Skip to main content
FREE Delivery!|Get a quote

Paver base calculator for Louisiana

Calculate the tonnage for the compacted layer beneath pavers, which helps keep a patio level over five years.

Enter your project dimensions

ft
Enter a length greater than 0
ft
Enter a width greater than 0
ft
Enter a diameter greater than 0
in
Enter a depth between 0.25 and 24 inches
Add 5% extra for compaction & spillage

The pavers above cost several times more per square foot than the aggregate underneath, but base failure can ruin the finished surface. This calculator estimates the supporting layer: compacted crusher run or a similar mix at 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Use 4 inches for walking areas and 6-8 for vehicle areas, with the +10% compaction allowance selected by default. Bedding sand remains a separate, fixed 1-inch layer and has a separate calculator.

Calculate base quantity

  1. Mark out the paved area in feet. Extend the base 6 inches beyond each exposed paver edge so it also supports the edge restraint.
  2. For patios and walks, compact 4 inches. Use 6 in driveways or clay soil, and 8 beneath drives on soft ground.
  3. Find yards by dividing cubic feet by 27. Then x 1.5 for tons and 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

ProjectCompacted base depth1 ton covers
Walkway or garden path4 inches≈ 54 sq ft
Patio or seating area4-6 inches≈ 43 sq ft
Driveway with cars6-8 inches≈ 31 sq ft
Clay or soft subgradeadd 2 inches + fabricn/a

Layers from lawn to paver surface

Add each layer to determine excavation depth. For a standard patio, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand and a 2 3/8 inch paver, level with the lawn. This comes to a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the amount of reveal above grade. Mark the depth on a stake as you excavate. Digging too deep adds disposal soil from the hole, which the Dirt Calculator can calculate in reverse, and requires more stone to restore the grade.

Base installation practices

  • Use a plate compactor for 2-inch lifts, and lightly mist each one. Slightly damp base compacts more tightly than dry material.
  • Give the compacted base a 2-3% grade that carries water away from the house. The sand bed and pavers will match that slope.
  • Install edge restraint over the compacted base, not directly on lawn soil. The 6-inch overhang provides the support under the restraint.
  • Install woven geotextile below the base on clay. It keeps stone from sinking into the subgrade during repeated wet periods.
  • Do not replace needed base thickness with deeper sand. Sand shifts, which can leave the patio uneven.

Reusing base under old pavers

When resetting an older patio, you may be able to retain the base. Take up the pavers, remove the used bedding sand, then examine what remains. A level, firm base that drains can receive a new 1-inch bedding layer, reducing the stone order to a tenth of a new installation. Remove the base as well if you find low areas, soft ground, or pooled water. In wet Louisiana conditions, leaving a failing base leads to the same trouble under the replacement pavers.

Example: 16 x 12 patio

The paved surface covers 192 square feet. Extending the base 6-inch beyond three exposed edges brings its footprint to 210. With 4 inches of compacted material: 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet = 2.6 cubic yards, roughly 3.9 tons, or 4.3 with 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 is complete. A stone pile left on lawn for two weeks creates a dead rectangle.

Questions about base depth and tonnage

How much paver base do I need?
Start with the paved footprint and its 6-inch perimeter. Multiply by the compacted depth in feet, divide by 27, multiply by 1.5 tons, and add 10%. For a 10 x 10 patio with 4 inches of base, the result is about 2.2 tons. Order 2.5.
Will 2 inches of paver base work?
No. Two inches can level the surface, but it does not serve as a base. For foot traffic, use Four compacted inches. A thin base leads to settled areas and pavers that move.
What base depth is needed for pavers?
Use four compacted inches for patios and paths, 6-8 where cars will drive, and add 2 extra inches for clay or wet ground. Louisiana sites often need a base that stays stable in wet soil.
How far down should I dig for pavers?
Find excavation depth by adding the base, 1 inch of bedding, and paver thickness, then deducting the reveal above grade. Using 2 3/8 inch pavers with a 4-inch base puts the dig roughly 7.5 inches below the finished surface.
Should paver base use crusher run or screenings?
Use crusher run, also known as road base, for the 4-plus inches that carry the load. Put screenings only in a thin leveling layer over the compacted base. Screenings used by themselves trap water and can pump under traffic.
Can pavers go down without a base?
A sound existing concrete slab can take pavers on a bedding layer with drainage gaps. Do not set them directly on soil. Dirt follows rain and ground movement, leaving the pavers uneven in one season.
Paver Sand CalculatorCalculate →Crusher Run CalculatorCalculate →Stone CalculatorCalculate →All calculatorsMulch, sand, topsoil, dirt & more.Open the hub →

A solid base supports the finished pavers.

Order crusher run and screenings by the ton alongside bedding sand, with free delivery.

Shop Crusher Run