A paver patio is the most forgiving hardscape project — no concrete to rush, and mistakes can be lifted and reset. The whole job lives or dies on a deep, compacted gravel base. Work through the steps below and tap “Add to my materials list” as you go.
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Advanced DIY
1Easy DIY
2Some Experience
3Advanced DIY — this project
4Hire a Pro
Why this rating: Base preparation, compaction, cutting, drainage, and material handling make this more than laying blocks.
Applies to: A small pedestrian patio on stable ground.
Get help when: Get help near utilities, foundations, drainage problems, retaining walls, or vehicle loads.
A planning guide, not a safety certification. Conditions at your home can change the difficulty. Ratings are independent of contractor relationships.
TimeA weekend or two
Cost$$ (mostly base + pavers)
PermitsUsually not, but check drainage
Permits & safety: Call 811 before digging. Large or close-to-the-house patios can trigger local drainage and setback rules, so check with your municipality. Wear hearing and eye protection when running a plate compactor.
Plan the whole project as you go. Add each calculator result to a named project, then edit quantities and supplier prices, check off purchases and stages, and export CSV, print/PDF, or JSON.
1Plan the layout and slope
Lay the patio out with stakes and paint, and plan a 1⁄4”-per-foot slope away from the house for drainage. Your total dig depth = compacted base + 1” bedding sand + paver thickness — about 6–8” for a patio.
2Excavate the area
Dig down 6–8”, extending about 6” beyond the paver field for edge support, then compact the exposed soil. Over heavy clay, lay geotextile fabric so the gravel can’t sink into the soil. The calculator gives the dirt to dig and haul.
Dirt to remove
22.2 cu yd
Dig area
600 sq ft12" deep
In-ground volume
22.2 cu yd
Loose (haul) volume
27.8 cu yd+25% soil swell once dug
Truckloads
3~12 CY per dump truck
Haul + disposal (est.)
$556~$20/CY (varies by area)
Planning estimate. Adjust allowances and sample prices for your supplier; tax, delivery, and labor are not included.
3Build and compact the gravel base
Spread crushed gravel base and compact it in 2–3” lifts to a finished 4–6” for a patio (more for a driveway). This is the step everyone shortcuts and regrets — it’s ~80% of the job. The calculator gives base gravel by the ton or yard.
Paver patio cross-section — the compacted gravel base is ~80% of the job. Pitch the whole patio about ¼″ per foot away from the house.
Gravel needed
10.0 tons
Area
600 sq ftat 4" deep
Gravel needed
10.0 tons7.41 cubic yards
Delivered cost (est.)
$450~$45/ton crushed gravel
Planning estimate. Adjust allowances and sample prices for your supplier; tax, delivery, and labor are not included.
4Set edge restraints and screed the sand
Spike plastic or metal edge restraints around the whole perimeter, then screed exactly 1” of coarse bedding sand flat over screed pipes. Don’t compact or walk on the sand after screeding.
5Lay the pavers
Set pavers by “click and drop” (place straight down, never drag), keeping tight, consistent ~1⁄8” joints, then cut the border pieces to fit. The calculator returns paver count plus bedding and joint sand.
Pavers needed
202 pavers
Patio area
192 sq ft
Pavers
20212×12×2" pavers, incl. 5% waste
Gravel base
3.2 tons4" compacted base
Bedding + joint sand
32 + 3 bags1" bedding sand + polymeric joint sand
Excavation depth
~7"2" paver + ~4" base + 1" sand
Paver cost (est.)
$808~$4.00 each
Planning estimate. Adjust allowances and sample prices for your supplier; tax, delivery, and labor are not included.
6Compact and lock the joints
Sweep polymeric joint sand across the surface, run a plate compactor (with a pad) over the pavers in two passes to seat them and vibrate sand into the joints, top off, then mist with water to set the sand.
About 6–8” total: 4–6” of compacted gravel base, 1” of bedding sand, and the paver thickness (~2⁄3⁄8”). Driveways need 8–12”.
How much slope does a patio need?
1⁄4” of fall per foot (about 1” every 4 ft), running away from the house so water drains off.
What sand goes under vs. between pavers?
Under: 1” of coarse concrete (bedding) sand. Between: polymeric joint sand, which hardens when wetted to lock pavers and resist weeds.
Do I need landscape fabric under a patio?
Not always — use geotextile fabric between the soil and the gravel base when you have heavy clay or poorly-draining soil, to keep the base from sinking in.
