Crushed Stone Calculator
Cubic yards and tons of #57, 3/4 minus and other crushed stone for base, drainage and driveways.
This crushed stone calculator converts an area and depth into the cubic yards and tons of angular crushed stone you need — as a base course under pavers, concrete or a shed, as trench and foundation drainage, or as driveway pack.
It draws the area to scale and adds a 10% allowance because crushed stone compacts hard under a plate compactor. Enter a price per ton for a cost estimate.
Which crushed stone for which job
#57 stone (roughly 3/4 inch, washed, no fines) drains freely and is the go-to for French drains, foundation backfill and the drainage layer under a slab. It does not compact tight, so it is not a finished driving surface on its own.
3/4 minus, or dense-graded aggregate, keeps the crushed fines, so it locks up hard under compaction. Use it for driveway base, under pavers, and as road pack. #411 is a common blend that behaves the same way.
How deep
Paver and slab base: 4 inches for pedestrian areas, 6 inches for driveways, compacted in 2-inch lifts. Driveway surface over an existing base: 2 to 3 inches. Drainage trenches: fill to within a few inches of grade around the pipe.
One ton of crushed stone covers roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches, or 60 square feet at 4 inches.
Yards, tons and trucks
Crushed stone is almost always sold by the ton. A cubic yard weighs about 1.35 tons. A tandem dump truck holds 15 to 20 tons. If your order is close to a full load, ask the supplier whether topping up to a full truck is cheaper per ton than a partial.
Common crushed-stone mistakes
Using #57 where you need pack. Washed #57 drains but never compacts tight — driveways and paver bases want 3/4-inch minus with the fines in.
One thick lift. Compact in 2-inch layers; a 6-inch lift will not compact through and stays soft underneath.
No geotextile over clay. Without a woven fabric, the base pumps down into wet soil and ruts.
Ordering the compacted volume. Order for the loose depth — about a third more material.
| Material | lb / ft³ | tons / yd³ | Sold by | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel (3/8″, rounded) | 100–105 | 1.35 | ton or yd³ | Paths, patios, dog runs, drainage |
| #57 crushed stone (3/4″, washed) | 100–105 | 1.35 | ton | Drainage, slab sub-base, French drains |
| 3/4″ minus / dense-grade | 105–115 | 1.45 | ton | Driveway base, paver base, road pack |
| Crushed concrete (RCA) | 100–110 | 1.35 | ton | Driveway base, structural fill (cheaper) |
| River rock (1–3″) | 95–105 | 1.40 | ton or yd³ | Dry creek beds, borders, xeriscape |
| Decomposed granite | 110–120 | 1.50 | ton | Paths, patios, natural-look driveways |
| Road base / Class 5 | 110–120 | 1.50 | ton | Compacted base under pavers, slabs, drives |
Every material calculator
Each of these uses the same measured-drawing tool with the right density and bag sizes built in: gravel calculator , mulch calculator , concrete calculator , concrete slab calculator , sand calculator , topsoil calculator , paver sand calculator , sonotube concrete calculator , pea gravel calculator , river rock calculator , decomposed granite calculator , road base calculator . Or start from the material calculator homepage and pick a material there.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate crushed stone?
Multiply area by depth in the same unit for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.35 for tons. Add 10% for compaction.
How many tons of crushed stone are in a cubic yard?
About 1.35 tons for most crushed stone, slightly more for dense-graded material with fines.
How much area does a ton of crushed stone cover?
Roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, 80 square feet at 3 inches, and 60 square feet at 4 inches.
What is #57 stone used for?
Drainage — French drains, foundation backfill, the layer under a slab — and as a base where free drainage matters more than a tight-packing surface.
What is the difference between #57 and 3/4 minus?
#57 is washed with the fines removed, so it drains but stays loose. 3/4 minus keeps the crushed fines, so it compacts to a hard, stable surface.
How thick should a crushed stone base be?
Four inches under pedestrian pavers or a shed, six inches under a driveway or garage slab, compacted in 2-inch lifts.
Is crushed stone sold by the yard or ton?
Almost always by the ton. The calculator gives you both figures so you can match the quote.
How much does crushed stone cost?
Roughly $25 to $60 per ton depending on the type and region, plus delivery. Enter your local price for an estimate.
How much crushed stone do I need for a French drain?
A trench 12 inches wide and 18 inches deep holds about 1.5 cubic feet of #57 stone per foot of length — roughly 0.9 tons per 10 feet after the pipe volume is removed.
What size crushed stone for a driveway?
A 2 to 3 inch base stone (#2 or #3), a middle layer of #57, and a 3/4-inch minus surface course that compacts and sheds water.
How many tons of gravel in a dump truck?
A tandem-axle truck legally carries about 15 to 20 tons of crushed stone; a tri-axle up to 25.
Is #57 stone good under a shed?
#57 is fine as a drainage layer, but a shed pad is more stable on 4 inches of compacted 3/4-inch minus, which locks together and does not shift.
How much does a yard of crushed stone weigh?
About 1.35 to 1.45 tons depending on the stone and how much fine material it contains.