Landscaping calculator

Paver base

Crushed-stone base and bedding-sand volumes under a patio from area, base thickness and sand thickness.

Reviewed formula · v1.0.0

Project inputs

Enter field measurements. Imperial lengths take feet and inches. Unit conversion happens before the reviewed formula is applied.

Patio lengthft + inFinished paved lengthftinPatio widthft + inFinished paved widthftinBase thicknessinCompacted crushed-stone or class II baseBedding sandinLoose bedding-sand thickness before compactionBase densitytons / yd³Tons per cubic yard of the crushed stone. 1.4 is a common planning figureWaste factor%Allowance for over-excavation, edges and compaction

All values can be refined when you edit the estimate. This tool does not replace field verification or local requirements.

Calculated result

1.7yd³

Base gravel order

FormulaLND-PBS-001

area × thickness ÷ 27 × (1 + waste) for base and for sand

0.5 yd³

Bedding sand order

120 ft²

Patio area

2.38 tons

Base weight

Transparent cost view

Planning rates only. Pick a currency — badges, inputs, and totals follow. Material is a rate. Labour is hours × a planning hourly rate. Equipment and delivery are this-job amounts.

Material ratePlanning · per calculated unit · USDEquipmentPlanning · this job · USDDeliveryPlanning · this job · USDLabour hoursPlanning · this jobLabour ratePlanning · per hour · USDOverhead %%Contingency %%Markup %%Tax %%

Planning defaults are office figures, not a bid. US ready-mix in 2026 often lands around $125–165 per cubic yard delivered; place-and-finish commonly $2–4 per square foot. Replace every rate with a supplier or crew quote before you send the letter.

Indicative FX as of Aug 2026. Planning conversion, not a live bank rate.

Material costUSD 145

Labour (8 h)USD 280

Direct costUSD 535

Overhead + contingencyUSD 53.45

Markup + taxUSD 70.55

Estimated project totalUSD 659

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Embed this calculator

<iframe src="https://construclytic.com/embed/paver-base" title="Paver base" width="100%" height="820" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" style="border:1px solid #d7e0da;border-radius:16px;background:#fff;"></iframe>

Paste on a contractor site or blog. The iframe is a planning takeoff, not a bid.

How this calculator works

A transparent paver base takeoff.

Treat the patio as a rectangle, convert base thickness and bedding-sand thickness to volume, apply a visible compaction allowance, then round each bulk order to the next 0.1 yd³.

Worked example. Example: a 12 × 10 ft patio with 4 in of crushed stone and 1 in of bedding sand, 10% waste, rounds to 1.7 yd³ of base and 0.5 yd³ of sand.

1. Measure the finished paved area, including any soldier-course overhang.
2. Enter the compacted base thickness from the setting-bed spec, not the excavation depth unless they match.
3. Keep edge restraint, geotextile and the pavers themselves on their own estimate lines.

Need the broader workflow? Read the landscaping planning guide.

Questions

Questions about paver base

Is 4 in of base enough?

It is a common patio planning figure on a prepared subgrade, not a driveway or poor-soil spec. Confirm the setting-bed design.

Does this include the pavers?

No. Use the paver calculator for the units and polymeric sand for the joints.

What is the formula ID?

This calculator publishes formula LND-PBS-001, version 1.0.0. The ID stays on the result and on the estimate line.

Is this engineering advice?

No. Construclytic is a planning website, not a registered engineering or contracting firm. Field checks, codes and product data still sit with you.

Does Construclytic fetch live supplier prices?

No. Costs use the rate you enter. Construclytic does not fetch live supplier prices.