Paver Base Calculator
Calculate how much paver base material you need for your patio, walkway, or driveway project. Get accurate estimates for bags, tons, and costs instantly.
Enter length, width, and depth — the calculator returns cubic yards, tons, and suggested bag counts for your project.
Project Dimensions
Material Requirements
Enter your project dimensions to calculate paver base requirements
Paver Base Calculator Guide
What is Paver Base?
Paver base is a crushed stone material, typically 3/4" minus or #57 stone, used as a foundation layer under pavers. It provides drainage, stability, and prevents settling or shifting of your paver installation.
How to Calculate Paver Base
- • Measure: Length × Width of your project area
- • Depth: Typically 4 inches for residential use
- • Formula: (L × W × D) ÷ 12 = cubic feet
- • Convert: Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards
Recommended Base Depths
- • 2 inches: Light foot traffic only
- • 3 inches: Moderate foot traffic
- • 4 inches: Heavy traffic, driveways (recommended)
- • 6 inches: Commercial or very heavy vehicle traffic
Buying Options
Choose between bagged or bulk delivery based on your project size:
- • Small projects: 40lb or 50lb bags
- • Large projects: Bulk delivery by the ton
- • Cost savings: Bulk is typically more economical
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of paver base do I need?
For a typical 4-inch deep installation, you'll need approximately 40-50 bags of 50lb paver base per cubic yard. Use our calculator above to get exact estimates for your project dimensions.
What depth should my paver base be?
For most residential applications like patios and walkways, 4 inches is recommended. Driveways may need 4-6 inches depending on vehicle weight. Our calculator includes recommendations based on traffic type.
Should I buy bags or bulk paver base?
For projects under 3 cubic yards, bags are convenient. For larger projects, bulk delivery is more cost-effective. A typical single-car driveway requires 8-12 cubic yards, making bulk the better choice.
Can I use this calculator for different base materials?
Yes! This calculator works for crushed stone, gravel, decomposed granite, and other base materials. The volume calculations remain the same, though weights may vary slightly between materials.