Building a patio: hauling pavers, base stone and spoils
A paver patio usually means three hauls: base stone in, spoils out, and sometimes pavers in. Example: a 300-square-foot patio with a 6-inch base needs about 5.6 cubic yards of stone, roughly 15,000 lb, and digs out about 8.3 yards of soil. In our 7x14 dump trailer, that's two stone loads and two soil loads.
Key takeaways
- Walkways and patios typically need 7–9 inches of excavation: 4–6 inches of base, 1 inch of sand and 2-3/8-inch pavers.
- Base stone runs about 2,700 lb per yard, so a 7x14 carries about 3.6 yards per trip.
- 2-3/8-inch concrete pavers weigh about 24.5–29.4 lb per square foot.
- Howard's Alpha Ridge doesn't accept soil from commercial loads, and rental trailers count as commercial.
- Maryland law requires you to contact Miss Utility (811) at least two full business days before you dig.
How much material does a paver patio take?
Plan on 7–9 inches of digging, 4–6 inches of compacted base, 1 inch of bedding sand and the pavers themselves.
One paver maker's install guide lists 7–9 inches of total excavation for pedestrian patios and walkways: 4–6 inches of compacted gravel base, a 1-inch bedding layer and 2-3/8-inch pavers. Use the deeper base on poorly drained or disturbed soil. Compact the base in lifts of no more than 4 inches.
| Example: 300 sq ft patio | Volume | Weight | 7x14 trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spoils out (9 in dig) | ~8.3 yd³ in place | ~17,500 lb (topsoil ~2,100 lb/yd³) | 2 |
| Base stone in (6 in) | ~5.6 yd³ | ~15,000 lb | 2 |
| Bedding sand in (1 in) | ~0.9 yd³ | ~2,500 lb | Part of a trip |
| Pavers (2-3/8 in) | About 3 pallets | ~7,350–8,820 lb | Usually delivered |
Base: square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Sand: square feet × 0.0031, per the same guide. Paver weights come from two makers' cut sheets: 104.4 sq ft at 2,561 lb per pallet, and 102.2 sq ft at 3,005 lb per pallet.
How do I haul the base stone?
By weight. A 7x14 carries about 3.6 yards (4.9 tons) per trip, and a 6x12 about 2.5 yards.
Our 7x14 has a 9,820-lb payload, and at about 2,700 lb a yard, stone hits that long before the bed is full. For the example patio's 15,000 lb of base, order two loads of about 7,500 lb each, and ask the loader to spread each one over the axles. A loaded 7x14 can weigh 14,000 lb, so your truck must be rated for it, with a brake controller. Check it in the tow checker, and see how much gravel a dump trailer carries. Your vehicle's manufacturer ratings and manual always win.
The dump trailer pays off on the base. The spreader gate lets you meter stone into the excavation in strips instead of shoveling a pile. Dump each load in 4-inch lifts, rake it level, wet it lightly and run the plate compactor before the next lift. Back the trailer in once, dump half a load, pull forward, then dump the rest. Fewer wheelbarrow trips means faster work.
Rent the 7x14 14K Dump
$165/day · $279 weekend · $595 week. Total with tax shown before you book.
See prices and bookWhere do the spoils go?
Reuse what you can on site first. Disposal options for soil are limited and expensive.
Howard County's Alpha Ridge Landfill says it doesn't accept soil from commercial contractors, and it treats rental trailers as commercial. Its fee schedule lists clean dirt at $132/ton and says the fee may be waived or volume-limited by the Department of Public Works. Call 410-313-6444 before you load. Its residential special-exception form for rental vehicles excludes construction debris and contractor waste.
Do the math before you plan to dump it. In the example, 17,500 lb of soil is 8.75 tons. Even if a site accepted it at $132/ton, that's about $1,155 before card fees. That's more than the trailer rental, and a strong reason to find a use for the dirt.
Better outlets: regrade low spots, build up a bed, or offer clean fill to neighbors. Keep sod and topsoil separate from subsoil. Topsoil is worth keeping, and mixed loads are harder to give away. If the soil is wet clay, haul smaller loads. Wet soil can run heavier than the ~2,100 lb/yd³ planning figure.
Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go. Our Howard County dump guide keeps the current list.
Should I haul the pavers myself?
Usually not. Pallets weigh about 2,500–3,000 lb each and need a forklift on both ends.
Three pallets for a 300 sq ft patio come to about 7,350–8,820 lb. That's within a 7x14's payload, but you'd be unloading by hand, one paver at a time, out of a dump bed. Most paver suppliers deliver pallets with a boom or forklift. Ask about delivery when you order, and have the pallets set as close to the patio as the supplier's truck can safely reach. Every foot saved is a foot you don't carry 25-lb pavers.
If you have a forklift or skid steer on site, our 24' tilt trailer (14,000 lb GVWR, about 9,700 lb payload) lets you set pallets on a flat deck and pull them off the same way.
How should I plan the rental and the work?
Call Miss Utility first, dig and haul spoils, then bring base in. A weekend rental usually covers both.
- Contact 811. Maryland requires notice at least two full business days before you dig, and no more than ten days ahead. It's free. Homeowners can file online.
- Check approvals. In Ellicott City's historic district, exterior changes need a Certificate of Approval. Columbia village covenants vary, so check yours.
- Dig and haul spoils on day one. Two 7x14 loads in the example.
- Haul and compact base on day two, in lifts of 4 inches or less.
- Sand, pavers, joint sand. The pavers arrive by supplier delivery.
| 7x14 dump rental | Base | With 6% tax |
|---|---|---|
| Day | $165 | $174.90 |
| Weekend (any 2–3 days) | $279 | $295.74 |
| Week | $595 | $630.70 |
Keep the trailer in the driveway. Howard County limits commercial vehicles on residential streets to 6 hours. Book the 7x14 dump trailer. A machine makes the dig far faster. Our skid steer and mini excavator are on a waitlist: see the skid steer page.
The same install guide adds two cautions worth knowing before you order stone. If your soil stays saturated more than half the time, use filter fabric and extra base. Thicker pavers need deeper excavation, so check your paver's spec before you dig.
Questions
Do I need a permit for a paver patio in Howard County?
We can't answer that for every lot. Check with Howard County's permits office before you start, and with the Historic Preservation Commission if you're in Ellicott City's historic district.
Does compacted base need extra stone?
Plan a little extra. Loose stone compacts down, so ask your stone supplier how much to add for your material.
Can I bring sand in the same load as stone?
Keep them separate. Mixed in one bed, they blend when you dump, and you want clean bedding sand.
Sources
- Rochester Concrete Products: paver installation guide (excavation, base, sand formulas)
- Belgard Mega-Arbel cut sheet (pallet sq ft and weight)
- Rochester Concrete Products Windom paver cut sheet (pallet sq ft and weight)
- Maryland Office of People's Counsel: Miss Utility 811
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge user fees and charges (FY27, clean dirt)
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge commercial customers (no soil from contractors)
- Howard County: special exception for rental vehicles