How Many Pounds of Crushed Gravel Should I Buy for a Brick Paver Patio?

Crushed gravel is often used as a paver patio base.

Average Depth

According to the experts at Do-it-yourself.com, projects such as patios and walkways should have a 4-inch crushed-gravel base. The amount of gravel you'll need to get will depend on the size of your project. A patio that's 120 square feet will require about one and a half cubic yards of gravel poured at a 4-inch depth. The average weight of a cubic yard of gravel is 2,650 pounds; thus, a 120-square-foot patio will require nearly 4,000 pounds of crushed gravel.

Climate Considerations

If you live in a colder climate or a particularly wet climate, according to Do-it-yourself.com, you may want to pour a deeper gravel base. A deeper base will help ensure proper drainage and manage excess runoff, as well as protect from paver displacement due to frost heave. An additional 2 inches of gravel on that same 120-square-foot patio will add another 2,000 pounds of gravel.

Bottom Line

It's best to check local guidelines for suggested depth of patio bases. You can contact your local city offices for building regulations and guidelines, or you can ask at your local hardware or builder's supply store for guidance. Once you've determined your desired depth, multiply the square footage by the depth in feet and divide by 27 to obtain the cubic yardage. You can then multiply the cubic yardage by 2,650 to get the number of pounds of gravel you'll need for your patio.

References

• Do-it-yourself: Installing Pavers: Determining How Much You Need
• Stoneplus: Calculator