A 10 × 10 ft paver patio with a 6 in base needs about 2.22 cubic yards, or 3.11 tons, of paver base. That includes 20% extra so the base still reaches full depth after compacting. In 50 lb bags (about 0.5 cu ft each), that’s about 120 bags. Open this patio in the paver calculator to change the size or depth.
The math for a 10 × 10 patio
- Area: 10 × 10 = 100 sq ft.
- Volume: 100 sq ft × 0.5 ft (6 in) = 50 cu ft.
- Add 20% for compaction: 50 × 1.2 = 60 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: 60 ÷ 27 = 2.22 yd³.
- Tons: 2.22 × 1.4 tons per yd³ = 3.11 tons.
- Bags: 60 cu ft ÷ 0.5 cu ft per bag = 120 bags of 50 lb.
1.4 tons per cubic yard is a typical figure for crushed stone base; your supplier’s number may be a little different. Bag sizes vary too, so check the label for cu ft per bag.
Paver base for a 10 × 10 patio by depth
Patios and walks usually get 4–6 in of compacted base; driveways get more (see the paver guide for depths). 20% extra for compaction included.
Other patio sizes (6 in base)
| Patio | Cubic yards | Tons | 50 lb bags (0.5 cu ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 2.22 | 3.11 | 120 |
| 10 × 12 ft | 2.67 | 3.73 | 144 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 3.2 | 4.48 | 173 |
| 16 × 16 ft | 5.69 | 7.96 | 308 |
Bags or bulk?
120 bags is about 3 tons to lift twice: into the truck and out again. Bags make sense for a small walk or a patch. For a full 10 × 10 patio or bigger, most people order bulk crushed stone base by the ton or yard from a landscape supply yard and have it dumped close to the job. Ask the yard what their base weighs per yard and order from that.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the loose volume only. Gravel base packs down when you compact it. Without the extra 20% you end up short of full depth.
- Counting the sand as part of the base. The 1 in sand bed goes on top of the compacted base and is bought separately.
- Compacting it all at once. Thick base goes down and gets compacted in layers, not in one 6 in pass.
- Using pea gravel. Round stone doesn’t lock together. Paver base is crushed, angular stone with fines.
- Forgetting the edges. Run the base out past the edge of the pavers so the edge restraint sits on it too.
What to buy for a 10 × 10 paver patio
- 3.11 tons (2.22 yd³) of crushed stone paver base for 6 in deep, or about 120 bags of 50 lb. Buy locally; bulk from a landscape supply yard is easiest at this size.
- 495 pavers (4 × 8 in, with 10% extra) from a local supplier.
- 17 bags of bedding sand (50 lb) for a 1 in bed.
- 2 bags of polymeric sand for the joints: shop polymeric sand
- 5 pieces of 8 ft edge restraint for 40 ft of edge: shop paver edging and 10 in spikes
- Hand tamper for edges and small areas (rent a plate compactor for the rest): shop hand tampers
- Rubber mallet for setting pavers: shop rubber mallets
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More: the full guide to how many pavers you need covers paver counts, sand and base depths. For gravel by the ton for other jobs, see how much gravel do I need or the gravel calculator.
FAQ
How much paver base do I need for a 10×10 patio?
About 3.11 tons (2.22 cubic yards) for a 6 in base, including 20% extra for compaction. At 4 in it’s about 2.07 tons; at 8 in about 4.15 tons.
How many bags of paver base for a 10×10 patio?
About 120 bags of 50 lb (0.5 cu ft each) for a 6 in base, or 80 bags for 4 in. Check the bag label, since sizes vary.
Why add 20% to paver base?
Crushed stone packs down when you compact it. Ordering about 20% more than the finished volume means the base still reaches full depth after compacting.
How much sand do I need for a 10×10 paver patio?
About 8.3 cu ft of bedding sand for a 1 in bed, or 17 bags of 50 lb. Plus about 2 bags of polymeric sand for the joints.
How many pavers for a 10×10 patio?
495 pavers of 4 × 8 in, with 10% extra for cuts. That’s 450 for the 100 sq ft plus 45 spare.
Sources: base depths and compaction in lifts from ICPI Tech Spec 10 (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute); 0.5 cu ft per 50 lb bag from Quikrete HardScapes Paver Base product listings. All counts are from the QtyLab paver calculator. Estimates for planning only, not structural advice.