Crushed Stone Calculator
Enter your area and depth to get the cubic feet, cubic yards, and tons of crushed stone you need.
What your result means
Tons is how bulk stone is sold and the most economical way to order, so it's the headline. Cubic yards and cubic feet are there to cross-check or for smaller bagged jobs. Add about 10% for compaction and edge spillage, and lay landscape fabric underneath so the stone doesn't sink.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the area in feet.
- Choose depth: 2-3 in decorative, 4-6 in for driveway base.
- Enter values and read cubic feet, yards, and tons.
- Order by tons (most economical bulk unit).
- Add 10% for compaction and edge spillage.
The formula
Volume in cubic feet is length times width times depth in feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. For tons, multiply cubic feet by the 100 lb per cubic foot density and divide by 2,000.
Worked example
Say you're laying a 20 by 10 ft driveway base 4 inches deep. That's 66.7 cubic feet, 2.47 cubic yards, or 3.33 tons. Bump the order to about 3.7 tons to cover compaction.
Crushed stone depth and sizing
| Use | Depth | Stone size |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway base | 4 – 6 in | #57 (1/2 – 1 in) |
| Surface dressing | 2 – 3 in | #4 or #8 |
| Landscape bed | 2 – 3 in | decorative |
Tips & gotchas
- Crushed stone runs about 100 lbs a cubic foot, so a cubic yard is roughly 1.35 tons.
- Use #57 stone for a driveway base.
- Use #4 or #8 (smaller) for dressing the surface.
- Lay landscape fabric underneath so the stone doesn't sink into the soil.
- Bulk delivery usually starts at 1 ton. Below that, you're buying bags.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of crushed stone weigh?
About 1.35 tons, or 2,700 lbs, for standard crushed limestone.
How deep should I lay crushed stone?
4 to 6 inches for a driveway, 2 to 3 inches for a landscape bed.
What's the difference between #57 and #4 stone?
#57 is 1/2 to 1 inch; #4 is 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Bigger numbers mean smaller stones.
Can I drive on a crushed stone driveway?
Yes, once it's compacted over a base layer. Top it with finer stone for a smoother ride.
How much does crushed stone cost?
$15 to $50 a ton delivered in bulk. Bagged costs far more per pound.
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