How to calculate how much crushed stone you need
Quarries sell crushed stone by the ton, and landscape yards often sell it by the cubic yard. Work out the volume you need to fill, allow for compaction if the stone is dense-graded, then convert to tons.
loose cubic yards to order = cubic yards × compaction factor (1.4 for crusher run, 1 for clean stone)
tons = loose cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
Example: base for a 12 × 12 ft paver patio
ICPI calls for at least 4 inches of compacted base under a patio.[1] With crusher run:
- Finished volume: 12 × 12 × 4 ÷ 12 = 48 cu ft = 1.78 cu yd
- Order loose: 1.78 × 1.4 = 2.49 cu yd
- Weight: 2.49 × 1.30–1.60 = 3.24–3.98 tons
- In 0.5 cu ft bags of paver base: 67.2 ÷ 0.5 = 134.4 → 135 bags
Applying the same 1.4 to bagged paver base is our assumption: the bags are sold for the same compacted layer, but no maker publishes a compaction figure.
Example: a 10 × 50 ft gravel driveway
For 8 inches of compacted dense-graded stone:
- Finished volume: 10 × 50 × 8 ÷ 12 = 333.3 cu ft = 12.35 cu yd
- Order loose: 12.35 × 1.4 = 17.28 cu yd
- Weight: 17.28 × 1.30–1.60 = 22.5–27.7 tons
- Delivery: 17.28 ÷ 12 = 1.44 → 2 tandem dump truck loads by volume
Choose Crusher run in the calculator (the paver base and driveway depth buttons select it for you) and enter the finished depth; it applies the 1.4 for you.
What the stone numbers mean
#57 and #8 are AASHTO size numbers for clean, open-graded stone, meaning stone in one size band without the fine dust and sand. The Federal Highway Administration tested #57, #8 and #89 in its study of open-graded aggregates for structural backfill.[2] #57 is sold as ¾-inch clean stone; #8 and #89 are smaller, pea-size crushed stone.
Crusher run is different: it is dense-graded, with the fines left in so the stone packs into a hard layer. It goes by several names. Kokosing, an Ohio producer, groups “304, 411, screenings” as base materials and “#2, 4, 57, 67, 8, 9” as coarse stone;[3] Tennessee DOT’s term is mineral aggregate base,[4] and a Michigan county driveway standard names the state’s 21AA, 22A and 23A dense-graded mixes.[5] Vulcan and Martin Marietta also list crusher run or base separately from coarse stone in their calculators.[6][7] If you are unsure what your yard’s product is, ask whether it has fines in it.
| Product | Type | When compacted | Tons per cu yd (loose) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #57 | Clean, open-graded | Settles a little: Tennessee DOT uses 1.02 placed loose, 1.14 compacted[4] | 1.25–1.45 |
| #8 / #89 | Clean, open-graded, pea-size | Clean stone; we found no separate figure | 1.15–1.40 |
| Crusher run, #411, road base, dense-graded aggregate (DGA) | Dense-graded, with fines | Takes about 1.33–1.5 times its finished volume in loose stone; order 1.4× | 1.30–1.60 |
Why crusher run needs 1.4 times the volume
The fines in dense-graded stone fill the gaps between the larger pieces when you compact it, so a truckload shrinks a lot. A compacted base takes about 1.33 to 1.5 times its finished volume in loose stone: Penn State’s road program places 8 inches loose to get 6 inches compacted (1.33 times), Tennessee DOT converts with a factor of 1.4, and Wisconsin DOT’s lab tests of dense-graded base found 1.34 to 1.52 times.[8][4][9] On gravel roads, the FHWA guide says ordinary compaction “will result in 30 percent or greater reduction in volume.”[10] This calculator uses 1.4. Rules of thumb that add only 20–30% fall below every source above.
Clean stone such as #57 has almost no fines, so it barely settles. If you compact it with a plate, add about 10–15% to the extra in the calculator; Tennessee DOT’s factor for compacted #57 is 1.14.[4]
Compact in layers. ICPI compacts paver base in 4–6 in lifts with a heavy plate compactor (thinner lifts with a lighter plate), and the FHWA guide’s rule of thumb is that each layer should be at least twice as thick as the largest stone.[1][10]
How much crushed stone weighs
Loose weights, as the stone comes off the truck. Compacted base weighs much more per cubic yard, so never mix the two when you convert.
| Stone | Tons per cu yd | Pounds per cu ft | Cu yd per ton | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #57 crushed stone (about ¾ in, clean), loose | 1.25–1.45 | 93–107 | 0.74 | [4][2][7][6][11] |
| #8 / #89 crushed stone (⅜ in, pea-size), loose | 1.15–1.40 | 85–104 | 0.78 | [2][7] |
| Crusher run / road base, loose | 1.30–1.60 | 96–119 | 0.69 | [4][9][10][8] |
| Crusher run, compacted in place | 1.75–2.15 | 130–159 | 0.51 | [4][9][7] |
“Cu yd per ton” uses the middle of the range. Quarry figures can run higher than these because some are ordering factors or compacted weights: Kokosing multiplies cubic yards by 1.65 for coarse stone and 1.75 for base, while Tennessee DOT measured loose #57 at 2,619 lb per cubic yard (1.31 tons).[3][4] If your quarry quotes a figure, ask whether it is loose or compacted.
How deep to lay crushed stone
| Use | Depth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Base under pavers, patio or walk | 4 in compacted | ICPI Tech Spec 2[1] |
| Base under pavers, residential driveway | 6 in compacted | ICPI Tech Spec 2[1] |
| Paver base on cold, wet or weak soil | add 2–4 in | ICPI Tech Spec 2[1] |
| Gravel driveway | 8 in (6 in base + 2 in top course) | Whatcom County, WA[12]; Lapeer County, MI, also sets 8 in minimum[5] |
| First layer over driveway fabric | at least 6 in | FHWA gravel roads guide[10] |
| Drainage base under a concrete walk or slab | 2–4 in | SAKRETE[13] |
There is no national standard for gravel driveways; the two county details above are for the part of the driveway in the public right of way. Check with your town or county before you build.
Bags of crushed stone and paver base
Most bagged gravel and paver base holds 0.5 cu ft, so 54 bags make a cubic yard.[14][15][16] SAKRETE All-Purpose Gravel is the exception on paper: its data sheet gives 0.6 cu ft per 60 lb bag, but its product page says a bag covers 3 sq ft at 2 inches, which is 0.5 cu ft.[13][17] Read the bag before you buy. Also note that SAKRETE’s product called “Paver Base” is described on its data sheet as a bedding sand, not a crushed stone base.[18]
Hauling crushed stone
An 8 ft pickup bed holds about 2 cubic yards level, but Ford’s half-ton F-150 tops out at 2,440 lb of payload in its best configuration.[19][20] At 1.30–1.60 tons per cubic yard, 2,000 lb of crusher run is only 0.63–0.77 cubic yards, so the calculator counts pickup trips by weight. Single-axle dump trucks usually carry about 6 cubic yards and tandem trucks 12–14.[21] A load can reach the truck’s weight limit before the bed is full, so ask your supplier how many tons they put on one truck.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate how much crushed stone I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches ÷ 12, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For crusher run that will be compacted, multiply by 1.4. Then multiply by the tons per cubic yard (about 1.25–1.45 for #57, 1.30–1.60 for crusher run).
How much does 1 ton of crushed stone cover?
One ton of #57 is 18.6–21.6 cubic feet. That covers about 74–86 sq ft at 3 inches or 56–65 sq ft at 4 inches.
How much crushed stone do I need for a 12x12 patio?
For a paver patio with 4 inches of compacted crusher run base, order 2.49 cubic yards loose, about 3.2–4.0 tons. That is 1.78 cubic yards finished × 1.4 for compaction.
How much area does a 50 lb bag of gravel cover?
Most 50 lb bags hold 0.5 cubic feet. That covers 3 sq ft at 2 inches deep or 2 sq ft at 3 inches, and 54 bags make a cubic yard.
How much paver base do I need for 100 square feet?
At ICPI’s 4 inches compacted, 100 sq ft is 33.3 cubic feet finished, or 46.7 cubic feet loose after the 1.4 compaction factor: 1.73 cubic yards, about 2.2–2.8 tons, or 94 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
Related calculators
Sources
- Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), Tech Spec 2: Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (rev. 2020). Base 4 in for patios and walks, 6 in for driveways; 1 in bedding sand. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Federal Highway Administration, Strength Characterization of Open-Graded Aggregates for Structural Backfills (FHWA-HRT-15-034). Laboratory densities of #57, #67, #8 and #89 stone. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Kokosing Materials (Ohio aggregate producer), Tonnage Calculator: Calculating by Material Size. Ordering factors: 1.65 tons per cu yd for coarse stone (#2, 4, 57, 67, 8, 9), 1.75 for base (304, 411, screenings), 1.5 for sand. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Tennessee Department of Transportation, Roadway Design Guidelines, Chapter 4 (rev. 03/20/15). Loose and compacted weights of mineral aggregate base and crushed stone. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lapeer County Road Commission (MI), Residential Driveway Approach Gravel (Aggregate) Detail Sheet (2022). Gravel approach at least 8 in deep. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Vulcan Materials, Aggregate Tonnage Estimator. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Martin Marietta, Product Calculator (material density table). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, Driving Surface Aggregate (DSA) Handbook (2025). 8 in loose compacts to 6 in. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WHRP), Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates (Project 0092-22-05, 2023). Unit weights of base aggregate, and FHWA/Church loose, bank and compacted weights of topsoil, loam and clay. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Federal Highway Administration / South Dakota LTAP, Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide (FHWA-OTS-15-002, 2015). Volume loss of gravel on compaction; minimum lift thickness. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Luck Stone, Product Calculator. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Whatcom County (WA) Public Works, Residential Gravel Driveway Access Approach Detail 508.D-4. 6 in base plus 2 in crushed surfacing. Checked 2026-09-26.
- SAKRETE, All-Purpose Gravel technical data sheet. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), Kolor Scape 0.5 cu ft pea gravel, 48 lb. Bag weight and volume. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), QUIKRETE HardScapes Paver Base, 0.5 cu ft 50 lb. Bag weight and volume. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), Kolor Scape Step 1 0.5 cu ft paver base. Covers 6 sq ft at 1 in. Checked 2026-09-26.
- SAKRETE, All-Purpose Gravel product page. A bag covers 3 sq ft at 2 in. Checked 2026-09-26.
- SAKRETE, Paver Base technical data sheet (rev. 05/16). 0.5 cu ft per 50 lb bag; the sheet describes the product as a bedding sand. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Landscape Recycling Center (Champaign–Urbana), Measurements. Pickup bed capacities. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Ford Motor Company, 2026 F-150 specifications. Maximum payload 2,440 lb in the best configuration. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Texas Department of Transportation, Seal Coat and Surface Treatment Manual: Haul Trucks, Size. Single-axle about 6 cu yd; tandem 12–14 cu yd. Checked 2026-09-26.