A 16×20 ft paver patio needs about 13.4 tons of crusher run for a 6 in compacted base (or 499 bags of 0.5 cu ft paver base), plus 56 bags of bedding sand and 72 ft of edge restraint.
| Base depth | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags | Dig down |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 8.9 tons | 333 | 7.38 in |
| 6 in ✓ | 13.4 tons | 499 | 9.38 in |
| 8 in ✓ | 17.8 tons | 665 | 11.38 in |
| 10 in | 22.3 tons | 831 | 13.38 in |
| 12 in | 26.8 tons | 998 | 15.38 in |
✓ within Unilock's range for a patio.
Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).
Excavate 9.38 in below finished grade (6 in base + 1 in bedding + 2.375 in paver) over 357 sq ft. That is 10.33 cu yd of soil — about 15.4 tons in place, more once it is dug and loose. Slope the base away from the house (Unilock).
Bulk base and bag prices are typical 2026 figures (American Rock Supply, Kellogg Supply, retail snapshots). Tap any price to use your yard's or store's.
| Base depth | Crusher run | 0.5 cu ft bags | Bulk delivered | Dig down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 8.9 tons | 333 | $334 | 7.38 in |
| 6 in | 13.4 tons | 499 | $463 | 9.38 in |
| 8 in | 17.8 tons | 665 | $593 | 11.38 in |
357 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 178.5 cu ft compacted = 6.61 cu yd. Crusher run compacts — Penn State places 8 in loose to finish at 6 in — so order 1.33× that, plus 5% for an uneven subgrade: 9.23 cu yd × 1.45 t = 13.39 tons.
County Materials' bag rule — (sq ft ÷ 6) × depth — gives 320 bags for the paved area alone. The 499 bags here add the base extension under the edge restraint and the volume lost to compaction; buying 320 would leave you about 179 bags short.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main paver base calculator page.