200 ft2 area
- Base tons
- 4.0740740741 tons
- Base cubic feet
- 73.3333333333 ft3
- Bedding sand
- 0.6790123457 yd3
Base depth, compaction, soil, drainage, traffic load, edge restraints, and local practice can change the right base design.
Paver Base Calculator
Use this free paver base calculator to estimate compacted gravel base volume, approximate base tons, and bedding sand volume from paver area and layer depths.
Research-backed assumptions Formula steps Examples included Private in-browser use
Formula steps
- Multiply area by base depth to get base volume.
- Add waste and convert cubic feet to cubic yards.
- Multiply cubic yards by tons per cubic yard for base weight.
How to use the paver base calculator
- Enter paver area, base depth, bedding depth, waste percent, and base density.
- Press Estimate base to see base cubic yards, base tons, and bedding sand volume.
- Use compacted layer depth when you know it because loose material can settle.
- Drainage, soil, freeze-thaw, traffic load, compaction, and edge restraints still need project review.
Common uses
Estimate base gravel for a patio or walkway.
Convert base volume into approximate tons.
Estimate bedding sand volume separately.
Add waste for compaction and uneven ground.
Examples
2.716 yd3 base
Base and sand estimate
Base tons
Frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers about when to use the tool, what it does with your inputs, what to double-check, and how privacy works.
When should I use the Paver Base Calculator?
Use it when your task matches one of these common needs: Estimate base gravel for a patio or walkway. Convert base volume into approximate tons. It works best when you already know the values, dates, units, or settings the page asks for.
What is the Paver Base Calculator doing with my inputs?
In plain language: The calculator multiplies paver area by base depth and bedding depth, adds waste, converts cubic feet to cubic yards, and estimates base tons from tons per cubic yard. The examples on the page are there so you can compare your inputs with a filled-out calculation before copying the answer.
What do the main Paver Base Calculator inputs mean?
Base depth: the compacted gravel layer below the pavers. Bedding depth: the leveling sand layer directly under the pavers. Tons per cubic yard: a rough density for converting gravel volume to weight. Waste percent: extra material for compaction, uneven grade, edge loss, and small measurement differences.
How should I read the Paver Base Calculator answer?
Read the headline estimate first, then check the material, waste, coverage, and unit lines. For project tools, the supporting lines are often the difference between a rough idea and a list you can actually shop from.
What should I double-check before trusting the answer?
Real paver base design depends on soil, drainage, compaction, freeze-thaw, traffic load, slope, edging, and local installation practice. Also check that you used the right unit, date, scale, or mode because small input changes can change the result.
Is paver base depth the loose depth or compacted depth?
Use the compacted depth you want to end with. Loose gravel can settle after compaction, so a real project may need more loose material than the compacted volume suggests.
Why does the calculator separate base and bedding sand?
The gravel base supports the pavers, while the bedding sand helps level them. They are different layers, so it is easier to estimate them separately before ordering.
Does the site save what I enter?
No. The calculator runs in your browser tab. Your recent answers stay only on the page while you use it, and they are not sent to a server.
Related tools
Paver Calculator Estimate paver count from project area, paver dimensions, and waste percentage. Open Gravel Calculator Estimate gravel cubic yards and tons from length, width, depth, and density. Open Sand Calculator Estimate sand cubic yards and tons from length, width, depth, density, and waste. Open