How to Install Pavers
By Nick · Updated
Dig out the area, compact at least 4 inches of crushed stone base for a patio (6 inches for a driveway), screed 1 inch of bedding sand, then lay the pavers with 1/16 to 3/16 inch joints. For a patio that means digging about 7.4 inches deep.
Work out pavers, base and sandKey figures
- Base: at least 4 in. compacted for patios and walks, 6 in. for driveways.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
- Add 2 to 4 in. of base in cold climates or on wet, weak soil.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
- Compact the base in layers (lifts) of 4 to 6 in.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
- Bedding sand: about 1 in., left uncompacted. Joints: 1/16 to 3/16 in.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
How deep do you dig for pavers?
Base + 1 inch of sand + the paver's thickness. For a patio: 4 + 1 + 2.36 = about 7.4 inches.
| Use | Base | Sand | Paver | Dig |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patio or walk | 4 in | 1 in | 2.36 in | 7.4 in |
| Driveway | 6 in | 1 in | 2.36 in | 9.4 in |
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020); Pavestone Holland 60 mm spec sheet
How do you build the base?
Spread crushed stone and compact it in layers of 4 to 6 inches until it reaches the finished depth.
Stone shrinks as it packs down, so order more than the finished depth. Published figures put loose stone at 1.27 to 1.33 times its compacted volume.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020); Missouri DOT, Highway Maintenance Tables and Conversion Factors; Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads, DSA Tech Bulletin (2025)
How do you level ground for pavers?
Level the base, then screed the sand. The sand is spread to about 1 inch and left loose.
The sand is one even 1-inch layer, so the base under it has to be level first. Fix any low spots in the base, not in the sand.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
How far apart do pavers go?
Lay them with joints between 1/16 and 3/16 inch.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
How much material does a 10 × 12 ft patio need?
About 588 Holland pavers with 5% extra, 2.3 to 2.4 tons of base stone and 20 bags of sand.
- Pavers: 120 sq ft × 4.66 per sq ft + 5% = 588
- Base: 1.88 to 1.97 cubic yards of loose stone to finish at 4 inches
- Sand: 10 cubic feet = 20 bags of 50 lb
Source: Pavestone Holland 60 mm spec sheet; Missouri DOT, Highway Maintenance Tables and Conversion Factors; Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads, DSA Tech Bulletin (2025); Quikrete play sand (0.5 cu ft, 50 lb)
Other questions
Do you compact the sand under pavers?
No. The bedding sand is screeded to about 1 inch and left uncompacted until the pavers are laid on it.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
Can you lay pavers on dirt?
Not on dirt alone. Pavers sit on 1 inch of sand over a compacted crushed stone base at least 4 inches thick.
Source: ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
How we worked this out
Layer depths and joint widths are from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute's Tech Spec 2. Paver thickness and pavers per square foot are from Pavestone's Holland spec sheet. Quantities are calculated by the same code as the paver calculator.
Sources
- ICPI Tech Spec 2 (rev. Feb 2020)
- Pavestone Holland 60 mm spec sheet
- Missouri DOT, Highway Maintenance Tables and Conversion Factors
- Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads, DSA Tech Bulletin (2025)
- Quikrete play sand (0.5 cu ft, 50 lb)