Why the base costs more than the stone

Two quotes for the same patio can differ by half, and almost all of the difference is under the surface where nobody will ever see it.

What a base actually is

Excavation to depth, geotextile where the soil is soft, then crushed stone laid in lifts and plate-compacted lift by lift. Then a thin bedding layer, screeded flat.

Why lifts matter

A machine compacts about four inches at a time. Six inches dumped and run over once is compacted on top and loose underneath, and loose underneath is where the dip comes from.

What a cheap quote leaves out

Depth, usually. Three inches of gravel instead of six. It looks identical the day it is finished and it is visibly wrong after two winters.

Edge restraint

Without it the outer row creeps outward every freeze and the joints open. It is inexpensive and it is the first thing missing from a cheap job.

What to ask

Ask how deep they are excavating, how many lifts, and whether they plate-compact each one. The answer tells you what you are buying.