Crushed Stone Calculator
A 10 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep needs about 0.93 cubic yards or 1.4 US tons with 10% waste. Enter your dimensions below for instant cubic yards and tons.
Standard crushed stone is about 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Adjust for your supplier's material.
Measure depth consistently
Enter depth as the thickness of stone you want to install (e.g. 4 inches for a driveway base). All length and width values must use the same unit you select above.
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Choose a shape, enter dimensions and depth, then click Calculate material.
Crushed stone tips
- Order 5–10% extra for compaction, spillage, and uneven subgrade.
- Driveway bases are often 4–6 inches deep; walkways 2–3 inches.
- Compact stone in lifts for driveways and shed pads for a stable base.
- Confirm tons per cubic yard with your stone yard — density varies by material and moisture.
- Divide large projects into sections and add volumes together for irregular layouts.
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Quick Answer
A 10 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep needs 0.93 cubic yards or 1.4 US tons including 10% waste. Multiply length × width × depth (in feet), divide by 27 for cubic yards, multiply by 1.5 for tons. Always add 10% waste.
What Is Crushed Stone?
Crushed stone is quarried rock — granite, limestone, dolomite, or traprock — crushed into angular, sharp-edged pieces. Unlike rounded gravel, its angular shape locks together and compacts tightly under pressure.
Contractors use it as a base for driveways, foundations, patios, and drainage systems. Common sizes are 3/4 inch for driveways, 3/8 inch for patios, and crusher run for compactable base layers.
How to Use Different Crushed Stone Sizes
Different stone sizes serve different jobs. Using the wrong size wastes money and causes project failure.
| Stone Size | Best Use |
|---|---|
| Stone dust | Concrete blocks, wall filling, smooth pavements |
| 3/8 inch | Patio surfaces, walkways, fine finish areas |
| 1/2 inch | Asphalt mixes, road concrete, water tank bedding |
| 3/4 inch | Driveways, drainage, french drains, slab bases |
| 1 inch | Road bases, pavements, jogging tracks |
| 1-1/4 inch | Heavy-duty driveways, construction site roads |
| 2 inch | Dry wells, septic systems, railroad ballast |
| 4 inch | Heavy haul roads, drain outfall, slopes |
Quick rule: use 3/4 inch for anything structural, 3/8 inch for anything decorative or surface-level.
How to Use the Crushed Stone Calculator
Step 1 — Select surface shape
Choose rectangular for driveways and patios, circular for round areas, or triangle for wedge-shaped sections.
Step 2 — Enter dimensions
Enter length and width in feet, inches, or metres. For circular areas, enter diameter only.
Step 3 — Enter depth
Enter depth in the same unit system. Typical depths: driveway new = 4–6 in, patio = 3–4 in, shed base = 4 in, path = 2–3 in. (With feet selected, use 0.25 ft for 3 inches.)
Step 4 — Select material and density
Pick stone type — density defaults update (crushed stone 1.5 tons/yd³). Adjust density if your supplier quotes a different weight.
Step 5 — Add waste and calculate
Order 10% extra for standard shapes; use 15–20% for irregular cuts and heavy compaction. Click Calculate for cubic yards and tons instantly.
Crushed Stone Calculator Tons
Use the crushed stone calculator tons feature to convert cubic yards into tons instantly. Most crushed stone weighs about 1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on stone type and moisture level.
| Cubic Yards | Tons |
|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | 1.5 tons |
| 2 yd³ | 3 tons |
| 5 yd³ | 7.5 tons |
Crushed Stone Calculator Yards
The crushed stone calculator yards section estimates how many cubic yards you need based on area size and depth. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
Crushed Stone Driveway Calculator
The crushed stone driveway calculator helps estimate stone for driveway projects. Most driveways require 4–6 inches of compacted 3/4 inch crushed stone for proper support and drainage.
Calculate How Much Crushed Stone Do I Need Manually
Use these formulas if you want to calculate without the tool:
Rectangular surface: Volume (cu yd) = (Length ft × Width ft × Depth ft) ÷ 27
Circular surface: Volume (cu yd) = (π × Radius ft² × Depth ft) ÷ 27
Add waste: Final Volume = Volume × (1 + Waste% ÷ 100)
Convert to tons: Tons = Cubic yards × 1.5
Convert depth: divide inches by 12 to get feet. The number 27 converts cubic feet to cubic yards (3×3×3). One cubic yard = 1.5 US tons = 3,000 lbs.
Example: 15 ft × 12 ft patio at 3 inches deep:
- Depth = 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
- Volume = (15 × 12 × 0.25) ÷ 27 = 1.67 cu yd
- With waste = 1.67 × 1.10 = 1.83 cu yd
- Weight = 1.83 × 1.5 = 2.75 US tons
Crushed Stone Coverage Table
All values include 10% waste factor.
| Area (sq ft) | Depth 2" (yd³) | Depth 3" (yd³) | Depth 4" (yd³) | Depth 6" (yd³) | Tons @ 3" depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.34 | 0.51 | 0.68 | 1.02 | 0.77 |
| 100 | 0.68 | 1.02 | 1.36 | 2.04 | 1.53 |
| 200 | 1.37 | 2.05 | 2.74 | 4.11 | 3.07 |
| 500 | 3.43 | 5.14 | 6.86 | 10.3 | 7.71 |
| 1,000 | 6.86 | 10.3 | 13.7 | 20.6 | 15.4 |
| 2,000 | 13.7 | 20.6 | 27.4 | 41.2 | 30.9 |
Crushed Stone Use Cases
Driveway
3/4 inch stone at 4–6 inches. Two layers: 4 inch base + 2 inch top. A 20×20 ft driveway needs ~7.5 tons.
Patio
3/8 inch or crusher run at 3–4 inches. Compact before laying pavers. A 12×10 ft patio needs ~1.7 tons.
Shed base
4 inches of 3/4 inch stone. Extend 6–12 inches beyond shed edges for drainage. A 10×12 ft base needs ~2.5 tons.
Foundation slab
4–6 inches compacted 3/4 inch stone. Prevents settling and cracking under concrete.
French drain
3/4 inch or 1.5 inch angular stone. Never use smooth pea gravel — angular edges allow water flow.
Walkways and paths
2–3 inches of 3/8 inch stone. Compact lightly for a firm, clean walking surface.
Troubleshooting
Result too high?
You entered dimensions in yards, not feet. 1 yard = 3 feet — this inflates results 9×.
Result too low?
You entered depth in feet when you meant inches. For feet mode, enter 0.25 for 3 inches — or switch unit to inches and enter 3.
Irregular shape?
Split into rectangles. Calculate each section separately, then add totals.
Ran short after ordering?
Stone compacts 10–15% after tamping. Order 15% extra if you are compacting.
Supplier sells yards, you need tons?
Multiply cubic yards × 1.5 for tons. Divide tons by 1.5 for cubic yards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Use the calculator above to get cubic yards and tons instantly. Formula: (L × W × D ÷ 12) ÷ 27 for cubic yards, ×1.5 for tons, +10% for waste. Use 3/4 inch for structural base layers, 3/8 inch for surface and patio projects. Always order slightly more than your calculated amount.
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