Paver base calculator for South Dakota
The base below the surface determines how well a patio stays level over time, measured in tons for the compacted depth.
Enter your project dimensions
The surface pavers cost several times more per square foot than the material beneath them, yet failures usually start in the lower layer. Size that foundation here using compacted crusher run or a comparable blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for foot traffic and 6-8 beneath vehicles. The +10% compaction allowance is already selected. Calculate bedding sand separately as a strict 1-inch course.
Calculating base material
- First measure the paver area in feet. On each open side, carry the base 6 inches beyond the paver edge so the edge restraint has support.
- For compacted material, allow 4 inches below patios and walkways, 6 beneath driveways or clay soil, and 8 for driveways over soft ground.
- For yards, take cubic feet / 27; then x 1.5 for tons. The +10% allowance remains on.
Excavation depth = base + 1" bedding + paver thickness − reveal
Project depth 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 |
Layers from turf to the finished paver surface
Start by adding the thickness of every layer to find how deep to excavate. For a typical patio, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver set level with the lawn. That comes to a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the amount you want showing above grade. Put the target depth on a stake and check it while digging. Digging too far costs for soil removal, with the Dirt Calculator used in reverse showing the yards leaving the hole, then costs again for stone needed to bring the level back up.
Installation practices for a stable base
- Material needs compaction in 2-inch lifts, using a plate compactor and a light mist on each lift. Base that is damp compacts tighter than dry stone.
- Give the compacted base a 2-3% slope leading away from the house. The sand bed and pavers will take on the same slope.
- Install edge restraint on the compacted base rather than lawn soil. The 6-inch extension provides its support.
- For clay ground, place woven geotextile below the base. It keeps stone from working down into the subgrade through repeated wet seasons.
- A deeper sand bed does not replace base depth. Since sand shifts, that shortcut can create a wavy patio.
Checking base condition before relaying pavers
An existing patio being lifted and reset can sometimes retain its base. Take up the pavers, remove the old bedding sand, then check the material below. A level, firm base that drains properly only needs a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone quantity to a tenth of a new installation. Rebuild the base if it has dips, soft areas, or standing water. Leaving those issues in place puts the same failure beneath the replacement pavers.
Example calculation: a 16 x 12 patio
The paved area is 192 square feet. Including a 6-inch extension along three exposed sides, use 210 for the base footprint. With 4 inches of compacted depth: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, about 3.9 tons, or 4.3 after the allowance. Purchase 4.5 tons of crusher run and 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator in one free delivery. Schedule the drop after excavation, since a stone pile sitting on grass for two weeks can leave a dead rectangle.
Questions about base depth, digging, and tonnage
How can I calculate the paver base quantity?
Will 2 inches of paver base work?
What depth of base is required for pavers?
What excavation depth is needed for pavers?
Should paver base use crusher run or screenings?
Is it possible to install pavers without base material?
Other calculators
A sound base supports the finished pavers.
Order crusher run and screenings by the ton alongside bedding sand.