Paver base calculator for Minnesota

The layer below the pavers keeps a patio level over time, 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 stone layer below pavers costs much less per square foot than the finished surface, yet it is usually the layer behind a failed patio. Reports of paver repairs commonly trace back to what is underneath. Use this calculator to size compacted crusher run or a comparable mix at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicle areas. The +10% compaction allowance is selected by default. Calculate bedding sand separately as its required 1-inch course.

Base sizing

Start with the paved dimensions in feet, then extend the base 6 inches beyond each unclosed paver edge. That extra base supports the edge restraint.
Use 4 inches of compacted material for patios and walkways. Allow 6 beneath driveways or on clay soil, and 8 beneath driveways where the ground is soft.
To find yards, divide cubic feet by 27; multiply that result by 1.5 for tons. The +10% allowance is on.

Tons = (Base area sq ft × Compacted depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.5 × 1.10
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

Excavation layers from lawn to finished paver

Plan excavation by adding each layer together. For a standard patio, that means 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver brought flush to the lawn. The excavation is 7.5-inch, subject to the reveal desired above grade. Put the target depth on a stake and verify it during digging. Digging too far has two costs: soil must be removed, and more stone is needed to restore the depth. The Dirt Calculator run in reverse shows how many yards come out of the excavation.

Paver base installation notes

Build the base in 2-inch layers, running a plate compactor over each layer after a light mist. Material compacts more densely when damp than when dry.
Shape the finished base so it drops 2-3% away from the house. Its grade will carry through the sand and the pavers.
Use the 6-inch overhang to support the edge restraint on compacted base rather than on lawn soil.
For clay ground, place a woven geotextile fabric below the base. It keeps aggregate from being pushed down into wet subgrade over successive seasons.
Base thickness cannot be replaced with an overly deep sand setting bed. Sand shifts, which is a common source of uneven patio surfaces.

Re-laying old pavers: checking the base

Rebuilding an existing patio can leave the underlying base in place. Remove the pavers, rake away the used bedding sand, then assess the base. If it remains level, firm, and drained, add a fresh bedding course 1-inch deep, reducing the stone needed to a tenth of a full new installation. Remove the base as well where there are low areas, soft sections, or pooled water. Otherwise, the same problem can return beneath the replacement pavers.

Example: a 16 x 12 patio

Schedule the delivery after excavation, since a stone pile left on the lawn for two weeks can leave a dead rectangular area. For 192 square feet of paving, the 6-inch overhang along three open sides makes the base footprint 210. Using 4 inches of compaction: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, about 3.9 tons, or 4.3 with the allowance. Order 4.5 tons of crusher run and 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator in one free delivery.

Questions on base depth, excavation and tonnage

How much paver base do I need?

For tonnage, begin with the paved area including a 6-inch border. Multiply by 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 needs about 2.2 tons, so order 2.5.

Will 2 inches of paver base work?

No. A two-inch layer only serves for leveling and does not provide a base. Foot traffic requires at least four compacted inches; insufficient depth is the most frequent reason pavers settle or rock.

What depth should paver base be?

Use four compacted inches beneath patios and walkways. Areas carrying vehicles need 6-8, with 2 extra inches for clay or wet sites. In Minnesota, depth helps account for frost movement and avoids rebuilding the surface.

How far down should I dig for pavers?

Calculate excavation by adding the base, 1 inch of bedding, and paver thickness, then subtracting any above-grade reveal. Standard 2 3/8 inch pavers over a 4-inch base require excavation about 7.5 inches below the finished surface.

Paver base: crusher run or screenings?

Make the full 4-plus inches of structural layer from crusher run or road base. Apply screenings only as a thin leveling layer over the compacted base. Screenings used alone can trap water and pump when loaded.

Can pavers be installed without a base?

Pavers may be installed over an existing, sound concrete slab when a bedding layer and drainage gaps are included. They should not go directly over soil. Dirt allows frost heave and rainfall to move the pavers, often within one season.

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

Paver base notes

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

Shop Crusher Run