Paver Base & Sand Calculator — Gravel and Sand for a Patio
Enter your patio area, base depth and sand depth to get the gravel and bedding sand you need in cubic yards and tons. No sign-up, no data stored.
Base materials needed
How paver base and sand are estimated
- Patio area (sq ft) = length x width.
- Gravel volume = area x base depth (ft), then ÷ 27 to get cubic yards.
- Sand volume = area x sand depth (ft) ÷ 27.
- Tons = gravel cubic yards x 1.4 (crushed stone density).
- Order with 10% extra - gravel compacts and never spreads perfectly edge to edge.
The 27 in the formula is cubic feet per cubic yard: 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft. Suppliers price gravel by the cubic yard and often also quote tons, so the calculator gives you both to compare quotes.
Patio size → base materials reference
4-in compacted gravel base + 1-in sand, including a 10% order allowance.
| Patio size | Area | Gravel | Tons | Sand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8x10 | 80 sq ft | 1.1 cu yd | 1.5 t | 0.25 cu yd |
| 10x12 | 120 sq ft | 1.6 cu yd | 2.3 t | 0.4 cu yd |
| 12x16 | 192 sq ft | 2.6 cu yd | 3.6 t | 0.6 cu yd |
| 16x20 | 320 sq ft | 4.3 cu yd | 6.0 t | 1.0 cu yd |
| 20x24 | 480 sq ft | 6.5 cu yd | 9.1 t | 1.5 cu yd |
Last updated: October 2026 · Gravel density varies with stone type; 1.4 tons/cu yd is a good average for crushed limestone. Confirm with your supplier.
Paver base & sand FAQ
For a walking path, 4 in of compacted gravel works; patios and driveways need 6-8 in. The base depth is what carries the load - sand on top is only a 1 in bedding layer, not structure.
Compacted gravel locks together and spreads the load, so pavers stay level for years. Loose gravel settles unevenly, and within a season you get wavy joints and rocking stones.
About 1 in of bedding sand, screeded flat. Too much sand (2-3 in) lets pavers shift before the joints lock; too little leaves high and low spots you cannot fix after laying.
It is cheap insurance: it stops weeds and keeps fine soil from migrating up into the base. Lay it over compacted soil before adding gravel, and it adds almost nothing to the cost.
Crushed stone runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Order in cubic yards from a landscape supplier, or use the ton figure to compare with a gravel yard that prices by the ton.
Related calculators & guides
Paver Base & Sand: What Goes Under a Patio
The full layer-by-layer build, compaction rules and common base mistakes.
Read the guide →