Paver Cost Calculator
Planning a paver patio, walkway, or driveway? This calculator works out the exact number of pavers, tons of gravel base, yards of leveling sand, and total material cost.
Results
The base costs more than people plan for
A paver patio is priced by the pavers, but it is built by the base. Under every finished square foot sits 4 to 8 inches of compacted crushed stone and a 1 inch bed of coarse sand, and that material is bulky, heavy and easy to leave out of a budget. On a 20 × 15 ft patio the base alone is around 3.7 cubic yards of gravel — roughly five tons — before a single paver is laid.
Formula: gravel cubic yards = area × (base depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27, and sand cubic yards = area × (1 ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Area is in square feet, base depth in inches. The sand bed is fixed at 1 inch because that is what a screeded setting bed should be — deeper sand does not level better, it just gives the pavers more room to sink unevenly.
Base depth is set by what drives on it
| Application | Base depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway, foot traffic | 4 in | Well-drained soil only |
| Patio | 4 to 6 in | 6 in on clay or poor drainage |
| Driveway, cars | 8 in | Compact in 3 to 4 in lifts |
| Cold climates, any use | +2 in | Frost heave needs the extra depth |
Compaction is not optional and it is not the same as raking level. Gravel loses roughly 20% of its loose volume when properly compacted, so ordering to the finished depth leaves you short. A plate compactor run over 3 to 4 inch lifts is the difference between a patio that is flat in five years and one that is not.
Yards, tons and what the yard actually sells
Bulk stone is quoted by the ton about as often as by the cubic yard, and the two are not interchangeable. This calculator converts at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, which is a reasonable figure for compactable crushed stone. Denser material runs closer to 1.5, and washed or angular stone can be nearer 1.3, so treat the tonnage as a planning figure and confirm the supplier's own conversion when you order.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard concrete paver | $3.00 to $6.00 per sq ft |
| Permeable or premium paver | $6.00 to $12.00 per sq ft |
| Crushed stone base, delivered | $30 to $60 per cu yd |
| Coarse bedding sand | $35 to $55 per cu yd |
| Polymeric joint sand | $25 to $40 per 50 lb bag |
What this figure leaves out
The calculation covers pavers, base stone and bedding sand. A real patio also needs edge restraint, which is what stops the outer course creeping outward and opening every joint behind it, plus polymeric sand to lock the joints, and geotextile fabric if the subgrade is clay. None is expensive on its own; together they are a real line item.
Order 5 to 10% extra pavers. Every cut against a curve or an edge produces an offcut you cannot use, and a second order weeks later can come from a different production run with a visible color shift. Pavers are batch-dyed, and the mismatch does not fade out.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pavers cost per square foot?
Standard concrete pavers run $3.00 to $6.00 per square foot for materials, and permeable or premium units run $6.00 to $12.00. That is the paver only — budget separately for base stone at $30 to $60 per cubic yard, bedding sand, edge restraint and polymeric joint sand.
How thick should the gravel base be under pavers?
Walkways and patios need 4 inches of compacted gravel base, 6 inches on clay or poorly drained soil, and driveways need 8 inches. Add 2 inches in cold climates where frost heave is a factor. Compact in 3 to 4 inch lifts rather than all at once.
How many tons of gravel is a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard for compactable crushed stone, which is the conversion this calculator uses. Denser material runs closer to 1.5 tons and washed angular stone nearer 1.3, so confirm the figure with your supplier before ordering by weight.
Why order extra pavers?
Order 5 to 10% extra. Cuts against curves and edges leave unusable offcuts, and a second order placed weeks later may come from a different production batch with a visible color difference. Pavers are batch-dyed and the mismatch does not weather away.