Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Umar Farooq
A paver patio materials list has eight lines: pavers, crushed stone base, bedding sand, joint sand, edge restraints, spikes, an optional geotextile and a few string-and-stake basics. For a 12 x 16 foot patio (192 square feet) on well-drained soil that means roughly 3 to 4 tons of base stone, about 0.6 cubic yard of sand and 56 feet of edging, with a plate compactor rented rather than bought. Most of what you buy ends up underground, which is where the patio's life is decided.
The paver patio materials list at a glance
Every guide I read agrees on the core. The Batchelder and Collins patio guide lists pavers, crushed gravel base, coarse paver sand, landscape fabric, edge restraints and polymeric sand. Brinly's patio guide adds restraint spikes, paver base and string. Gardening Channel keeps it to the same stack with plastic edging.
Here is the whole thing in one table, with the numbers that set each quantity.
| Item | What to buy | Number that sets the amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pavers | Concrete pavers, at least 2 3/8 in thick | Patio area plus a cut allowance |
| Base | Crushed stone, dense graded | At least 4 in compacted |
| Bedding sand | ASTM C33 concrete sand | 1 in, screeded, not compacted |
| Joint sand | Polymeric sand or joint sand | Joint width and depth |
| Edge restraint | Plastic, metal or concrete | Perimeter length |
| Spikes | Steel restraint spikes | Spacing set by the restraint maker |
| Geotextile | Optional, over the soil | Patio area plus overlap |
| Layout | String, stakes, paint | Perimeter |
The base depth and sand depth are ICPI Tech Spec 2 figures, and the paver thickness is the CMHA recommendation for pedestrian use.
Pavers: measure the patio, then add for cuts
Pavers are the only line that is easy to calculate. Multiply length by width, then add a margin for cuts and breakage; our guide to how many pavers you need shows the allowance. CMHA Tech Spec 10 recommends 2 3/8 inches (60 mm) as the thickness for pedestrian use. A paver with face area up to 101 square inches and an aspect ratio up to 4 meets the definition, and the 8,000 psi average compressive strength comes from ASTM C936. If a pallet is easier to price, see pallet of pavers.
Do not buy until you have decided the pattern, because some patterns waste more at the edges. The cheapest way to spend less is a simpler pattern with fewer cuts. Paver patterns covers the options.
Base stone: the biggest order on the list
This is the line people underbuy. ICPI Tech Spec 2 calls for at least 4 inches of compacted base under a patio or walkway on well-drained soil, and 2 to 4 inches more in cold climates or on wet or weak soil.
Work it out for a 12 x 16 patio:
- Area: 12 x 16 = 192 square feet.
- Volume: 192 x (4 / 12) = 64 cubic feet, which is about 2.4 cubic yards.
- Weight: crushed stone runs about 2,700 to 3,400 pounds per cubic yard, depending on the stone (Stone Center's calculator), so 2.4 yards is roughly 3.2 to 4 tons.
Order a little over, because the base is compacted in lifts and every pass reduces volume. ICPI's 4 to 6 inch lifts assume a 7,000 lbf plate, and the same document says smaller plates need thinner lifts. Use the base calculator in how much paver base do I need for your own size, and the paver base material page for which stone to ask for.
Note the dig depth in the diagram: base plus sand plus paver thickness is 7 3/8 inches. On a 192 square foot patio that is about 118 cubic feet of soil, roughly 4.4 cubic yards, to move and dispose of.
Sand, twice: one for bedding, one for the joints
Two different sands, two different jobs, and mixing them up is the most common shopping mistake.
Bedding sand is concrete sand to ASTM C33, screeded to an uncompacted nominal 1 inch. CMHA's guide spec says not to use stone dust, limestone screenings or mason sand for bedding. One guide I read (Gardening Channel) says 1 1/2 to 2 inches; ICPI and CMHA say 1 inch, and I would follow the standards. For this patio, 192 x (1 / 12) is 16 cubic feet, about 0.6 cubic yard. Our guide to screeding sand explains why more is worse.
Joint sand is swept in after laying. Polymeric sand is the common choice and needs a data-sheet check for minimum joint depth and cure times, which vary by product. Quantities are in how much polymeric sand do I need.
Edging, fabric and the small stuff
Edge restraints are not optional. Every paver field needs something solid holding its edges, because interlock only works when the field cannot spread. For 12 x 16 feet the perimeter is 2 x (12 + 16) = 56 feet, but you only restrain the sides that are not against a house wall or curb. CMHA sets the distance from the base edge to the restraint spikes equal to the base thickness, up to 10 inches, so you extend the base past the pavers rather than stopping at them. Compare options in paver edging.
Landscape fabric is the debated line. Both the Batchelder and Collins guide and the Brinly guide include it; whether it earns its place is in landscape fabric for paver patio.
Layout tools are cheap: stakes, string, marking paint, a tape and a level.
Tools: rent the machine, buy the hand tools
Rent a plate compactor for the day instead of buying one; Brinly says the same. A single 12 x 16 patio does not justify owning one, and our plate compactor rental page shows what to ask for. You will also need a shovel, wheelbarrow, rake, rubber mallet, a long straight board and 3/4 or 1 inch conduit for screed rails (757brick lists both), push broom, and a way to cut pavers: a rented wet saw, or a paver splitter. The full kit is in paver patio tools. For cuts, wear a respirator; OSHA's silica rule for handheld saws is water on the blade every time.
Most of your list ends up underground
Tally the list and the pattern is clear: pavers are the line you see, but base stone, sand and restraints are the patio. Spend your care on the quantities under the surface, order the stone with a margin and treat the 4 inch base as a minimum. If something has to give, buy a plainer paver, not a thinner base.
FAQ
What materials do I need to build a paver patio?
Pavers, crushed stone base, bedding sand, joint sand, edge restraints with spikes and optionally landscape fabric, plus string, stakes and a rented plate compactor.
How much base do I need for a 12 x 16 paver patio?
At least 4 inches compacted, per ICPI Tech Spec 2. That is about 64 cubic feet, roughly 2.4 cubic yards or 3.2 to 4 tons of crushed stone, before any extra for compaction.
How thick should the sand under pavers be?
About 1 inch, screeded flat and left uncompacted, according to ICPI and CMHA. Use ASTM C33 concrete sand, not stone dust or mason sand.
Do I need landscape fabric under a paver patio?
Some guides include it as a weed barrier and some treat it as optional. It does not replace a compacted base, so decide based on your soil and weed pressure.
Can I build a paver patio without renting a compactor?
A hand tamper works for a very small area, but a plate compactor gives the compaction the base needs. For a patio this size, renting for a day is usually the cheaper route.
