Paver base calculator for Iowa
The compacted layer below is what helps a patio stay level for five years, calculated in tons at finished depth.
Enter your project dimensions
The stone below the pavers costs far less per square foot than the surface, but a failed patio usually starts with that lower layer. Loose or uneven pavers commonly point to a base problem. This calculator estimates compacted crusher run or a similar blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for pedestrian use and 6-8 under vehicles, with the +10% compaction allowance already on. Use the separate calculator for the strict 1-inch bedding-sand layer.
Planning the base
- Start with the paved area in feet, then carry the base 6 inches beyond every open paver edge. That extension supports the edge restraint.
- Use 4 inches compacted beneath patios and walkways, 6 under driveways or clay soil, and 8 under driveways where ground is soft.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for yards, multiply by 1.5 for tons, then apply the +10% allowance.
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 |
The layer sequence from turf to the finished paver
Excavation depth comes from adding the layers together. For a standard patio, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver set even with the lawn. That puts excavation at 7.5-inch, subject to the reveal wanted above grade. Put the depth mark on a stake and keep checking it while digging. Digging too deep means paying twice: soil must be hauled away, with the Dirt Calculator run backward to estimate the yards leaving the hole, and more stone is needed to bring the base back up.
Base installation practices
- Run a plate compactor over 2-inch lifts, lightly misting each one. Slightly damp material compacts more firmly than dry base.
- Give the compacted base a 2-3% pitch away from the house. The bedding sand and pavers follow the grade you leave in the base.
- Place edge restraint on the compacted base, not on lawn soil. The 6-inch extension leaves the needed support beneath it.
- For clay ground, install woven geotextile beneath the base. It keeps stone from gradually being pushed into the subgrade during wet seasons.
- Base thickness cannot be replaced with a deep layer of sand. Sand shifts, and that is how patios develop waves.
Reinstalling pavers: check the base first
When re-setting an existing patio, start by removing the pavers and clearing out the old bedding sand. If the base is level, firm, and draining properly, apply a new 1-inch bedding course instead of rebuilding it, reducing the stone needed to a tenth of a full new installation. In Iowa, any low area, soft base, or pooled water calls for removing the base as well. Leaving those problems in place puts the same failure beneath the replacement pavers.
Example: a 16 x 12 patio
Start with 192 square feet of paved area. Adding the 6-inch border on three open sides brings the base footprint to 210. For 4 inches of compacted base: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or about 3.9 tons and 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. Arrange the drop after excavation, since a stone pile left on the lawn for two weeks can kill a rectangular patch of grass.
Questions on base depth, excavation and tonnage
How can I calculate the paver base quantity?
Will 2 inches of paver base work?
What paver base depth is needed?
What excavation depth is required for pavers?
Should paver base use crusher run or screenings?
Can pavers go down without base material?
Other calculators
The visible pavers rely on the base below.
Order crusher run and screenings by the ton along with bedding sand, with free delivery.