Enter the area and your paver size to get the number of pavers, the base gravel and the bedding sand.
The CMHA’s minimum compacted base, plus 50% of the minimum for each condition your site lacks: strong soil, good drainage and a climate where the ground doesn’t freeze.
| Project | Has all three | Missing one | Missing two | Missing all three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patio or walkway | 4 in | 6 in | 8 in | 10 in |
| Residential driveway | 6 in | 9 in | 12 in | 15 in |
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) sets minimums of 4 inches of compacted base for patios and walkways and 6 inches for residential driveways, on strong, well-drained soil where the ground doesn’t freeze. It adds 50% of the minimum for each of those conditions your site lacks.
A 1-inch bedding layer. Western Interlock figures 1 cubic yard of sand per 200 sq ft at that depth, and 1 cubic yard of base rock per 80 sq ft at 4 inches.
Western Interlock suggests 5% to 10% extra for cuts and spares. The calculator starts at 10%.
Divide 144 by the paver’s length times its width in inches. A 4 by 8 inch paver works out to 4.5 per square foot, a 6 by 6 inch paver to 4, and a 12 by 12 inch paver to 1.
This Old House puts a paver patio at $8 to $25 per square foot installed. It notes a concrete paver may cost around $8 per square foot to install, while a flagstone patio can cost $50 per square foot.
Western Interlock uses ¾ inch minus crushed rock. The CMHA recommends aggregate approved as road base by your state or city, and says never to use stone dust or screenings, or rounded stone such as river rock or pea gravel.
Western Interlock says to excavate 6 to 8 inches below finished grade depending on the project, and deeper where vehicles will drive. That leaves room for the compacted base, the 1-inch sand layer and the pavers.
Western Interlock sets the finished surface at a slope of at least ⅛ inch per foot, so water runs off.
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Results are estimates. Suppliers’ bag sizes, pallet sizes and stone weights vary, so check theirs before you order.
Lay pavers on at least 4 inches of compacted crushed-stone base (more on clay or in freezing climates), then 1 inch of screeded concrete sand. Set the pavers, add edge restraints, compact and sweep in joint sand, with a slope of 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot.
September 24, 2026
Sweep polymeric sand into completely dry paver joints at least 1.5 inches deep, compact it with a plate compactor, clear every grain off the surface, then mist it with a hose. Install above 32°F with a dry forecast.
September 12, 2026
Most paver patios cost $8–$25 per square foot installed, or about $2,275–$6,950 for a typical 280-square-foot patio. Material, base prep, shape, slope and local labor rates decide where your quote lands.
August 26, 2026
