How Much Paver Base for a 20x20 Patio?
How much paver base for a 20x20 patio: about 6.9 tons at 4 inches compacted, or 10.4 tons at 6 inches. The patio is 400 square feet.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Paver base by depth
| Base depth | Cubic yards | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 4.94 | 6.9 | 267 |
| 5 in | 6.17 | 8.6 | 334 |
| 6 in | 7.41 | 10.4 | 400 |
| 8 in | 9.88 | 13.8 | 534 |
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 20x20 Patio?
4 or 6 inches?
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 267 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.
Related: How Many Pavers for a 20x20 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.
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.
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 20x20 patio?
About 6.9 tons at 4 inches or 10.4 at 6 inches.
How many bags of paver base for a 20x20 patio?
About 267 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 16x24 Patio?
- How Much Paver Base for an 18x18 Patio?
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