Single-material calculator

Gravel / Paver Base Calculator

Base-prep planning with compacted gravel, paver-base extension, bedding sand, and separator fabric built in.

Quick presets

Start from a typical North American scenario, then tune the job-specific inputs.

Inputs

Base type

Base Type Paver mode carries edge extension and bedding sand; gravel pad and driveway modes stay focused on the compacted stone layer.

Geometry

Surface Length (ft) Type it the way you measured it - 16' 6" or 16.5 both work. Surface Width (ft)

Base layers

Compacted Base Depth (in) Six inches compacted is a common residential starting point, but weak soils and vehicle loads usually require more build-up. Paver Size Reference Larger pavers often justify a slightly wider stone base beyond the finished surface footprint. Bedding Sand Depth (in) Most paver installs stay near a 1 in screeded setting bed, not a thick leveling layer.

Include geotextile separator fabric Recommended separator-fabric allowance for many residential bases; keep it on unless the site conditions or project documents call for a different base detail.

Advanced settings

Waste Factor (%) Fine-tune aggregate overage after supplier rounding, compaction expectations, or field layout cleanup; the default stays at 5% for a typical planning takeoff.

Regional settings

State / Pricing Region Selecting a state adjusts material prices by a state-level cost index, not by store listings in your city. States without an index keep the national baseline, and the estimate says so.

Best for paver base prep, shed pads, and compacted gravel footprints before you move into a full project calculator.

Reset inputs

Use this button to recalculate without JavaScript or create a complete, shareable page URL.

2D plan

Schematic quantity basis

2D and 3D previews are schematic. Drag to orbit, and scroll or pinch to zoom when 3D is open.

3D assembly

Optional 3D check

3D is optional here. Use it to sanity-check the base profile after the 2D quantity path is clear.

Surface type Paver base prep

Surface area 120 sq ft

Base gravel 3.89 tons

Base gravel volume 2.78 cu yd

Bagged equivalent 151 bags (0.5 cu ft)

Base overhang per side 6 in

Geotextile 1 roll

Bedding sand 0.37 cu yd

Plan details & review

Planning assumptions

Included scope: Base gravel, Bedding sand, Separator fabric.

Planning assumptions · 5

Base gravel converts at about 1.40 tons per cubic yard, so verify local aggregate density and supplier packaging before ordering.
Base gravel assumes dense-graded aggregate or road base rather than clean drain rock alone.
Paver base mode includes compacted base, bedding sand, and optional separator fabric only; pavers, edging, spikes, and polymeric sand are intentionally excluded from this calculator.
Geotextile is modeled as a simple separator-fabric allowance with overlap; soil remediation, underdrains, and subgrade proof-rolling remain outside this calculator.
The BOM rounds packaged materials to whole purchase units such as gallons, bags, boxes, buckets, rolls, cartons, tubes, jars, bundles, or kits, so bought quantity can exceed the exact theoretical coverage shown by the area metrics.

Not included / Trade review

2 total scope notes to read before ordering or contractor handoff.

How pricing works

Schematic paver-base prep for a 12 ft x 10 ft surface with 6 in compacted base, 1 in bedding sand, separator fabric included, and a 6 in base extension per side.

Material estimate for the quantities in this plan.

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Save this estimate to reopen it later, share the link or the plain-text takeoff, or export a PDF. Pin to compare stacks alternate inputs side by side.

Compare contractor quotes

Material list

Your build list

Each line shows a purchase quantity, a coverage amount, or a planning allowance - the line says which. Check pack sizes and your site conditions before you order.

Material	Assembly	Unit	Qty	Unit price	Total	Source
Compacted base gravel Note: Paver base extension uses the larger of the entered base thickness and a size-based minimum of 4 in per side.Patio calculator base extension rule: max(base thickness, size-based minimum).	base gravel	ton	3.89	$58.00	$225.62	No store listing yet Estimate-only Price source: Calculator default pricing
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is an installed or coverage basis, not a package count. Convert it to supplier pack sizes. Qty: 3.89 Quantity type: Installed / coverage quantity Installed / coverage quantity: 3.89 Coverage: Base footprint x compacted thickness, converted at 1.40 tons per cubic yard with aggregate waste Waste factor: 5%
Bedding sand Note: Keep bedding sand close to 1 in and use washed concrete sand rather than stone dust or masonry sand.Calculator default	bedding sand	cubic yard	0.37	$54.00	$19.98	No store listing yet Estimate-only Price source: Calculator default pricing
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is an installed or coverage basis, not a package count. Convert it to supplier pack sizes. Qty: 0.37 Quantity type: Installed / coverage quantity Installed / coverage quantity: 0.37 Coverage: Surface area x screeded bedding depth Waste factor: 0%
Geotextile fabric rolls Calculator default	separator fabric	roll	1	$35.98	$35.98	Home Depot Shopping-ready Price source: Retailer pricePrice as of: 06/05/2026 — price may have changed - verify before orderingRetailer: Home Depot
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is a purchase or ordering quantity. Qty: 1 Quantity type: Purchase quantity Purchase quantity: 1 Coverage: Base footprint with overlap allowance between strips Waste factor: 5%

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Estimated materials total$281.58

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Current takeoff: 3.89 tons of base gravel, 0.37 cu yd of bedding sand, and 1 geotextile roll for 120 sq ft of paver base. Best for paver base prep, shed pads, and compacted gravel footprints before you move into a full project calculator.

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