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How Much Paver Base for an 8x10 Patio?

How much paver base for an 8x10 patio: about 1.4 tons at 4 inches compacted, or 2.1 tons at 6 inches. The patio is 80 square feet.

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Paver base by depth

Base depthCubic yardsTons0.5 cu ft bags
4 in0.991.454
5 in1.231.767
6 in1.482.180
8 in1.982.8107

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.

Bags or bulk

At 4 inches this is about 54 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

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.

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.

Questions people ask

How many tons of paver base for an 8x10 patio?

About 1.4 tons at 4 inches or 2.1 at 6 inches.

How many bags of paver base for an 8x10 patio?

About 54 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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