-thaw country, a thin base is the most common reason pavers heave.
How many extra pavers should I order?
About 7% extra for straight patterns like running bond, and about 12% for herringbone, angled patterns and circles, for cuts and breakage.
How much polymeric sand do I need?
About one 50 lb bag per 60 sq ft on standard joints. Wide joints and tumbled pavers take more, so buy a spare bag.
Do I need edge restraint against the house?
No. The foundation holds that side. Every open side needs edge restraint spiked about every 12 inches.
How much base for a 20×20 paver driveway?
About 20.7 tons of crushed stone for a 10 in compacted base and 2 tons of bedding sand. Use a vehicle-rated paver, at least 3 1/8 in thick.
Muthler Landscaping & Construction LLC · 913 Bellefonte Ave, Lock Haven, PA 17745 · (570) 397-9800 · PA HIC #PA212584.