How Much Paver Base for an 18x18 Patio?
For an 18 by 18 foot patio (324 square feet), 4 inches of compacted paver base is 4.00 cubic yards, about 5.6 tons. That covers how much paver base for an 18x18 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 | 4.00 | 5.6 | 216 |
| 5 in | 5.00 | 7.0 | 270 |
| 6 in | 6.00 | 8.4 | 324 |
| 8 in | 8.00 | 11.2 | 432 |
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 Many Pavers for an 18x18 Patio?
Choosing base depth
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.
Bags or bulk
Bagged base adds up fast: around 216 bags here. A bulk load of 3/4 minus or crusher run does the same job for much less.
Related: How Much Concrete for an 18x18 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
Measure the patio in feet and multiply for square feet. For L-shapes or curves, split the area into rectangles and circles and add them. Mark the outline with paint or string first so your numbers match the real layout.
Slope and drainage
Set string lines with a slight fall away from the building before compacting the base. A consistent slope is much easier to build into the base than to fix in the sand layer.
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 an 18x18 patio?
About 5.6 tons at 4 inches or 8.4 at 6 inches.
How many bags of paver base for an 18x18 patio?
About 216 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 16x20 Patio?
- How Much Paver Base for a 16x24 Patio?
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