Shed & Pad Base Calculator

Free shed base calculator

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Gravel pad for a shed, hot tub, HVAC unit, or parking area, sized with the correct overhang.

Worked example

With these inputs:

ResultValue
Gravel needed4.28 tons
Volume2.85 yd³
Pad size14 ft × 12 ft
Estimated cost$94 – $171
Structure footprint120 sq ft
Pad footprint (with overhang)168 sq ft
Base depth5 in compacted
MaterialCrusher Run / #411
Volume2.85 yd³
Weight4.28 tons
Geotextile fabric185 sq ft
Timber or edging border52 linear ft
Material cost$94 – $171

Compact in 2-inch lifts and check for level as you go. A pad that is out of level by more than about 1/4 inch over 10 feet will make shed doors bind.

How it works

A gravel pad has to be bigger than the thing sitting on it — one foot of stone past each edge is the standard, so water drains away rather than pooling at the base. This calculator adds that margin automatically and sizes the compacted base for the load involved.

Frequently asked questions

How thick should a gravel shed base be?

Four to six inches of compacted crusher run for a typical shed. Go to eight or ten inches for a pad that will carry a vehicle, and check the manufacturer spec for hot tubs.

How big should a shed gravel pad be?

One foot larger than the shed on every side. That margin means roof runoff lands on stone and drains away rather than splashing soil against the shed walls.

What gravel is best for a shed base?

Crusher run, also sold as #411 or dense-grade aggregate. Its mix of stone and fines compacts into a solid, level, load-bearing surface — washed stone stays loose and will not do this.

Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.