Walk it before you dig it
Lay out the route with hoses or paint and walk it. Comfortable walking paths are 36–48 inches wide; two people side-by-side need about 60 inches.
PATHWAY CALCULATOR
Walkway and garden path materials
Pick a surface, enter the run, and get excavation, base, bedding, surface, and edging quantities.
01
Path surface
Select how the walking surface is built.
02
Dimensions and build-up
Quantities and the cross-section update automatically.
Pavers: Concrete or brick pavers on sand. Set the finished surface about an inch proud of grade so water sheds off the path.
03
Reference notes
Common planning considerations for paths and walkways.
Dig to undisturbed soil
Remove sod and organics down to the full build-up depth. Soft spots re-appear as dips in the finished path, so compact or replace them before placing base.
Compact in thin lifts
Compact crushed base in 2-inch lifts with a plate compactor. The base, not the surface, determines whether pavers stay flat through seasons.
Shed water off the surface
Crown loose paths or slope hard surfaces about ¼ inch per foot to one side. Never grade a path so it directs water toward a foundation.
Restrain the edges
Pavers and loose materials migrate without restraint. Snap edging, steel, or timbers hold the field tight; set edging on the compacted base, not on loose soil.
Separate soil from stone
Separation fabric under the base keeps clean stone from mixing into the subgrade on soft or clay soils, preserving depth and drainage over time.
Quantity planning, not site design.
Verify dimensions, drainage, slopes, accessibility requirements, utility locates, and local codes before digging. Bulk material weights vary by supplier and moisture; confirm coverage rates with your yard.