Practical guide

What materials go beneath a paver patio?

Understand the separate quantities in a patio material estimate.

Short answer: List the chosen aggregate base, bedding, pavers, joint material, and edge restraint separately. Finished layer volume is geometric; the delivered amount depends on the product and any stated allowance.

Adjustable exampleChange the quantities that matter here
240 sq ft measured footprintPavers: 2.375 inBedding: 1 inBase: 4 inPrepared groundDiagram shows layer order; depths are labeled, not to scale.

Swipe the diagram sideways to see every label. The full calculation is written below it.

For 240 sq ft, a 4-in finished base is 2.96 cu yd and a separate 1-in bedding layer is 0.74 cu yd. The diagram shows layer order, not a construction specification or loose order volume.

Think in layers

A conventional interlocking paver assembly includes prepared soil, an aggregate base, a bedding layer, pavers, and edge restraints. Each layer has a different purpose and should be calculated separately. Excavation accounts for the combined layer thickness and the intended finished elevation.

Separate finished and ordered volume

Area multiplied by compacted base depth gives the finished base volume. The loose amount delivered may be greater after compaction and waste allowances. YardSetup displays those values separately so they are not added twice. Bedding sand has its own depth and order volume.

Use project-specific requirements

The suitable base material and thickness depend on loading, ground conditions, climate, drainage, and the manufacturer’s system. Use the planner as a purchasing estimate after the layer design is chosen, rather than treating its starting values as a construction specification.

Hypothetical worked example

For 240 sq ft, a 4-inch finished base is 240 × 4 ÷ 324 = 2.96 cubic yards. A separate 1-inch bedding layer is 0.74 cubic yards. These are finished geometric volumes; a loose-material order may include a compaction allowance.

Which situation matches your project?

You have a new patio with a chosen layer assemblyEnter the finished depth of each layer and the intended finished elevation, then estimate excavation and loose spoil.Check excavation and spoil →The soil, drainage, or loading is uncertainGet a suitable system and layer specification before treating a default depth as an order.Read CMHA construction guidance →You know the assembly and need a purchase listKeep aggregate, bedding, pavers, joint material, and edging as separate supplier lines.Build the material estimate →

Limit to check: An existing slab, permeable system, or unusual ground condition may need a different assembly from the conventional layered example.

Measuring at the site? The guided field workflow records outlines and cutouts, checks their placement, and makes a printable sheet before you choose materials.

Try the focused calculation

Patio Excavation & Spoil PlannerEstimate excavation depth, in-place volume, loose spoil, and truck loads from a chosen paver assembly and finished elevation.

Further reading

YardSetup prepared this guide from the stated geometry and the linked references where provided. The adjustable example runs in your browser. See our formulas and limits or report an error.

Put it into practice: Open the Patio Material Planner and enter your own project measurements.