Paver Base Calculator
Calculate drainage rock and compacted road base for paver sub-base installations. Two-layer calculation with accurate densities — drainage rock at 1.45 t/m³ and road base at 2.0 t/m³ with 1.15 compaction factor.
Part of the Landscaping & Site Work calculators — see all tools in this category.
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How it works and assumptions
This calculator works out the volume and weight for both sub-base layers needed under concrete pavers, natural stone, or brick installations.
Two-Layer System
- Drainage layer: Drainage rock (1.45 t/m³), no compaction — allows water to drain freely
- Base layer: Road base / DGB (2.0 t/m³), 1.15× compaction factor — provides structural support
How to Use
- Enter total paving area in square meters.
- Set drainage layer depth: typically 75–100mm.
- Set base layer depth: typically 100–150mm (this is the compacted final depth).
- Set waste factor: 10% is applied to both layers.
- Read the results: Volume and weight are shown for each layer plus combined totals. Order these as two separate materials.
Formula
Drainage layer: Area × Depth × (1 + Waste%) at 1.45 t/m³
Base layer: Area × Depth × 1.15 × (1 + Waste%) at 2.0 t/m³
Base layers are separate from joint fill. For selecting a polymeric-sand coverage basis after pavers are installed, see the polymeric-sand measurement guide.