Paver base calculator for Wyoming

Pavers can cost several times more per square foot than their stone foundation, yet failures usually start in the layer underneath. This calculator estimates compacted crusher run or a comparable blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Use 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 beneath cars; the +10% compaction allowance is selected by default. Calculate bedding sand separately, keeping it to a strict 1-inch layer.

Base sizing

1. First measure the paver field in feet. On each open edge, carry the base 6 inches beyond it so the edge restraint has support.
2. Use 4 inches of compacted base for patios and walkways. Choose 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 below driveways on soft ground.
3. Find yards by dividing cubic feet / 27, then multiply by 1.5 for tons. Keep the +10% allowance enabled.

Project base depth and coverage

Excavation layers from lawn to finished paver

Start by adding each layer to set the dig depth. For a typical patio sitting flush with the lawn, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver. That calls for a 7.5-inch excavation, adjusted for the reveal you want above grade. Put the target depth on a stake and verify it as you excavate. Digging beyond it costs twice: extra soil must be hauled away, with the Dirt Calculator estimating the yards in reverse, and extra stone is needed to bring the hole back up.

Installation practices for a stable base

• Because slightly damp material compacts tighter, mist each 2-inch lift and run a plate compactor over it.
• Slope the compacted base 2-3% away from the house. Bedding sand and pavers follow the grade set by the base.
• Carry the compacted base 6-inch beyond the edge so the restraint sits on aggregate rather than lawn soil.
• Gumbo clay can let stone sink into the subgrade over wet seasons. Put woven geotextile beneath the base to keep the layers separated.
• Keep the required base depth instead of making the sand bed thick. Sand shifts, and that movement creates wavy patios.

Reusing pavers: check the existing base

For a patio being lifted and re-laid, first remove the pavers and rake away the old bedding sand. Then evaluate the base. A level, firm base that drains properly can stay, needing only a fresh 1-inch bedding layer and reducing the stone order to a tenth of a new build. Remove the base too if you find dips, soft areas, or standing water. Covering those issues with replacement pavers repeats the original failure.

Example calculation: a 16 x 12 patio

Once the 6-inch extension is figured on three exposed sides, 192 square feet of paving needs a 210 base footprint. At a compacted 4 inches, use 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards. The result is about 3.9 tons, increasing to 4.3 after 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. Have excavation done before the drop, since a stone pile on the lawn for two weeks leaves a dead rectangle.

Questions about base depth, excavation, and tonnage

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