How Much Paver Base for a 16x16 Patio?
For a 16 by 16 foot patio (256 square feet), 4 inches of compacted paver base is 3.16 cubic yards, about 4.4 tons. That covers how much paver base for a 16x16 patio in most mild climates.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Paver base by depth
| Base depth | Cubic yards | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 3.16 | 4.4 | 171 |
| 5 in | 3.95 | 5.5 | 214 |
| 6 in | 4.74 | 6.6 | 256 |
| 8 in | 6.32 | 8.8 | 342 |
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.
Related: How Much Gravel for a 16x16 Patio?
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.
Bags or bulk
Bagged base adds up fast: around 171 bags here. A bulk load of 3/4 minus or crusher run does the same job for much less.
Related: How Many Pavers for a 16x20 Patio?
Compaction
Spread the base in 2 to 3 inch lifts, dampen it and run a plate compactor over each lift. Slope the base about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house. Then screed 1 inch of bedding sand on top.
Common mistakes
Many DIY patios settle because the base was not compacted in lifts. Others use more than an inch of sand or skip the slope away from the house. Keep the sand bed thin and even.
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.
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.
Questions people ask
How many tons of paver base for a 16x16 patio?
About 4.4 tons at 4 inches or 6.6 at 6 inches.
How many bags of paver base for a 16x16 patio?
About 171 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.
Related guides
- How Many Pavers per Square Foot? Size Chart
- How Much Paver Base Do I Need? Depth and Tons
- How Deep Should Paver Base Be? Patio vs Driveway
- How Much Sand for Pavers? Bedding and Joint Sand
- Paver Edge Restraint: Types and How to Install It
- How Much Does a Pallet of Pavers Weigh?
- How Much Paver Base for a 14x20 Patio?
- How Much Paver Base for a 15x15 Patio?
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