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Paver Base & Sand Calculator

Estimate the gravel base and bedding sand volume needed under a paver patio or walkway.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-25 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax
13.12 ft9.84 ft0.33 ft
Schematic, drawn to the proportions you entered — not to scale on screen.

Estimated paver base & sand needed

1.59 cubic yards (gravel base)

High confidence
Patio area
129.17 ft²
Bedding sand needed
0.4 cubic yards

At the values currently entered, the result works out to 1.59 cubic yards (gravel base). Figures are shown for United States, where IRC 2024 is the governing residential reference; switch the market above if you are building elsewhere.

Estimated cost — your price

This site holds no price list for this material — local prices vary too much to publish honestly. Enter your supplier's price and the result is costed with it.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • A typical paver installation uses a 4-6 in compacted gravel base plus a 1 in bedding sand layer beneath the pavers

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Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the gravel base for a small patio?
It's not recommended — even small patios settle unevenly without a compacted base, especially in soil that holds water or freezes.
Is bedding sand the same as polymeric jointing sand?
No — bedding sand goes underneath the pavers as a leveling layer (calculated here), while jointing sand fills the gaps between pavers after they're laid, which is a separate, much smaller quantity.
Should the gravel base be compacted?
Yes — compacting the gravel in layers (not all at once) is important for a stable, long-lasting base. Uncompacted gravel settles unevenly under load.