Paver base calculator for Alaska

The below-grade layer that keeps a patio level years later, calculated by tons at its compacted depth.

Enter your project dimensions

Length (feet)

Enter a length greater than 0

Width (feet)

Enter a width greater than 0

Diameter (feet)

Enter a diameter greater than 0

Depth (inches)

Enter a depth between 0.25 and 24 inches

Material

Add 10% extra for compaction & spillage

The stone beneath the pavers costs far less per square foot, but it is usually where a failed patio begins. Problems that show up at the surface commonly start in the support layer below. Use this calculator to size compacted crusher run or a comparable blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for foot traffic and 6-8 for vehicles, with the +10% compaction allowance selected automatically. Bedding sand is calculated separately as a firm 1-inch layer.

Base sizing

Start with the paved dimensions in feet. Allow the base to run 6 inches beyond each unclosed paver edge so the edge restraint has solid support.
Use a compacted depth of 4 inches for patios and walkways, 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 for driveways over soft ground.
Divide cubic feet by 27 for yards; multiply by 1.5 for tons; then switch on the +10% allowance.

Tons = (Base area sq ft × Compacted depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.5 × 1.10
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

Layers from turf to the finished paver

Add the thickness of every layer to determine excavation. For a standard patio, that is 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver set even with the lawn. Plan on a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the reveal wanted above grade. Put the depth on a stake and keep checking while excavating. Digging too deep means paying to remove extra soil, which the Dirt Calculator can estimate in reverse, then buying more stone to replace it.

Installation practices for a stable base

Install the base in 2-inch lifts, compacting each with a plate compactor and a light mist. Slightly damp material packs more tightly than dry material.
Build the final base with a 2-3% pitch leading away from the house. Sand and pavers will take on the same slope.
The edge restraint belongs over firm, compacted base, not lawn soil. The 6-inch base extension gives it that bearing.
For clay ground, place woven geotextile beneath the base. It keeps stone from gradually sinking into the subgrade through wet seasons.
Base thickness cannot be replaced with a deep sand layer. Sand shifts, and that shortcut leads to uneven paver surfaces.

Re-laying existing pavers: checking the base

When re-laying a patio, the existing base can sometimes remain. Take up the pavers, remove the old bedding sand, and check the layer below. A base that is level, firm, and draining can receive a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone order to a tenth of a new installation. Remove the base where dips, soft ground, or pooled water are present. Leaving a failed layer in place puts the same issue under the replacement pavers.

Example: a 16 x 12 patio

The paved area is 192 square feet. Adding the 6-inch overhang along three open sides makes the base footprint 210. For 4 inches of compaction, calculate 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. Schedule the drop after excavation, since a stone pile sitting on grass for two weeks can leave a dead rectangle.

Questions on base depth, digging, and tonnage

How can I calculate the paver base quantity?

Add a 6-inch border to the paved area, multiply by compacted depth in feet, divide by 27, multiply by 1.5 tons, then add 10%. At 4 inches, a 10 x 10 patio needs about 2.2 tons; order 2.5.

Will 2 inches of paver base work?

No. Two inches is for leveling, not base support. For foot traffic, use four compacted inches at minimum. Cutting that depth is a common reason pavers settle and rock.

What depth of base do pavers need?

Patios and walkways need four compacted inches. Areas carrying cars need 6-8, with 2 more inches for clay or wet ground. In Alaska, deep frost and repeated freeze-thaw cycling make adequate depth especially important.

What excavation depth is needed for pavers?

Add the base, 1 inch of bedding, and paver thickness, then deduct any amount left above grade. Using standard 2 3/8 inch pavers with a 4-inch base puts excavation about 7.5 inches below final height.

For paver base, crusher run or screenings?

Use crusher run or road base as the structural course for the entire 4-plus inches. Put screenings only in a thin leveling layer over the compacted base. Screenings alone retain water and can pump when loaded.

Can pavers go down without a base?

Yes, over a sound concrete slab with a bedding layer and drainage gaps. No, over soil. Pavers laid directly on dirt move with frost heave and rain, and the movement shows within one season.

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Pavers finish the surface. Base supports it.

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