Free calculator
Crushed Stone Calculator
Use this crushed stone calculator to turn length, width, depth, a compaction allowance, waste, and density into cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, and a cost placeholder. It is built for planning angular gravel orders for driveway base, paver base, and drainage before you call a supplier.
EstimatePlanning estimate only; not a structural, drainage, or code-compliance calculation. Local conditions and supplier density vary. Consult a professional for structural or safety questions.
Project inputs
Estimate
2.3 cubic yards of crushed stone
A 200 sq ft area at 3 inches deep needs about 2.3 cubic yards, or 3.45 tons, of crushed stone after compaction and waste.
Printable material list
Estimate- Crushed stone2.3 cu yd15% compaction and 8% waste included
- Crushed stone by weight3.45 tons1.5 tons/cu yd density
- Bulk cost placeholder$126.50$55/cu yd assumption
- Compacted base1 layercompact in lifts for a firm base
Estimate only. Stone size, subgrade, drainage, and compaction change how much you need and how it performs.
Visible defaults
Assumptions
- Default compacted depth is 3 inches; loose stone settles when packed.
- Default density is 1.50 tons per cubic yard for planning.
- Cubic yards equal cubic feet divided by 27, then waste is added.
- Compaction allowance increases the loose volume you actually order.
Math
Calculation details
- Area = length x width.
- Cubic feet = area x depth in feet.
- Compaction allowance is added before waste.
- Cubic yards = cubic feet / 27; tons = cubic yards x density.
What this crushed stone calculator does
Crushed stone is angular, machine-broken rock that locks together when packed, unlike rounded pea gravel. This calculator takes your measured area, depth, density, compaction allowance, and waste, then converts the same volume into cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, and a simple cost placeholder. It keeps loose and compacted figures honest so the number you order matches what stays in place after the plate compactor passes.
The tool fits driveway base, paver and patio base, shed pads, French-drain trenches, and large fill where a graded angular stone is specified. It does not decide whether a base is thick enough for traffic or whether drainage is adequate. It turns a measured footprint into a practical shopping list with every assumption shown so you can sanity-check it against a supplier ticket.
How deep and which stone size
Depth drives the order more than anything else. A common planning depth for a residential driveway base layer is 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run, often over a deeper sub-base. Paver base is frequently planned around 4 to 6 inches. Measure the finished compacted depth you want, not the loose pile height, because angular stone settles noticeably once it is packed and watered.
Stone size matters too. Open #57 stone drains well and is common for trenches and under pipe. Crusher run, often called #411, mixes stone and fines so it compacts into a firm driveway surface or paver base. Larger #4 stone suits deep fill and soft ground. Match the size to the job before you trust any volume figure.
Formula used
The calculator multiplies length by width to get square feet, then multiplies by depth in feet to get cubic feet. Cubic yards equal cubic feet divided by 27. Tons equal cubic yards multiplied by the density you enter, defaulting to 1.50 tons per cubic yard. A 100 sq ft area at 4 inches is about 33.3 cubic feet, or roughly 1.23 cubic yards, before any allowances are applied.
Two extra factors lift the order above the bare volume. The compaction allowance accounts for loose stone settling as it packs, so you buy enough to reach the finished depth. The waste percentage covers edge loss, uneven subgrade, and low spots. Both are added on top, and tons are rounded for ordering since suppliers sell by weight or full yards.
Bulk yards versus tons
Crushed stone is usually sold bulk by the cubic yard or by the ton, not in bags, because the volumes are large and the material is heavy. The calculator shows both so you can read a delivery ticket either way. A loaded truck and a yard-pricing sheet often disagree slightly, so carry the cubic-yard figure and the ton figure to the counter and ask which one the price is based on.
Weight is the practical limit for pickup. At about 1.5 tons per cubic yard, even one yard of crushed stone is roughly 3,000 pounds, which exceeds many half-ton trucks. For anything beyond a small patch, delivery is usually safer and cheaper than several overloaded trips. Use the ton output to judge whether hauling it yourself is realistic at all.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is ordering for loose depth and coming up short after compaction. Angular stone with fines can lose a meaningful fraction of its loose height once packed, so a zero compaction allowance leaves a thin, soft base. The second mistake is confusing crushed stone with pea gravel; rounded gravel will not lock up the same way and is a poor compacted base.
Another error is using a single average depth on sloped or rutted ground, which hides deep low spots that swallow extra stone. Skipping waste on irregular driveways causes a second trip for heavy material. When the order sits near a delivery threshold, recheck depth and density before buying rather than after the truck has already dumped the load.
Before you order
Bring your area dimensions, target compacted depth, chosen stone size, and the printed estimate to the supplier. Ask which density and which unit, yards or tons, their price uses, and confirm whether your driveway needs a separate deeper sub-base, geotextile fabric, or edge restraint that sits outside this volume figure.
Confirm delivery access and a clear dump spot before scheduling a heavy load, since a full truck cannot always reach a back yard. Treat the cost placeholder as your own entered number for comparison only, never as a quote, and verify the final price and material size directly with the yard before you pay.
Quick reference
Common crushed stone sizes and typical uses
| Size | Description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| #57 | Open, washed stone about 3/4 inch | Drainage, French drains, under-pipe bedding |
| #411 / crusher run | Stone blended with fines, compacts firm | Driveway base, paver and patio base |
| #4 | Larger stone about 1.5 inches | Deep fill, soft ground, heavy sub-base |
Coverage from one cubic yard equals 324 divided by depth in inches; at 3 inches that is about 108 sq ft, and at 4 inches about 81 sq ft, before compaction and waste.
FAQ
Crushed Stone Calculator FAQ
How many tons of crushed stone are in a cubic yard?
Around 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard is a common planning range, and this calculator defaults to 1.50. Density shifts with stone size, fines, and moisture, so use your supplier's conversion when it is listed.
What depth of crushed stone do I need for a driveway?
A 3 to 4 inch compacted base layer is a common residential planning depth, often over a deeper sub-base. Measure finished compacted depth, not loose height, and confirm requirements for your soil and traffic locally.
What is the difference between #57 stone and crusher run?
Open #57 is uniform stone that drains well and does not compact tightly, good for trenches and drainage. Crusher run, or #411, includes fines that pack into a firm driveway or paver base surface.
Why does the calculator add a compaction allowance?
Loose angular stone settles when packed and watered, so the loose volume you order must exceed the finished compacted volume. The allowance adds that difference so your base reaches full depth instead of coming up thin.
Can I haul crushed stone in my truck?
One cubic yard weighs roughly 3,000 pounds at typical density, which exceeds many half-ton trucks. Use the ton output to check weight, and for larger jobs delivery is usually safer and cheaper than multiple trips.
Is this a structural base specification?
No. This is a planning estimate for quantities only, not a structural or drainage design. Local conditions vary, so consult a professional for structural or safety questions about driveways, retaining work, or load-bearing pads.
Methodology
Who built and reviewed this estimate
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