CALCWOVEN • CRUSHED STONE
Crushed Stone Calculator
Estimate crushed stone in tons, cubic yards, bags and cost for patio bases, driveways, walkways and drainage projects.
CALCWOVEN CRUSHED STONE CALCULATOR
Crushed Stone Calculator
Estimate crushed stone in tons, cubic yards, bags and cost for a patio base, driveway, walkway or drainage trench. Pick your stone grade, enter the area and depth, and adjust the density if your supplier gives a figure. Results update as you type.
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Area and depth
Stone
Planning densities match our Gravel Calculator and gravel weight guide: 1.40 tons per cubic yard for clean crushed stone and 1.50 for crusher run. Published figures run roughly 1.25 to 1.55, so use your supplier’s number when you have it.
Bags and cost (optional)
You need
- Cubic yards—
- Cubic feet—
- Cubic meters—
- US tons—
- Metric tonnes—
- Coverage—
- Bags needed—
- Estimated cost—
Bag count rounds up to a whole bag. Weights are planning estimates and vary with stone grade, moisture and supplier.
Results update as you type.
Using crushed stone under an asphalt driveway? Use this calculator for the stone base, then switch to the Asphalt Driveway Calculator to estimate the hot-mix asphalt surface in tons, volume and cost.
Using crushed stone for a retaining wall base or drainage zone? Use the Retaining Wall Calculator to estimate the wall blocks, cap blocks, base gravel and backfill volume together. Keep this calculator for choosing stone type, tons, bags and supplier-specific cost.
HOW IT WORKS
How the crushed stone calculator works
Enter the area and the depth, and the calculator works out the volume in cubic feet and cubic yards (area × depth ÷ 27), adds your extra allowance, and converts to tons with a planning density for the stone. Crushed stone is angular, so it locks together and compacts well, which is why it is used for bases, driveways and drainage.
Common crushed stone grades
| Grade | Typical size | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| #57 | About ¾ to 1 in, clean | Driveway surface, drainage, pipe bedding |
| #67 | About ½ to ¾ in, clean | Walkways, pipe bedding, behind retaining walls |
| #3 | About 1 to 2½ in | Driveway sub-base |
| #4 | About 1½ to 2½ in | Drainage |
| Crusher run, dense-graded or #411 | Stone with fines, from dust up to about 1½ in | Compacted base layers |
Sizes and names vary by supplier and region, so ask what your yard calls each product. The grade you need depends on the job: clean stone drains, while stone with fines compacts into a firm base.
Typical depths by project
| Project | Typical compacted depth | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Patio or paver base | About 4 in | Our paver base depth guide |
| Walkway base | About 4 in | Our paver base depth guide |
| Driveway base course | About 3 to 4 in over a sub-base | Contractor guidance (Bovee’s) |
| Driveway surface layer | About 2 to 3 in | Contractor guidance (Bovee’s) |
| Drainage trench | Set by the drainage design | Follow your design or local requirements |
The calculator’s project menu fills in a starting depth. Weak soil, poor drainage, freeze-thaw and heavier traffic can call for more, so treat the presets as starting points.
QUICK REFERENCE
Crushed stone coverage chart
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Tons per 100 sq ft (1.40 tons/yd³) | Tons per 100 sq ft (1.50 tons/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 0.86 | 0.93 |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 1.30 | 1.39 |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 1.73 | 1.85 |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 2.59 | 2.78 |
Values are before any extra allowance. One cubic yard covers 324 ÷ depth in inches square feet. For example, a cubic yard covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches.
Worked examples
- 12 × 10 ft patio base, 4 inches of crusher run: 120 sq ft × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.48 cubic yards, or 1.63 with 10% extra, which is 2.44 tons at 1.50 tons per cubic yard.
- 50 × 12 ft driveway surface, 2 inches of #57: 600 sq ft × 2 ÷ 324 = 3.70 cubic yards, or 4.07 with 10% extra, which is 5.70 tons at 1.40.
- Drainage trench, 50 ft × 1 ft × 12 inches of #57: 50 cubic feet = 1.85 cubic yards, or 2.04 with 10% extra, which is 2.85 tons at 1.40.
QUICK ANSWERS
Common questions
How much does a cubic yard of crushed stone weigh?
We plan on about 1.40 tons (2,800 lb) for clean crushed stone and 1.50 tons (3,000 lb) for crusher run. Published figures range from roughly 1.25 to 1.55 tons, depending on the stone, its grade, its moisture and how tightly it is packed. See how much does a yard of gravel weigh.
How much does a ton of crushed stone cover?
At 1.40 tons per cubic yard, a ton covers about 58 sq ft at 4 inches and about 116 sq ft at 2 inches. The calculator shows the coverage for your depth and stone.
What is the difference between crushed stone and gravel?
Crushed stone is produced by mechanically crushing rock, so it is usually angular and can interlock well. The term “gravel” is broader and may refer to naturally rounded gravel or, in some markets, crushed aggregate sold under gravel names. For compacted bases, drainage and surface layers, use the exact product grade and specification your supplier recommends.
Which crushed stone should I use?
Clean stone such as #57 or #67 drains freely and suits driveway surfaces, pipe bedding and drainage. Crusher run or dense-graded stone contains fines and compacts into a firm base. Ask your supplier which grade they recommend for your project and local conditions.
How much extra crushed stone should I order?
The calculator adds 10% by default, which helps cover uneven grade, compaction and spillage. It is an ordering allowance, not a compaction ratio.
How many truckloads is that?
Heavy stone often reaches a truck’s weight limit before the bed is full, at around 10 cubic yards for a standard dump truck. See how many cubic yards in a dump truck.
MORE TOOLS
Planning the rest of the project?
Use the Gravel Calculator for pea gravel and river rock, or read how much gravel do I need for the formula and a depth guide. Building a patio? See paver base depth and how to install pavers. For the volume math, see how to calculate cubic yards.
Weights and depths are planning estimates and industry starting points, not building code. Confirm the stone grade, depth and quantity with your supplier or contractor. Sources: Bovee’s: Gravel Driveway Base Requirements (driveway layers and #3 size), Crushed Stone Sizes and Grades: Contractor Reference and Crushed Stone Calculator reference. We did not find an extension source for these figures.