The three layers
- Paver base: crushed stone (often sold as paver base, road base, ¾ in minus or crusher run), laid in 2 in layers and compacted.
- Bedding sand: a 1 in (25 mm) screeded layer of coarse concrete sand. This is what most people mean by paver sand. It isn't compacted until the pavers are on it.
- Joint sand: polymeric sand or fine dry sand swept into the joints after laying, to lock the pavers together.
How the calculator works
bedding sand = area × sand depth
joint sand = area × pavers per area × (paver length + width) × joint gap × paver thickness × 1.1
Volumes are converted to weight at about 1.66 t/m³ (about 1.4 tons per cubic yard) for crushed stone and 1.6 t/m³ for sand. Suppliers sell both by volume and by weight, so the calculator shows both.
How much paver base do I need?
| Per 100 ft² (or per 10 m²) | Base depth | Crushed stone | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkway or patio | 4 in | 1.42 yd³ | ≈ 2.0 tons |
| Patio on clay soil | 6 in | 2.13 yd³ | ≈ 3.0 tons |
| Driveway | 8 in | 2.84 yd³ | ≈ 4.0 tons |
| Patio (metric) | 100 mm | 1.15 m³ | ≈ 1.9 t |
| Driveway (metric) | 200 mm | 2.3 m³ | ≈ 3.8 t |
All figures include 15% for compaction. Add 1 in (25 mm) of bedding sand on top: about 0.31 yd³ (0.42 tons) per 100 ft², or 0.25 m³ (0.4 t) per 10 m².
How much polymeric sand do I need?
Joint sand depends on the paver size, the joint width and the paver thickness. Small pavers with wide joints need the most. For standard 4 × 8 in pavers with ⅛ in joints, the calculator gives about 100 lb (two 50 lb bags) per 100 ft². With ¼ in joints it's about twice that. Large 12 × 12 in slabs with ¼ in joints need roughly 75 lb per 100 ft².
Polymeric sand makers publish coverage for their own product and joint sizes, and spacer bars and chamfered edges change the amount. Treat the result as a buying guide, buy a spare bag, and follow the bag's instructions for wetting it in.
Tips for a base that lasts
- Dig deep enough. Base + sand + paver thickness, typically about 7 in (180 mm) for a patio.
- Slope for drainage: about ¼ in per foot (2%) away from buildings.
- Compact in layers. Use a plate compactor on every 2 in (50 mm) lift of base.
- Use geotextile fabric under the base on soft or clay soils.
- Don't use sand as the base. Sand is only for bedding and joints. The load is carried by compacted crushed stone.
Counting pavers too? Use the paver calculator or the brick patio calculator. To price the job, use the paver patio cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much paver base do I need?
For a patio or walkway with a 4 in base, about 1.4 cubic yards (roughly 2 tons) of crushed stone per 100 square feet, including compaction. A driveway with an 8 in base needs about twice that.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
About 0.31 cubic yards (0.42 tons) of bedding sand per 100 square feet at 1 in deep, plus joint sand. In metric, 0.25 m³ per 10 m² at 25 mm deep.
How many bags of polymeric sand do I need?
For 4 × 8 in pavers with ⅛ in joints, about two 50 lb bags per 100 square feet. Wider joints or thicker pavers need more. Check the coverage on your brand's bag.
How deep should paver base be?
4 in (100 mm) of compacted crushed stone for patios and walkways, 6 in (150 mm) on clay or poorly drained soil, and 8 in (200 mm) or more for driveways.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 1.4 tons of crushed stone per cubic yard. Sand is a little less dense at about 1.35 tons per cubic yard. The exact figure varies with the material and moisture.