How Much Paver Base for a 16x20 Patio?
How much paver base for a 16x20 patio: about 5.5 tons at 4 inches compacted, or 8.3 tons at 6 inches. The patio is 320 square feet.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Paver base by depth
| Base depth | Cubic yards | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 3.95 | 5.5 | 214 |
| 5 in | 4.94 | 6.9 | 267 |
| 6 in | 5.93 | 8.3 | 320 |
| 8 in | 7.90 | 11.1 | 427 |
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 16x20 Patio?
4 or 6 inches?
Patios that only see foot traffic usually get 4 inches. Clay soil, poor drainage and cold winters call for 6 inches. Driveways need much more. See how deep paver base should be.
Buying base
Bagged base adds up fast: around 214 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.
Measuring the patio
Lay out the patio with stakes and string, square it with the 3-4-5 method and measure. Measure out to the edge restraint, since base should extend a few inches beyond the pavers on each side.
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.
Questions people ask
How many tons of paver base for a 16x20 patio?
About 5.5 tons at 4 inches or 8.3 at 6 inches.
How many bags of paver base for a 16x20 patio?
About 214 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 15x15 Patio?
- How Much Paver Base for a 16x16 Patio?
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