DIY paver guide
4 Inch vs 6 Inch Paver Base: Which Is Right?
A 4 inch compacted base is a common patio and walkway planning default. A 6 inch base is a safer planning choice for freeze-thaw exposure, poor soil, heavier furniture, or uncertain drainage.
Quick answer
- Use 4 inches for many pedestrian patios and walkways on stable, well-drained soil.
- Use 6 inches or more for harsher conditions or when local guidance calls for it.
- Do not fix a weak base by adding more bedding sand.
Interactive estimator
Paver Base calculator
Example 10x10 patio: base is about 1.36 cu yd, 2.17 tons, or 74 half-cubic-foot bags.
Enter your own length, width, depth, density, and bag size to create a supplier order.
How much more material does 6 inches use?
A 6 inch base uses 50% more aggregate than a 4 inch base over the same area. For a 12x12 patio, that can move the estimate from about 3.13 tons to about 4.69 tons using the default density.
The cost difference is usually smaller than the cost of repairing a patio that settles or heaves.
Conditions that justify a deeper base
Consider a deeper base for clay soil, freeze-thaw cycles, poor drainage, areas near downspouts, slopes, driveways, hot tubs, or heavy outdoor kitchens.
For vehicle traffic or very poor soil, treat online calculator results as rough planning only and get a local specification.
Helpful next step
Use the complete paver material calculator when you want one combined order list for pavers, base, bedding sand, polymeric sand, edging, and cost. Use the focused calculators when you need to tune one material at a time.