How the crushed stone calculator works
It multiplies length × width to get the area, then multiplies by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives cubic yards, which is how most yards sell stone. Weight is the volume × 100 lb per cubic foot, divided by 2,000 for US tons. The default 10% waste covers stone that settles and compacts, plus spillage between the pile and the job.
Example: a 10 × 20 ft driveway base at 4 in deep is 200 square feet × 4 ÷ 12 = 66.7 cubic feet, which is 2.47 cubic yards or about 3.33 tons before the waste allowance.
Common uses and depths
| Use | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Driveway base | 4–6 in, compacted in layers |
| Walkway or path | 2–3 in |
| Patio or shed base | 4 in |
| Drainage trench | the depth of the trench |
A driveway usually has a coarse base layer built up and compacted in stages, then a finer top layer. Work each layer out with its own depth and add the results. For drainage, choose a washed stone that lets water pass through rather than a mix with fines that packs solid.
Why the tonnage varies
The calculator assumes 100 pounds per cubic foot, about 2,700 pounds or 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Real stone varies with the size of the pieces and how much fine dust is mixed in. #57 stone and crusher run are common names: #57 is close to a single size and drains freely, while crusher run includes the fines and compacts into a firm surface. Wet stone weighs more than dry stone. If your supplier quotes tons per cubic yard for their mix, use that figure to check the weight shown here.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of crushed stone are in a cubic yard?
About 1.35 tons. The calculator uses 100 pounds per cubic foot, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 27 × 100 = 2,700 pounds, or 1.35 US tons.
How much crushed stone for a 10 × 20 ft area at 4 inches?
66.7 cubic feet, or 2.47 cubic yards, which is about 3.33 tons before waste. With the default 10 percent extra that becomes 2.72 cubic yards, or about 3.67 tons.
What is the difference between #57 stone and crusher run?
Both are common names for crushed stone. #57 is a clean, single-size stone that drains well, while crusher run mixes stone with fine dust so it compacts into a firm base. They are sold by the ton or the yard, so check the weight for the mix you buy.