How Much Paver Base for a 8×10 patio?
This calculator is pre-filled to estimate the paver base for a 8×10 patio. Change any field to match your project, and enter your local price for a precise cost.
Quick answer: An 8×10 patio at a 4 in depth needs about 1.6 tons of paver base (1.04 cubic yards).
Paver Base calculator
How it's calculated: Length ft × width ft × (depth in ÷ 12) = cubic feet; add 5% waste and divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
How to estimate paver base
- A typical paver patio uses 4-6 inches of compacted base; walkways can use less, driveways more.
- Compact in 2-inch lifts. Loose base settles and telegraphs into the finished surface.
- Add a 1-inch bedding sand layer on top of the base, calculated separately.
- Excavate deep enough for the base plus 1 inch of bedding sand plus the paver thickness, so the finished surface lands where you want it.
- Pitch the base about 1 inch per 4 feet away from the house so the finished patio sheds water.
Frequently asked questions
How Much Paver Base for a 8×10 patio?
An 8×10 patio at a 4 in depth needs about 1.6 tons of paver base (1.04 cubic yards).
How deep should paver base be?
4 inches for patios and walkways over stable soil, 6-8 inches for driveways or soft ground.
What kind of gravel should I use for paver base?
Crushed stone with fines - often sold as 3/4-inch minus, dense-grade or road base - because the fines lock together into a hard layer when compacted. Rounded pea gravel never locks up and will shift under pavers.
How many tons of base does a patio take?
Multiply area by depth and convert: as a worked example, a 12x12 patio at 4 inches deep takes about 1.9 cubic yards, or roughly 2.8 tons. The calculator above runs the numbers for your dimensions.
Can I lay pavers directly on dirt?
No. Pavers on bare soil settle unevenly, heave with frost and grow weeds through the joints. The compacted base is what keeps a paver surface flat for decades.
Do I need a plate compactor?
Yes - hand tamping cannot match a plate compactor on anything bigger than a few square feet. They rent cheaply by the day, and you will use it again to seat the pavers at the end.