Paver Calculator — Patio Base Gravel, Sand & Polymeric Joint Bags

For standard pedestrian walkways and residential patios, a minimum 4-inch layer of compacted crushed gravel (dense grade #57 or road base) topped with a 1-inch uncompacted layer of coarse concrete sand (C-33 sand) is required. For driveways supporting vehicle loads, the gravel base must be 8 to 10 inches deep.

No. Using stone dust or masonry sand for the bedding layer is one of the most common causes of paver failure. Stone dust traps water and turns into a soft paste when saturated, causing pavers to sink and develop uneven ruts. Coarse washed concrete sand (ASTM C-33) allows free drainage and maintains angular friction interlock.

Polymeric sand is a blend of fine quartz sand and polymeric binding agents that activate when misted with water. Once cured, it hardens into an elastic, flexible mortar that locks paver joints together, prevents weed growth between bricks, and stops ants from excavating sand.

Multiply the patio length plus 1 foot by the width plus 1 foot (to account for the 6-inch base shoulder extension on all sides). Multiply by depth in feet (e.g. 4 inches = 0.333 ft) and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply by 1.15 to account for 15% compaction loss.

Without a heavy-duty plastic or aluminum edge restraint pinned into the gravel base with 10-inch steel spikes, walking and freeze-thaw cycles cause the outer perimeter pavers to creep outward, destroying joint interlock and causing the entire patio to spread.