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How Much Paver Base for a 14x14 Patio?

For a 14 by 14 foot patio (196 square feet), 4 inches of compacted paver base is 2.42 cubic yards, about 3.4 tons. That covers how much paver base for a 14x14 patio in most mild climates.

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Paver base by depth

Base depthCubic yardsTons0.5 cu ft bags
4 in2.423.4131
5 in3.024.2164
6 in3.635.1196
8 in4.846.8262

Tons use about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Bag counts assume 0.5 cubic foot bags, a common size for bagged paver base; check yours.

Choosing base depth

Four inches of compacted base is standard for a walk-on patio on well-drained soil. Use 6 inches or more on clay, in freeze-thaw climates or where a car or heavy grill cart might roll. See how deep paver base should be.

Buying base

At 4 inches this is about 131 small bags, which is a lot of lifting. Bulk paver base or crushed stone with fines (often sold as crusher run, road base or 3/4 minus) costs far less per ton.

Compaction

Compact in thin lifts with a plate compactor, keeping a slight slope for drainage. The finished base should be firm and flat before the 1-inch sand bed goes down.

Slope and drainage

Patios should slope away from the house about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot so water does not pool against the foundation. Build the slope into the compacted base so the sand bed and pavers stay a consistent thickness.

Ordering materials

Buy pavers from one production run where possible so the color matches. Ask how many square feet a pallet covers and whether partial pallets are sold. Bulk base and sand delivered together usually beat bagged products on cost.

Common mistakes

Skimping on base depth, skipping compaction and using too much bedding sand are the most common errors. Thick sand shifts and causes dips. Another is forgetting edge restraint, which lets pavers creep outward over time.

Questions people ask

How many tons of paver base for a 14x14 patio?

About 3.4 tons at 4 inches or 5.1 at 6 inches.

How many bags of paver base for a 14x14 patio?

About 131 half-cubic-foot bags at 4 inches.

How thick should paver base be?

About 4 inches for patios, 6 or more for clay or cold climates.

What can I use as paver base?

Crushed stone with fines, such as 3/4 minus, crusher run or road base.

How much sand goes under pavers?

About 1 inch of bedding sand over the compacted base.

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