DIY paver guide
Gravel Calculator for Pavers
Use this gravel calculator for the compacted aggregate layer under pavers. Enter patio size and base depth to estimate cubic yards, tons, and bags for supplier ordering.
Quick answer
- For a 10x10 patio with a 4 inch base, plan for about 1.36 cu yd or 2.17 tons of gravel base.
- For a 12x16 patio with a 4 inch base, plan for about 2.61 cu yd or 4.17 tons.
- Use 6 inches or more when soil, drainage, freeze-thaw, or heavier use calls for a deeper base.
Gravel base estimates for pavers
| Project size | 4 in gravel base | 6 in gravel base | 4 in tons | 0.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 ft | 1.36 cu yd | 2.04 cu yd | 2.17 tons | 74 |
| 12x12 ft | 1.96 cu yd | 2.93 cu yd | 3.13 tons | 106 |
| 12x16 ft | 2.61 cu yd | 3.91 cu yd | 4.17 tons | 141 |
| 16x20 ft | 4.35 cu yd | 6.52 cu yd | 6.95 tons | 235 |
Assumes 10% allowance and 1.6 tons per cubic yard compactable gravel base.
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.
What gravel means for pavers
For paver patios, gravel usually means compactable crushed aggregate, not decorative pea gravel. Suppliers may call it paver base, road base, base rock, crusher run, or crushed gravel base.
Use a product that compacts into a stable base under bedding sand and pavers.
Ordering gravel by tons
The calculation starts with volume because base depth is measured in inches. Bulk suppliers often sell by tons, so the calculator multiplies cubic yards by the selected density.
If your supplier gives a different tons-per-cubic-yard value, replace the default before ordering.
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.