A 12x16 shed pad takes about 4 cubic yards of base material at a 6-inch depth. The math: 192 sq ft × 6 inches ÷ 324 = 3.6 cubic yards, and you round up because compaction eats volume and a shy pad is a headache mid-build.
Building a pad that stays flat
- Use a dense-graded blend — stone with fines that compacts into a hard, stable surface
- Compact in 2–3" lifts — a plate compactor pass per layer beats one thick pass
- Extend 12" past the shed — a slightly oversized pad sheds roof drip better
Both #610 Stone and Dense Pack ¾" to minus are built for exactly this, and 4 yards rides one truck with one delivery fee. Check your own dimensions with the material calculator.
