Paver base calculator for Rhode Island

The layer beneath the pavers that helps a patio stay level in five years, calculated by tons at its compacted depth.

Enter your project dimensions

Length (feet)

Enter a length greater than 0

Width (feet)

Enter a width greater than 0

Diameter (feet)

Enter a diameter greater than 0

Depth (inches)

Enter a depth between 0.25 and 24 inches

Material

Add 10% extra for compaction & spillage

The pavers are several times more expensive per square foot than the stone below, but a failed patio usually starts with that lower layer. Loose or uneven pavers commonly point to trouble beneath the surface. This calculator estimates compacted crusher run or a comparable blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: use 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 under vehicles. The +10% compaction allowance is turned on by default. Calculate bedding sand separately as a strict 1-inch layer.

Calculating your base

Lay out the paved section in feet and carry the base 6 inches beyond each exposed paver side. This gives the edge restraint a solid footing.
Allow a compacted base depth of 4 inches for patios and walkways, 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 for driveways over soft ground.
To get yards, divide cubic feet by 27; multiply that result by 1.5 for tons, then turn on 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 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 paver

For the excavation, total the thickness of every layer. For example, a patio with 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver finished even with the lawn needs a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for any reveal above grade. Put that depth on a stake and use it as you excavate. Going too deep means paying to remove soil, which the Dirt Calculator can estimate in reverse, then purchasing more stone to restore the grade.

Paver base installation notes

Use a plate compactor in 2-inch lifts, giving each layer a light mist. Base material compacts more tightly when damp than when dry.
Build the compacted base with a 2-3% pitch leading away from the house. The bedding sand and pavers will mirror that slope.
Place edge restraint over the compacted base, not directly on lawn soil. The 6-inch extension gives the restraint a supported edge.
Where clay is present, install woven geotextile below the base material. It helps prevent stone from working down into the subgrade during wet weather.
A deeper sand bed cannot replace required base depth. Sand shifts, which can leave a patio uneven.

Checking base before relaying pavers

For a patio being taken up and reset, the existing base may still be usable. Remove the pavers, rake out the old bedding sand, and assess the base. If it is level, firm, and draining properly, install a fresh 1-inch bedding layer; the stone needed is only a tenth of a new installation. Remove the base too if there are low spots, soft areas, or pooled water. Keeping those issues in place can cause the replacement pavers to fail the same way.

Example: a 16 x 12 patio

The paved section is 192 square feet. Extending the base 6-inch beyond three exposed sides makes the base area 210. Using a 4 inches compacted depth: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or roughly 3.9 tons and 4.3 with the allowance. Purchase 4.5 tons of crusher run along with 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator in one free delivery. Schedule delivery after the excavation is complete, since stone sitting on grass for two weeks can leave a dead rectangular area.

Questions about base depth and quantities

How can I calculate my paver base amount?

Calculate the paved area including the 6-inch border, multiply it by the compacted depth in feet, divide by 27, multiply by 1.5 tons, then add 10%. A 10 x 10 patio with 4 inches of base comes to about 2.2 tons; order 2.5.

Will 2 inches of paver base work?

No. A two-inch layer is for leveling, not for base support. Foot traffic needs four compacted inches at minimum, and less base is a common reason pavers settle or rock.

What depth is needed for paver base?

Use four compacted inches beneath patios and paths, and 6-8 for surfaces used by cars. Add 2 extra inches in clay or wet soil. Rhode Island freeze-thaw conditions make base depth especially important.

How far down should I dig for pavers?

Start with the base depth, add 1 inch of bedding and the paver thickness, then deduct the reveal above grade. A 4-inch base beneath standard 2 3/8 inch pavers comes to about 7.5 inches below the finished surface.

Should I use crusher run or screenings?

Use crusher run, sometimes called road base, for the full structural layer of 4-plus inches. Screenings belong only in a thin leveling layer on top of the compacted base. Used by themselves as a base, screenings can hold water and shift under weight.

Can pavers go in without base material?

Pavers can go over a sound concrete slab using a bedding layer and drainage gaps. They should not go directly on soil. With Rhode Island frost cycles and rain, pavers laid on dirt can move and show problems in one season.

Paver Sand CalculatorCalculate →Crusher Run CalculatorCalculate →Stone CalculatorCalculate →All calculatorsMulch, sand, topsoil, dirt & more.Open the hub →

A solid base supports the finished pavers.

Order crusher run and screenings by the ton with bedding sand, including free delivery.

Shop Crusher Run