Box / room
Also: rectangular prism, bed, trench, room
V = L × W × H
L = length, W = width, H = height or depth.
Example: A patio base 20 × 10 ft, 4 in deep: 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 cu ft = 2.47 cu yd, about 3.2 tons of #57 stone.
Quick answer: tons of stone = length × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × 97 ÷ 2,000 for loose #57 stone. A cubic yard of #57 is about 1.3 tons, and a ton covers about 62 sq ft at 4 in deep.
How to calculate how much stone you need
- Measure the area in feet and choose the depth in inches.
- Cubic feet = length × width × (depth ÷ 12).
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Tons = cubic feet × the stone’s weight in lb per cu ft ÷ 2,000.
- Add allowances for waste and, for stone with fines, compaction.
Tons = L (ft) × W (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000
A patio base 20 × 10 ft, 4 in deep, in #57 stone:
20 × 10 × 4 ÷ 12 = 66.7 cu ft. 66.7 × 97 ÷ 2,000 = 3.23 tons. With 5% extra: 3.4 tons.
How much a yard of stone weighs
| Stone (loose, as delivered) | lb per cu ft | Tons per cu yd | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| #57 crushed stone | 97 | 1.31 | Tennessee DOT estimating factor: 2,619 lb per cu yd |
| Crusher run / road base | 107 | 1.44 | Tennessee DOT loose weight for mineral aggregate base: 2,900 lb per cu yd |
| Clean larger stone (#3, #4) | 97 | 1.31 | Estimate: single-size stone has gaps similar to #57 |
| River rock | 95 | 1.28 | Estimate |
The Tennessee DOT figures come from its Roadway Design Guidelines, Chapter 4. Stone weight varies with the rock type and how wet it is, so ask your quarry for their figure and enter it as a custom density if you buy by the ton.
How far a ton of stone goes
| Depth | 1 ton of #57 covers | 1 cu yd covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 124 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 82 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 62 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 41 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Crushed stone sizes
Stone is sold by standard size numbers from ASTM D448 (the same sizes as AASHTO M 43). The range is the largest to smallest stone in most of the load.
| Size | Stone size | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 3½–1½ in | Construction entrances, base under heavy loads |
| #3 | 2–1 in | Driveway base, drainage |
| #4 | 1½–¾ in | Drainage, base |
| #57 | 1 in–#4 sieve (about 3/16 in) | Drainage, driveway top, concrete aggregate, under pavers and slabs |
| #67 | ¾ in–#4 sieve | Concrete aggregate, paths |
| #8 | ⅜ in–#8 sieve (about 3/32 in) | Paver bedding, pipe bedding |
| #10 (screenings) | #4 sieve to dust | Paver bedding, leveling |
Local names differ: crusher run is also sold as road base, ¾ in minus, CR-6 or dense-graded aggregate. Describe the job to your quarry if you are unsure.
Which stone for which job
| Job | Stone | Typical depth |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel driveway base | Crusher run or #3 | 4–8 in compacted |
| Driveway top layer | #57 or crusher run | 2–3 in |
| French drain or pipe trench | Washed #57 or larger | Fill the trench around the pipe |
| Patio or walkway base | Crusher run, compacted in layers | 4–6 in |
| Decorative beds | River rock or colored stone | 2–3 in |
Depths are common practice for residential work, not code requirements. Heavier traffic or soft ground needs more. Follow your local requirements or an engineer’s design.
Stone for different shapes
Area × depth
Also: square feet to cubic feet
V = A × d
A = area, d = depth or thickness.
Example: A 600 sq ft parking pad topped with 3 in of stone: 600 × 0.25 = 150 cu ft = 5.56 cu yd, about 7.3 tons.
Cylinder
Also: round hole, post hole, tank, planter
V = π × r² × h
r = radius (half the diameter), h = height.
Example: A round fire-pit area 8 ft across, 4 in deep: π × 4² × 0.333 = 16.8 cu ft, about 0.81 tons.
Trench / trapezoid
Also: ditch, berm, swale, trapezoidal prism
V = (a + b) ÷ 2 × h × L
a = top width, b = bottom width, h = depth, L = length.
Example: A drainage trench 12 in wide, 18 in deep and 40 ft long: 1 × 1.5 × 40 = 60 cu ft = 2.22 cu yd, about 2.9 tons of clean stone before taking out the pipe.
Sloped slab
Also: ramp, uneven depth, tapered bed
V = L × W × (h₁ + h₂) ÷ 2
L = length, W = width, h₁ and h₂ = depth at each end.
Example: A driveway section 30 × 12 ft built up from 6 in at one end to 4 in at the other: 30 × 12 × (0.5 + 0.333) ÷ 2 = 150 cu ft, about 8.0 tons of crusher run.
Ring / tree ring
Also: around a tree, donut bed, circle with a hole
V = π × (R² − r²) × d
R = outer radius, r = inner radius (the part left bare), d = depth.
Example: A stone ring 2 ft wide around a 6 ft round fire pit (10 ft outside), 4 in deep: π × (5² − 3²) × 0.333 = 16.8 cu ft, about 0.81 tons.
Worked examples
Driveway refresh
A driveway 80 × 10 ft getting 2 in of #57: 80 × 10 × 2 ÷ 12 = 133 cu ft = 4.94 cu yd, × 97 ÷ 2,000 = 6.5 tons.
Shed base
A 10 × 12 ft shed pad, 4 in of crusher run plus a 15% compaction allowance: 40 cu ft × 1.15 = 46 cu ft, × 107 ÷ 2,000 = 2.5 tons.
- Building a whole driveway? Lay each layer out separately and add them to the project total, or use the gravel calculator.
- Need soil or mulch as well? Try the topsoil calculator or the mulch calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much stone I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches ÷ 12 for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply cubic feet by the stone’s weight (about 97 lb per cu ft for loose #57 stone) and divide by 2,000 for tons. A 20 × 10 ft area 4 in deep is 66.7 cu ft, 2.47 cu yd or about 3.2 tons.
How many tons of stone are in a cubic yard?
Loose #57 crushed stone weighs about 2,600 lb, or 1.3 US tons, per cubic yard (the Tennessee DOT uses 2,619 lb for estimating). Crusher run with fines is heavier, about 1.45 tons loose, and much heavier once compacted.
How much area does a ton of stone cover?
A ton of #57 stone is about 20.6 cu ft. That covers about 124 sq ft at 2 in deep, 82 sq ft at 3 in, 62 sq ft at 4 in and 41 sq ft at 6 in.
What do stone numbers like #57 mean?
They are standard size grades from ASTM D448 / AASHTO M 43. A smaller number means bigger stone: #3 is 2 in down to 1 in, #57 is 1 in down to about 3/16 in, and #8 is 3/8 in down to about 3/32 in. The table on this page lists the common sizes.
What stone is best for a driveway?
Angular crushed stone that locks together: crusher run (also called road base, ¾ in minus or dense-graded aggregate) for the base, and often #57 or crusher run on top. Round river rock and pea gravel roll under tires and suit paths and beds better.
What stone should I use for drainage?
Clean, washed stone with no fines, such as #57 or larger, so water can flow through the gaps. Crusher run and stone dust pack tight and drain poorly.
Why add a compaction allowance?
Stone with fines, such as crusher run, packs down a lot when you run a plate compactor over it. If you need a finished depth, choose an allowance so you order enough loose stone. Clean stone like #57 settles much less.
Is stone cheaper by the ton or in bags?
For more than about half a ton, bulk stone delivered by the ton is almost always cheaper than 0.5 cu ft bags. Enter both prices to compare.
Is this stone calculator free to use online?
Yes. The CalcWall Stone Calculator is completely free and works online in any browser, on a phone, tablet or computer. There is nothing to download and no account to create, and the math runs right in your browser, so results appear as you type.