Paver base calculator for Maine

Calculate the compacted-tonnage support layer that keeps a paver patio level over five years.

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 5% extra for compaction & spillage

The stone below pavers costs far less per square foot, yet it supports the whole finished surface. This calculator estimates compacted crusher run or a similar blend at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for foot traffic, 6-8 beneath vehicles, with a +10% compaction allowance already selected. Calculate bedding sand separately as a strict 1-inch layer.

Base sizing

Find the paved area in feet and extend the base 6 inches beyond each exposed paver edge. Edge restraint needs that support beneath it.
Use 4 inches of compacted material under patios and walks. Choose 6 for driveways or clay soil, and 8 for driveways on soft ground.
Convert cubic feet to yards by dividing by 27, then multiply by 1.5 for tons and enable 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 lawn to finished pavers

Add the layer depths to determine how far to excavate. A common patio has 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver even with the lawn. That comes to a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the amount you want showing above grade. Put a mark on a stake to check the depth during excavation. Digging too far down means paying to remove extra soil and buying more stone to restore the height. Run the Dirt Calculator backward to calculate the yards coming out of the hole.

Base installation practices

After a light mist, pack each 2-inch layer using a plate compactor. Slightly damp aggregate compacts tighter than dry material.
Create a 2-3% pitch in the finished base so water moves away from the house. The pavers and sand follow the base contour.
Install the edge restraint on the compacted base instead of lawn soil. The 6-inch overhang provides room for it.
Place woven geotextile below the base on clay. It helps keep stone from working down into wet subgrade.
Base depth cannot be replaced with an extra-deep sand layer. Sand can shift, leaving a patio surface uneven through freeze-thaw cycles.

Reusing pavers: check the base

When resetting an existing patio, the base may still be usable. Remove the pavers, rake away old bedding sand, then check the base. If it remains level, firm, and drained, add a new 1-inch bedding layer; the stone needed is a tenth of a new installation. Remove the base as well if you find low areas, soft spots, or standing water. In Maine, frost movement makes those signs worth correcting before pavers go back down.

Example: a 16 x 12 patio

Start with 192 square feet of paving. The 6-inch extension along three exposed sides brings the base area to 210. For 4 inches of compaction: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, or roughly 3.9 tons and 4.3 after the allowance. Buy 4.5 tons of crusher run and 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator in one free delivery. Arrange delivery after digging, as a stone pile left on grass for two weeks creates a dead rectangle.

Questions about base depth and tonnage

How much paver base do I need?

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

Will 2 inches of paver base work?

No. Two inches provides a leveling layer, not base support. Foot traffic needs four compacted inches at minimum, and less material commonly causes depressions and pavers that rock.

What base depth is needed for pavers?

Use four compacted inches beneath patios and paths, and 6-8 under vehicle areas. Add 2 extra inches for clay or wet soil. Deep frost and freeze-thaw cycling make proper depth important.

How far down do I dig for pavers?

Add the base, 1 inch of bedding, and paver thickness, then deduct the reveal above grade. A 4-inch base with standard 2 3/8 inch pavers comes to about 7.5 inches beneath the finished surface.

For paver base, crusher run or screenings?

Use crusher run, also called road base, as the structural layer for the full 4-plus inches. Apply screenings only as a thin leveling layer above compacted base. Screenings by themselves retain water and can pump when loaded.

Can pavers be installed without base?

A sound concrete slab can take pavers with a bedding layer and drainage gaps. Soil cannot. Direct-set pavers move through Maine's frost heave and rain, with visible results in one season.

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A sound base supports the paver surface.

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