Best Gravel & Paver Base for DIYers
The right base material is what keeps a paver patio, walkway, or driveway flat and stable for years, and gravel also handles drainage, paths, and fill. Crushed stone compacts into a solid base; sand sets and levels pavers on top.
What to look for
- ·Use crushed stone (road base / 3/4-inch minus) as the compacted structural base under pavers and slabs; it locks together for stability.
- ·Use bedding/leveling sand (not play sand) on top of the base to set and screed pavers, and polymeric sand to fill the joints.
- ·Buy bulk by the cubic yard or ton for big projects (far cheaper) and bags for small jobs; estimate generously for base depth.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone / Gravel (3/4 inch) | Editor's pick | $30 to $60 per cubic yard | Structural paver/slab base |
| Paver Base (Road Base) | Editor's pick | $30 to $55 per cubic yard | The ideal paver base |
| Polymeric Sand (Joints) | Editor's pick | $25 to $40 per bag | Locking paver joints |
| Pea Gravel | Best value | $30 to $55 per cubic yard | Paths and decoration |
| All-Purpose Gravel | Best value | $25 to $50 per cubic yard | Value fill and drainage |
| Leveling / Bedding Sand | Best value | $25 to $45 per cubic yard | Setting and leveling pavers |
| Bulk Gravel (by the Yard) | Budget pick | $20 to $45 per cubic yard | Large jobs on a budget |
| Store-Brand Paver Base (Bag) | Budget pick | $4 to $8 per bag | Small jobs convenience |
| Fill Sand | Budget pick | $15 to $35 per cubic yard | Lowest-cost fill |
Editor's pick
Crushed Stone / Gravel (3/4 inch)
$30 to $60 per cubic yard
Angular 3/4-inch crushed stone that compacts into a solid, stable structural base for pavers, slabs, and driveways, and handles drainage. The base-material standard.
Best for: Structural paver/slab base
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Stone yards.
Paver Base (Road Base)
$30 to $55 per cubic yard
Crushed stone with fines (3/4-inch minus / road base) that locks together and compacts tight, the ideal structural base under pavers. The pick for a base that stays put.
Best for: The ideal paver base
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Home Depot.
Polymeric Sand (Joints)
$25 to $40 per bag
A jointing sand with polymers that hardens when wetted to lock pavers together, resist weeds, and stay put. The pick for finishing paver joints that last.
Best for: Locking paver joints
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Best value
Pea Gravel
$30 to $55 per cubic yard
Smooth, rounded pea gravel for paths, drainage, and decorative ground cover at a value price. Great for walkways and beds (not as a paver base).
Best for: Paths and decoration
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Home Depot.
All-Purpose Gravel
$25 to $50 per cubic yard
General crushed gravel for fill, drainage, and rough base at a value price. A versatile, economical pick for many landscaping needs.
Best for: Value fill and drainage
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Stone yards.
Leveling / Bedding Sand
$25 to $45 per cubic yard
Coarse bedding sand to set and screed pavers level over the stone base. A value essential for the setting layer under pavers.
Best for: Setting and leveling pavers
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Home Depot.
Budget pick
Bulk Gravel (by the Yard)
$20 to $45 per cubic yard
Crushed stone or gravel bought in bulk by the cubic yard for the lowest per-volume cost on big base and fill jobs. The budget way to move serious material.
Best for: Large jobs on a budget
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Stone yards.
Store-Brand Paver Base (Bag)
$4 to $8 per bag
Bagged paver base for small patio and walkway projects where bulk delivery is not worth it. Pricier per volume than bulk, but convenient for small jobs.
Best for: Small jobs convenience
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Fill Sand
$15 to $35 per cubic yard
Basic fill sand for backfill, leveling, and general projects at the lowest cost. Not for the paver setting layer, but cheap for filling and grading.
Best for: Lowest-cost fill
Typically available at Landscape suppliers, Stone yards.
Frequently asked
What goes under a paver patio?+
A compacted base of crushed stone (road base or 3/4-inch minus, typically 4 to 6 inches deep for patios, more for driveways), then about an inch of bedding sand screeded level to set the pavers, with edge restraint around the field and polymeric sand swept into the joints. The compacted stone base is the most important part.
What kind of gravel for a paver base?+
Use angular crushed stone with fines, often sold as paver base, road base, or 3/4-inch minus, because the angular pieces and fines lock together and compact into a solid, stable layer. Avoid rounded pea gravel for the base (it shifts); pea gravel is for paths and decoration, not under pavers.
Sand or gravel under pavers?+
Both, in layers: compacted crushed stone gravel forms the structural base, and a thin layer of coarse bedding sand goes on top to set and level the pavers. Do not set pavers on a thick sand-only base, it shifts and ruts. The gravel does the load-bearing; the sand fine-tunes the level.
How much base material do I need?+
For a patio, plan on a 4 to 6 inch compacted stone base plus about 1 inch of bedding sand; driveways need 8 to 12 inches of base. Calculate volume (area times depth) and add for compaction. One cubic yard covers about 80 to 100 square feet at 3 to 4 inches. Buy a bit extra.
Do I need to compact the base?+
Yes, compaction is essential. Add the crushed stone in lifts (a few inches at a time) and compact each with a plate compactor (rentable) so the base is solid and will not settle under the pavers. Skipping compaction is the top cause of sunken, uneven paver work. Compact the sand and pavers too at the end.