Paver & Base Takeoff
Paver count from the pattern, base gravel in tons, leveling sand, joint sand, and edge restraint footage for a patio, walk, or driveway pad.
Base gravel is bought by the compacted ton: 4 in over 192 sq ft is about 2.9 tons after compaction shrink. Pavers are sold by the square meter box; order the extra for cuts.
How the math works
- Pavers: area × (1 + pattern waste) ÷ coverage per paver. Running bond 5%, herringbone 8%, circle/multi-size 12%. A 12x12 paver covers exactly 1 sq ft; a 10x10 covers 0.694.
- Base gravel: loose cubic yards ÷ 27 with a 1.25 compaction-and-spread factor, then ×1.2 tons per cubic yard for crushed 3/4 minus base. 4 in over a 192 sq ft patio = 2.9 tons.
- Leveling sand: 1 in of coarse sand at 112 lb per cubic foot = 0.0047 tons per sq ft. Joint sand is about 0.55 lb per sq ft for 1/2 in joints, more on textured and beveled pavers.
- Edge restraint: one 8 ft length per 8 ft of perimeter, spikes every 24 to 30 in (3 per length), and a geotextile under the base to keep the fines from migrating into the subgrade.
- Drainage: the base slopes 1/4 in per 4 ft away from structures, and a 4 in compacted base on clay needs a 6 in open-graduated base where the soil will not drain.
How many tons of base for a 16x12 patio?
192 sq ft at 4 in compacted: 192 x 0.333 ft x 1.25 = 80 loose cubic ft, 3 cubic yards, 3.6 tons of 3/4 minus with a 1.2 tons per cubic yard weight, plus the squeeze at the edges.
How many pavers for a 16x12 patio?
192 sq ft, 202 sq ft with running-bond waste, so 202 pavers at 1 sq ft each. Order 5% over the count: broken and cut pavers are not returnable.
How deep should a paver base be?
4 in of compacted 3/4 minus under the 2 to 3 in of bedding and pavers for a patio (6 to 7 in total section), 6 to 8 in for a paver driveway, and 10 to 12 in where the subgrade is clay or frost heave is active.